Question 1

What workplace services do you provide?

Accepted Answer

We provide training workshops and webinars, professional supervision, consultation (for example, to advise on workplace wellbeing programmes), and individual clinical support to people leaders and employees. Our sweet spots are workplace wellbeing, mental health, and neurodiversity topics. Our work with organisations has received national awards and award nominations. Please see our workplace services page or get in touch for more info.

Question 2

What are your payment terms for an assessment?

Accepted Answer

Full payment up front confirms your booking. We invoice within 1 business day.You can pay by Internet banking, Visa or Mastercard.Card payments carry a 2.75% processing fee to cover costs incurred, so internet banking is cheaper if that works for you.We do not offer payment plans or partial payments.Refunds go to a New Zealand bank account and take up to 14 days and proof of account may be required.See the relevant info sheets for full terms.

Question 3

What information do I need from others for my assessment? (i.e., what are the requirements for informants)

Accepted Answer

Our default is information from two people, or one person covering both: Someone who knew you before age 12, and someone who knows you well now. If that's difficult, there are options and criteria that let us proceed without an informant where the rest of the clinical picture is consistent enough, in which case a formal diagnosis is still possible. Where there are concerns about involving an informant:There are four ways to do this, and you can choose what suits. As a default, we email you the form, so you can either forward it to them, or share it with them in a way that works best for you. Option 1. Your email them the form. Our questions ask about observable behaviour, not opinions. Things like losing things, running late, or zoning out. Not "do you think they have ADHD?" Our clinicians can also interpret this in context.Option 2. You go through the form with them. For example over the phone, entering answers that capture what they say. This often works better with someone who doesn't remember at first or plays things down, because you can have a conversation with them, e.g., "do you remember my room always being a bomb site?" This is also a good fit for family members who don't speak English or who struggle with the technology of online forms.Option 3. Your clinician emails a few targeted questions, based on what you've shared in the clinical interview/s. Lighter touch than a whole form, and it can be done even after they've filled one in and your clinician has more context from you. Some of our clinicians might offer to give the person a quick phone call to a similar effect.Option 4. We go without. Not our preference, but possible. See our Informant FAQ category for more detailed info.Tell us which suits at your first appointment, or ask us before you book.

Question 4

Will my health insurance cover my assessment or the psychiatry add-on?

Accepted Answer

You will need to check this with your insurer directly, and we will support your claim by providing any required documentation promptly.Insurers vary widely and policies change, so we cannot advise on specific policies or an insurance company's cover. However, MindMattters are here to support however we can: We will promptly provide the required documentation for your insurance application upon request. We can provide break down invoices, which we know help insurers process claims, and usually provide documentation within 1 business day.Please note if your health insurer is contributing to the cost of your appointment you must still be able to make payment in full up front. This means you will either need to seek prior approval, pay for the appointment yourself, and get reimbursed from the external funding OR get the funding as a direct payment from your insurer in advance so you can pay for your booking.If your health insurer requires pre-approval, please email accounts@mindmatters.clinic to request a quote and obtain approval from your insurer BEFORE making your appointment.

Question 5

What happens if I decide not to go ahead after my first assessment appointment?

Accepted Answer

You are refunded everything except $325 (and any card fees).That $325 covers your initial consultation, your psychometric questionnaires, and your clinician's review of any informant forms and background documents you have sent us. That work happens before and during your first appointment, so it cannot be refunded.Everything else is refunded in full, which includes the cost of the main clinical interview/s, the feedback appointment, and your report. If you added the psychiatrist package, that is refunded as well.We cannot recover card processing fees so we are unable to refund these.

Question 6

What if I need to change or cancel an appointment?

Accepted Answer

We need 72 hours' notice.With less notice, or for a missed appointment:For assessments: Rebooking costs $230 for appointments up to 60 minutes, or $345 for longer onesFor privately-funded therapy: The full cost of the session is incurredFor therapy paid for by your workplace or another organisation: The missed appointment counts as an allocated session

Question 7

What assessment tools do you use?

Accepted Answer

A structured clinical interview is the core of the assessment, supported by validated questionnaires completed by you and, where appropriate, your informants, a developmental history, and a review of any school reports or other records you can provide.Which psychometric measures we use depends on what we are assessing and on your individual presentation. As clinical psychologists, we specialise in psychometric assessment, including the interpretation of standardised measures in clinical context, and have access to a range of specialist instruments.Our most commonly used instruments include:Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales, Second Edition (CAARS-2)Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2)Sensory Processing Measure, Second Edition (SPM-2)Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised (RAADS-R)Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)We do not routinely use the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). What matters more than the list of measures is who interprets them and how the results are integrated. Questionnaires can produce false positives and false negatives and should not be interpreted in isolation. A registered clinical psychologist is trained to interpret psychometric results in the context of developmental history, clinical presentation, differential diagnoses, and other available information.We follow best-practice guidance, including the Aotearoa New Zealand Autism Guideline, the New Zealand ADHD Clinical Principles Framework, and published clinical recommendations for adult autism and ADHD assessment.References:Ministry of Health. (2025). New Zealand attention deficit hyperactivity disorder clinical principles framework. https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/new-zealand-clinical-principles-framework-for-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorderPagán, A. F., Flint, D. D., & Loveland, K. A. (2024). Diagnosing autism in adults: Clinically focused recommendations. Journal of Health Service Psychology, 50(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42843-024-00108-0. PMC full textSkirrow, P. (2025). Practice standards for the assessment of ADHD: A synthesis of recommendations from eight international guidelines. Journal of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists, 35(1), 96–116. Article and full textWhaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People. (2022). Aotearoa New Zealand autism guideline: He waka huia takiwhātanga rau (3rd ed.). Aotearoa New Zealand Autism Guideline

Question 8

Are your assessments confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All assessments and information are kept strictly private. The report is also yours alone to share as you choose.The information gathered throughout the assessment process is your private health information and is kept in strict confidence and in accordance with our ethical and legal standards as registered clinicians.Please refer to our consent forms and privacy statement for more information about privacy, confidentiality and limits.

Question 9

Do you require a GP referral?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not require a GP referral.

However, if you have one, you are welcome to email this to us at the time of making your booking and we can attach this to your file. If your GP has sent this to us directly, please mention this when making your booking.

Question 10

What are your wait times?

Accepted Answer

For our organisation clients, please refer to the referral instructions you have been provided by us which include information on response and appointment time-frames.

For our ADHD and autism assessments, we have worked hard to offer nationwide, high-quality assessments via telehealth with significantly lower wait times. You can view our current availability on our online booking page.

Question 11

Do you work with children?

Accepted Answer

No. MindMatters Clinic only works with adults aged 18 or above.

Question 12

Do you provide expert evidence reports for employment disputes, civil, or criminal proceedings?

Accepted Answer

No. MindMatters Clinic does not provide expert evidence reports, expert witness opinions, or medico-legal reports for employment disputes, civil matters, or criminal proceedings. We also do not have another provider we can recommend for these services.

Our clinical services are limited to clinical assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic support.

Question 13

What would the approximate timeframes be for the next steps of the process, e.g. for an assessment booking the time to the second clinical interview appointment, and any resulting diagnosis outcome?

Accepted Answer

Have a look at the relevant information sheet on our website, as we describe this in some detail.

For ADHD and autism assessments, the process is typically four weeks in total for the assessment, with one or two weeks between each appointment. Our combined autism and ADHD assessments take one additional week.

For the ADHD Clinic specifically;

Providing you have purchased the Assessment and Psychiatrist Treatment Package in advance, there is usually 3 weeks, sometimes up to 6 weeks, between receiving your assessment results and the psychiatry appointment (if this is still indicated, otherwise you are refunded).

After your first appointment with the psychiatrist, usually they see you again a couple of weeks later for a review. This review appointment is included in the psychiatry treatment package.

Question 14

Do you guarantee the appointment time frames indicated in the information sheets?

Accepted Answer

We cannot guarantee appointment time frames. However, we aim firmly for assessment results to be within 4 weeks from the first appointment. Our combined autism and ADHD assessments take one additional week.

On rare occasions there are delays due to external factors outside of our control: The most common reason being when we are waiting for your friends or family to provide us with information.

For ADHD, if you have booked the psychiatry treatment package in advance we aim for your appointment to be within 3 weeks of you receiving your results. However, it can take up to 6 weeks depending on staffing, e.g., people being on leave.

There can be longer wait times or delays around the Christmas period.

Question 15

Why telehealth (online appointments)?

Accepted Answer

We want all New Zealanders to be able to access high-quality clinical support, when they need it.

By providing appointments online, we have been able to create a convenient, high-quality service delivered by NZ leading clinicians that can reach many more Kiwis than an in-person clinic.

For more, including a summary of research on telehealth, see our telehealth statement.

Question 16

What if I'm turning 18 soon?

Accepted Answer

You can make an appointment for when you turn 18.

Question 17

Can you work with people from anywhere in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We operate nationwide.

All of our appointments are via telehealth allowing for improved convenience and access to our NZ leading clinicians.

Please note, we cannot offer assessments to people who are not living in New Zealand.

Question 18

Do you offer intellectual or learning assessments (for example, IQ testing or diagnostic assessments for Dyslexia)?

Accepted Answer

No. MindMatters Clinic does not provide intellectual (IQ) testing or comprehensive learning assessments as part of our services.

As part of our ADHD and/or autism assessments, we can include a brief dyslexia screening at no additional cost, but we do not conduct formal cognitive or learning disorder testing.

If someone is experiencing significant challenges suggestive of an intellectual or learning disability, we may recommend seeking assessment with an alternative provider.

Question 19

Are your assessments suitable for someone with significant intellectual disability?

Accepted Answer

No. If someone is experiencing significant challenges suggestive of an intellectual or learning disability, we recommend seeking assessment with an alternative provider.

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