Massey University Centre For Psychology

About Us

We have been offering psychological services to the public, including children, since 2007.

Our therapeutic team consists of experienced and registered clinical psychologists and an intern psychologist, whilst students in their first year of Clinical Psychology Doctorate training undertake academic, cognitive and neuropsychological assessment under the supervision of a senior clinical psychologist.

Our Objective

We work with children and young people who are dealing with anxiety, anger, stress, depression, learning problems, school or social difficulties, and more. Children typically develop a language to share their problems with parents and peers in order to actively self-manage their problems.

Consequently, the objective is to work together with children and their families/whānau on shared goals and provide clear and effective cognitive and behavioural strategies that can be used outside of therapy and long into the future. This includes helping children and young people to name, understand and manage their emotions, giving children and young people strategies for dealing with life’s challenges, and helping them to make wise choices and engage in useful actions. More specifically, we often use play therapy with younger children and CBT and ACT based therapy with older children.

We Accommodate Children & Teenagers

For children we provide a play therapy room, for families we have family therapy room that can accommodate larger groups, while teenagers can be seen in more adult/mature surroundings that reflect their growth toward independence and maturity. Children have access to art and play materials (e.g., toys, games, books, sand tray) that allow them different mediums through which to express emotions and ideas. Finally, we have a room appropriate for use in the cognitive assessment of children with academic and related difficulties.

Friendly & Interactive

We work collaboratively, with the support and assistance of parents and caregivers where necessary. We encourage young people to actively include their family/whānau but within trusted boundaries, whereby what can be shared between young people and their family/whānau is always made known before we start. Young people will meet professionals who care about them and will work along-side them to help make changes that are important to that young person.