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Vermont Street Specialists

Private Service

Description

The Vermont Street Practice hosts the services of four psychiatrists and two psychologists which enables us to provide a mental health centre of excellence. We are able to draw on the combined strengths of our practitioners to the benefit of our patients over the age of 18 years.
 

Our psychiatrists are:

Our psychologists are:

  • Lisa Cohen
  • Gwendoline Smith


Consultant introductions:

Dr Jane Casey - Mental Capacity Assessment Service
 Jane is a consultant psychiatrist and psychogeriatrician and her areas of special interest include depression, dementia, cognition and capacity assessments. She has considerable experience in writing expert opinion reports in relation to the Mental Health Act, PPPR Act and mental capacity cases, including capacity to appoint Enduring Powers of Attorney and Testamentary capacity.

Dr Ian Goodwin
Dr Goodwin is a consultant psychiatrist with subspecialty training in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (the interaction between physical and mental illness) and Forensic Psychiatry. 

Dr Rob Shieff
Rob is a general adult consultant psychiatrist. His main area of clinical interest relates to the evaluation and management of Mood Disorders – Major Depression, Bipolar Affective Disorder and the Anxiety Disorders. However, Rob is proficient in the treatment of a broad range of adult psychiatric illnesses and is comfortable working with individual patients, couples, families and groups. Rob also has considerable experience in undertaking assessments and providing reports for third party organisations.

As well as his expertise in the pharmacological treatment of mental illness, Rob has also undertaken extensive training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which forms the core of his psychotherapeutic approach to understanding and treating psychological problems. Rob is also actively involved in a variety of primary mental health teaching initiatives.

Dr Karl Jansen (Added May 2018)
Dr Karl Jansen is a consultant psychiatrist with wide interests. He has a great deal of experience in preparing expert witness court reports in a wide range of matters, including drugs and alcohol and parenting matters, Section 21 and other Mental Health Act assessments and second opinions, forensic assessments and fitness-to-plead assessments.

Lisa Cohen
Lisa works collaboratively and holistically with each client using techniques specifically suited to the individual’s needs to empower the client and their families/whanau.

To read more please visit Lisa Cohen's website: www.lisacohenpsychology.co.nz

Gwendoline Smith
Gwendoline is a consultant psychologist with a specialty in the treatment of depression and anxiety conditions. She is also a published author in this area. 

You can read more about Gwendoline and access many resources on her website: http://gwendolinesmith.com/
 
 
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.

A 'psychologist' is a non-medical specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behaviour and psychiatric problems. They provide psychological evaluation, assessment, testing and treatment for people experiencing mental or emotional problems.

Consultants

Hours

Please contact the practice during business hours, Monday to Friday, to arrange an appointment with one of our specialists.

Usual consulting days are:

Dr Jane Casey: Friday Mornings

Dr Ian Goodwin: Monday mornings, Tuesday & Wednesday, 9am till 4.30pm

Dr Rob Shieff: Monday to Friday (evening consultations on Wednesday)

Dr Karl Jansen: Variable

Gwendoline Smith: Monday to Wednesday

Lisa Cohen: Every Wednesday from 10am till 6pm and every Thursday from 10am till 6pm

Referral Expectations

You may be referred to a psychiatrist by your GP if your symptoms are severe and you are not able to function well. 
 
The staff at the Vermont Street Mental Health Specialists will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
 
Most people are a bit nervous about their first meeting with a psychiatrist or psychologist, and it sometimes helps to know what you can expect.  This initial consultation usually lasts about 50 to 60 minutes; following meetings tend to be briefer, about 25 minutes.  You are most welcome to bring family members or friends with you, for company and support, as well as providing their valuable thoughts and opinions. The main aim of the first meeting is for us to understand, as fully as we can, the problems that you have at the moment and how they might have developed.  We will also take time to discuss what they might mean, as well as defining a process that will hopefully help you to manage them as effectively as possible.  All of this involves us both talking together, with some questions or prompts from us, if they are necessary. At the end of this time, so long as you are in agreement, we will put our thoughts and decisions into a letter to your General Practitioner, to make sure we keep them informed of what’s happening. 

You will be sent a patient information sheet, which covers some basic, but very important, details. Please complete this form (copy also located below) for our records and bring it with you. Similarly, if you have any other information that you think would help us to understand you and your problems better, you’re most welcome to bring that along too.

A lot of people like to organise their thoughts about what they’d like to discuss in note form and bring this with them to jog their memory.

If you’d like to speak with us, either before or after your appointment, please call the practice managers.

Procedures / Treatments

  • Schizophrenia

    Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects about 1% of the general population.… More

  • Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression

    This is a mood disorder in which both depressive (persistent low mood) and manic (elevated or high mood) episodes are experienced.… More

  • Depression

    Depression is a mood disorder. Emotional states like sadness, ‘feeling blue’ or tearfulness are part of normal human experience.… More

  • Anxiety Disorders

    We all feel some anxiety at some time or other.… More

Document Downloads

Refreshments

Coffee, tea, biscuits and chocolates all available for our patients.

Travel Directions

25 Vermont Street is located a little way down Vermont Street on the right hand side if approached from Ponsonby Road.

Public Transport

The Auckland Transport Journey Planner will help you to plan your journey.

Parking

Free off-street patient parking is available at the front of the building. There is also street parking and parking across the road behind the church hall.

For more information about parking click here.

Pharmacy

Nearest pharmacy

Contact Details

25 Vermont Street, Ponsonby

Central Auckland

25 Vermont Street
Ponsonby
Auckland

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Street Address

25 Vermont Street
Ponsonby
Auckland

Postal Address

25 Vermont Street
Ponsonby
Auckland 1011

This page was last updated at 2:20PM on August 1, 2018. This information is reviewed and edited by Vermont Street Specialists.