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Auckland Psychiatrist

Private Service, Psychiatry, Mental Health

Description

Dr Neena Joseph and Dr John Joseph are psychiatrists providing personalised mental health care, high quality assessments, and evidence-based treatments in Auckland.
 
We welcome enquiries or referrals for clinical, forensic or medico-legal purposes from general practitioners; medical specialists; psychologists; healthcare providers; legal representatives; ACC; Immigration; insurers; employers; professional counsels.
 
Our services
 
Clinical
Specialist assessment and treatment of conditions related to:
  • ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Post traumatic stress disorders
  • OCD
  • Bipolar & mānia
  • Psychosis
 
Medico-legal
Expert consultation in civil matters:
  • Independent medical evaluations
  • ACC (mental injury & disability claims)
  • Fitness & return to work evaluations
  • Immigration related evaluations

Forensic 
Expert consultation and testimony in criminal matters:
  • Competence to stand trial
  • Insanity defence & criminal responsibility
  • Pre-sentencing & disposition reports
  • Violence risk assessment.
 
We do not provide crisis or emergency services. If you need urgent or crisis help please contact your local Community Mental Health Services crisis team or emergency services.
 
 
 
What is Mental Illness?
Mental illness is a clinically significant behaviour or psychological (to do with the mind) disorder that is associated with distress or disability. It is not just the way someone responds to a particular event nor is it limited to the way a person interacts with society.
 
A mental illness can continuously or intermittently (occasionally) affect our capacity for speech, language, mood, affect, thoughts, perceptions, insight, judgement, cognition (understanding) and volition (ability to make choices). It can limit our ability to function as society would normally expect of us and can put us and others at risk.
 
Mental illness is therefore, a broad term that covers problems ranging from minor to severe disorders.
 
A ‘consultant psychiatrist’ is a doctor who, after basic medical qualifications, receives further training and develops the expertise to become a ‘specialist’ in identifying symptoms of, and diagnosing and treating, mental illnesses. You may have been referred to a consultant psychiatrist if your doctor feels you need specialist help.

Consultants

How do I access this service?

Contact us

Phone: 0212416007

Email: info@aucklandpsychiatrist.nz

Referral

If you are seeking clinical services, you can arrange a referral from your GP/other health professionals.

We are a referral only service for medico-legal assessments. Please arrange a referral from the relevant party.

Referral Expectations

What can you expect in your initial consultation?
We provide a confidential and comprehensive assessment of your mental health. We especially focus on the issues that are presently of concern(s) to you. Your personal narratives are augmented with sensitive enquiries and other sources of information that you provide us with. Your assessment is concluded with a personalised formulation, integrating the many relevant facets of your life including temperament, genetic, biological, psychological, social and cultural. From this shared understanding, we collaborate with you and develop a management plan to alleviate your problems and symptoms.

Fees and Charges Categorisation

Fees apply

Fees and Charges Description

Clinical fees

  • Standard initial consultation (1 hour): $500
  • Follow-up (30 minutes): $250

Any cancellations with less than 24 business hours notice will incur full charges.

We are Southern Cross Health Society affiliated providers for clinical consultations.

Hours

Dr Neena Joseph is available for appointments on Tuesdays 10am - 1pm 

Dr John Joseph is available for appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 9:30am - 12.30pm

Languages Spoken

English, Hindi, Malayalam

Procedures / Treatments

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects about 1% of the general population. It is a complex illness characterised by ‘psychosis’, a word used to describe disorder of thoughts (e.g. delusions - false beliefs held in spite of evidence that they are not real), perceptions (e.g. hallucinations - seeing, hearing or feeling things which are not there), disorganised speech and grossly disorganised behaviour, which are not experienced by others and which are not seen as abnormal by the sufferer. These four symptoms are often referred to as the ‘Positive Symptoms’ of schizophrenia because they are the result of the disease process. The fifth group of symptoms: withdrawal, decreased ability to feel pleasure, lack of energy, and flat affect, are referred to as ‘Negative Symptoms’ because they represent a loss of normal functions. Schizophrenia affects different people in different ways. Some people may experience only a few short episodes and then fully recover. For others it lasts throughout their lives and needs to be treated like any other physical illness such as asthma or diabetes. It is important that schizophrenia is treated as soon as it is diagnosed by a psychiatrist to prevent long-term disability and loss of function. Treatment Schizophrenia may be treated using a number of different approaches: Use of antipsychotic medication Psychosocial education programs e.g. education, support, counselling and assistance to return to job/studies/performing daily tasks Ongoing support e.g. housing, monitoring of treatment, support groups.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects about 1% of the general population. It is a complex illness characterised by ‘psychosis’, a word used to describe disorder of thoughts (e.g. delusions - false beliefs held in spite of evidence that they are not real), perceptions (e.g. hallucinations - seeing, hearing or feeling things which are not there), disorganised speech and grossly disorganised behaviour, which are not experienced by others and which are not seen as abnormal by the sufferer. These four symptoms are often referred to as the ‘Positive Symptoms’ of schizophrenia because they are the result of the disease process.
 
The fifth group of symptoms: withdrawal, decreased ability to feel pleasure, lack of energy, and flat affect, are referred to as ‘Negative Symptoms’ because they represent a loss of normal functions.
 
Schizophrenia affects different people in different ways. Some people may experience only a few short episodes and then fully recover.  For others it lasts throughout their lives and needs to be treated like any other physical illness such as asthma or diabetes.
 
It is important that schizophrenia is treated as soon as it is diagnosed by a psychiatrist to prevent long-term disability and loss of function.
 
Treatment
Schizophrenia may be treated using a number of different approaches:
  • Use of antipsychotic medication
  • Psychosocial education programs e.g. education, support, counselling and assistance to return to job/studies/performing daily tasks
  • Ongoing support e.g. housing, monitoring of treatment, support groups.
Bipolar Disorder

This is a mood disorder in which both depressive (persistent low mood) and manic (elevated or high mood) episodes are experienced. It is usually a recurring (i.e. keeps coming back) disorder that can cause a lot of havoc in all aspects of a person’s life. People with this disorder will experience periods of extreme mood changes but also periods of stable mood during which they may be able to return to everyday routines. These changes of mood can be very extreme and occur for no apparent reason. Different people will experience this disorder in different ways; some may have few episodes, others many, and symptoms may vary from mild to severe. When severely depressed or elevated, a person can become ‘psychotic’ i.e. lose touch with reality. Treatment Usually by medication (antidepressants if depressed and mood stabilisers if depressed and manic) A combination of counselling and psychotherapy (‘talking therapy’) may hasten recovery Hospitalisation may be required for those who are very unwell and are posing a risk to themselves or to others.

This is a mood disorder in which both depressive (persistent low mood) and manic (elevated or high mood) episodes are experienced. It is usually a recurring (i.e. keeps coming back) disorder that can cause a lot of havoc in all aspects of a person’s life. People with this disorder will experience periods of extreme mood changes but also periods of stable mood during which they may be able to return to everyday routines.
 
These changes of mood can be very extreme and occur for no apparent reason. Different people will experience this disorder in different ways; some may have few episodes, others many, and symptoms may vary from mild to severe. When severely depressed or elevated, a person can become ‘psychotic’ i.e. lose touch with reality.
 
Treatment
  • Usually by medication (antidepressants if depressed and mood stabilisers if depressed and manic)
  • A combination of counselling and psychotherapy (‘talking therapy’) may hasten recovery
  • Hospitalisation may be required for those who are very unwell and are posing a risk to themselves or to others.
Depression

Depression is a mood disorder. Emotional states like sadness, ‘feeling blue’ or tearfulness are part of normal human experience. Clinical depression is called Major Depression and is characterised by the presence for at least two weeks of symptoms such as depressed mood, diminished interest and pleasure in most activities, change in appetite and weight (these can be increased or decreased) sleep disturbance, fatigue, bodily symptoms (headache, backache etc) poor concentration, feelings of anxiousness, worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt, and suicidal ideation. Depression is a common disorder and about 10-20 % of the population in New Zealand will suffer from depression during their lifetime. Treatment Once depression has been diagnosed by your GP/Psychiatrist, it can be effectively treated by: Antidepressant medication Psychological interventions e.g. counselling (various types) and psychotherapy (talking therapy which is of various types).

Depression is a mood disorder. Emotional states like sadness, ‘feeling blue’ or tearfulness are part of normal human experience. Clinical depression is called Major Depression and is characterised by the presence for at least two weeks of symptoms such as depressed mood, diminished interest and pleasure in most activities, change in appetite and weight (these can be increased or decreased) sleep disturbance, fatigue, bodily symptoms (headache, backache etc) poor concentration, feelings of anxiousness, worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt, and suicidal ideation.
 
Depression is a common disorder and about 10-20 % of the population in New Zealand will suffer from depression during their lifetime. 
 
Treatment
Once depression has been diagnosed by your GP/Psychiatrist, it can be effectively treated by:
  • Antidepressant medication
  • Psychological interventions e.g. counselling (various types) and psychotherapy (talking therapy which is of various types).
 
Anxiety Disorders

We all feel some anxiety at some time or other. Anxiety may serve as an alerting signal, warning us of external /internal threats and consequently acting as a prompt to take appropriate action. When anxiety is very severe and present even when there is no threat of any kind, then it interferes with our functioning and can become an illness. In this circumstance, anxiety becomes a disorder characterised by an unpleasant emotion with feelings of fear, threat and impending danger and can be associated with numerous bodily symptoms like breathlessness, trembling, tightness in throat, dry mouth, racing heart and nausea/vomiting. There are varieties of anxiety disorders like panic attacks, phobias (unhealthy fear of something), agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), social anxiety, post-traumatic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. Anxiety can often be associated with a depressive episode. Anxiety disorders are very common and if unrecognised and untreated, can cause severe disability. Treatment Self help: learning techniques like relaxation, distraction and education Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Medication.

We all feel some anxiety at some time or other. Anxiety may serve as an alerting signal, warning us of external /internal threats and consequently acting as a prompt to take appropriate action.
 
When anxiety is very severe and present even when there is no threat of any kind, then it interferes with our functioning and can become an illness. In this circumstance, anxiety becomes a disorder characterised by an unpleasant emotion with feelings of fear, threat and impending danger and can be associated with numerous bodily symptoms like breathlessness, trembling, tightness in throat, dry mouth, racing heart and nausea/vomiting.
 
There are varieties of anxiety disorders like panic attacks, phobias (unhealthy fear of something), agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), social anxiety, post-traumatic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. Anxiety can often be associated with a depressive episode.
 
Anxiety disorders are very common and if unrecognised and untreated, can cause severe disability.
 
Treatment
  • Self help: learning techniques like relaxation, distraction and education
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Medication.
Stress related & Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
ADHD

Parking

There is free parking on site at Seaview House.

Contact Details

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ADI Health Suites, 125 Blockhouse Bay Road
Avondale
Whau
Auckland 1026

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Street Address

ADI Health Suites, 125 Blockhouse Bay Road
Avondale
Whau
Auckland 1026

This page was last updated at 11:42AM on June 27, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Auckland Psychiatrist.