Who We Are
What does a Psychologist do?
A psychologist is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behaviour and psychiatric problems. They are not doctors so cannot prescribe medication. However, they have expertise in psychological evaluation, testing, assessment, diagnosis and treatment for people experiencing mental, behaviour or emotional problems.
Jessica Gu, Registered Counselling Psychologist
MNZPsS, PGDip(Coun. Psychology), MHSc(Hons), BHSc(Hons), BA.
Jessica has more than 5 years clinical experience in primary and secondary mental health sector including clinical leadership and managerial roles. She has extensive experience working with mental health issues for children and their families, and adults. She changed her area of work to education in 2016. After working a few years in the mainstream health and education systems, Jessica established Auckland Mental Wellness Centre in 2017 in hopes to give back to the society by using her professional knowledge and skills.
Therapeutic Approach
Jessica is eager to apply her experience and compassion with clients as they begin to address issues that will help them to improve their quality of life and attain a sense of fulfilment. At AMWC (Auckland Mental Wellness Centre), Jessica delivers Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and other evidence-based treatments to clients with a wide range of emotional, behavioural, developmental and adjustment problems, such as anxiety, stress, depression, addictions, and relationship problems. She works collaboratively with a focus on clients’ needs, goals and best interests.
WHAT WE DO
Services
Auckland Mental Wellness Centre offers general counselling and specialist psychotherapy services for children, adolescents, adults, and families. We offer assessment, and treatment of a wide range of relational, psychological, emotional and behavioural issues as below:
- Anxiety
- Child & Adolescent Mental Health Issues (ADHD, Autism, Cognitive Disorder, Anger Management, learning difficulty)
- Chronic Pain
- Depression
- Drug & Alcohol Abuse
- Grief and loss
- Life Transitions
- Mood Disorders
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
- Panic
- Personality Disorder
- Relationship Problems
- Self Esteem
- Sleep/Insomnia
- Supervision and Training
- Trauma Related Disorders
- Work Place Issues
Therapy Details
Psychological therapy involves an initial assessment, following which we will discuss with you an individual, evidence-based treatment plan that is the best fit for your current difficulties.
Therapy is not a one-off thing. The total number of sessions to complete treatment is usually between six and twelve sessions. Anyone considering entering therapy needs to be thinking of an initial commitment of at least six sessions for a specific focus.
There is normally one session per week in the beginning. Regular sessions are especially important at the start of therapy, so both you and your psychologist can get to know each other. Appointments are normally 50-60 minutes in length.
Therapy is offered in English and Mandarin.
We can also offer consultations and e-therapy via Skype, messenger, and Google hangouts.
Confidentiality
Auckland Mental Wellness Centre takes privacy and confidentiality very seriously. Indeed integrity, trust and respect are core values of their profession. The clients’ confidentiality is protected both under the HDCA (Health and Disability Commissioner Act) and under the code of ethics of the New Zealand Psychologists Board. However, there are two exceptions to this:
- As part of good professional practice psychologists routinely discuss aspects of their work with their supervisors (also bound by the code of ethics and the act).
- There is a legal duty to breach confidentiality if clients pose a serious danger to others or themselves.