Mind Your Head Psychology Ltd - Dr Matthew McDonald

Matt is a seventh generation Southlander who enjoys working with adults of all ages, young people, and their parents, all seeking to make positive change in their lives. 

His special interests include rural mental health, anxiety, depression, grief, loss and trauma, and he is ACC registered.

Over the years he has been employed in child and adolescent mental health, community health, corrections and palliative care. 

Matt believes that in therapy,”one size does not fit all” and it is important to take time to talk with his clients and come up with a plan together to ensure that it works for them.

Matt is trained in various therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Brain-based and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which ensures tailored treatment based on client needs.

He researched psychometrics and neuropsychological functioning in older people for his PhD and uses these principles in his practice to help diagnose neurodevelopmental conditions such as Intellectual Disability and Autism. 

Matt says that he spent far too many years training at the University of Otago, and is enjoying being back home in Southland, being involved in the local community and spending time on the family farm. 

He is a full member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (NZCCP) and New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS) Institute of Clinical Psychologists.