Dr Verena Boshra

Lotus and Fern - Psychological Services

Compassionate, collaborative and creatively delivered psychological services that honour clients’ unique strengths and experiences. The ultimate goal is to support my clients to develop the connectedness (within themselves and with others), resilience and coping skills to live more fulfilling lives.

Areas of Special Interest

  • parenting
  • anxiety
  • stress
  • emotional regulation/dysregulation
  • self-esteem
  • self-confidence
  • connection and sense of belonging
  • school/academic difficulties
  • behavioural challenges
  • adjustment to life changes

I offer a broad range of services including:

Assessments
If you/someone you care about are having a hard time, an assessment is a great place to start. The purpose of a psychological assessment is to develop a shared understanding about the area(s) of difficulty or concern. The initial goal is to gather all the ‘puzzle pieces’ together and then reflect on the picture that forms in order to provide recommendations and where relevant, decide on the most appropriate interventions going forward.

Treatments
Forming a strong connection with someone outside of your family/ friendship circle can often be really helpful for children and adults alike, particularly during times of difficulty. For me, this is the foundation of a therapeutic relationship – a safe space where clients can freely express what’s going on for them and have these experiences heard and validated without judgement.

Treatments can be short/long-term, depending on the presenting difficulties. Individualised treatment plans are developed following a comprehensive assessment process to address any identified area(s) of concern/difficulty and equip clients with the skills to respond adaptively to any future difficulties.

Trainings/Workshops
These can be designed and delivered depending on your needs.

Counselling/Therapy Approach

Regardless of what it is that you / someone you care about is struggling with, I prioritise the therapeutic relationship and draw on a range of clinical approaches (e.g. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Play Therapy and Narrative Therapy) to tailor my services to clients’ unique needs, strengths, interests, stages of development and learning styles.

Background and Experience

I founded Lotus and Fern after spending years working with incarcerated adults. While carrying out countless assessment and treatment sessions in this context, one of the things that really stood out to me was how the majority of clients’ problems appeared to stem from childhood. Many of my clients in this context reminisced about the ways that their lives may have been different had they been given the opportunity to learn about themselves and develop more adaptive ways of coping with their challenges as children. Working with young people and having had my own children, I realised that in order to truly help young people, we must also prioritise those looking after them: their caregivers. “The very most profound thing we have to offer our children is our own healing” (Anne Lammont).

I have a broad range of experiences/training working with individuals of all age groups, with a particular interest in working with anxiety and parenting-related issues.

FAQs

Q Registrations and Memberships

- Registered Clinical Psychologist
- Member NZ Psychological Society (MNZPsS)
- Member Institute of Clinical Psychology (ICP)
- Member Institute of Educational/ Developmental Psychology (IEDP)
- ACC Registered Counsellor

Q Qualifications

- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
- Bachelor of Science (1st class honours)
- Bachelor of Science
- Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Children and Adolescents

Q Languages

I am fluent in:
English / الإنجليزية
Egyptian Arabic / العربية

Q Appointments

I run a part-time private practice. Limited appointments are available at my Albany Consulting Office (on Rosedale Road). Please enquire with your preferred days/times and I will do my best to accommodate you where possible.

Q Fees

Fees are dependent on the specific services required. Please enquire for more details. I provide a tailored treatment plan following your initial assessment session which will provide you with a more accurate indication of costs for your situation.

Q Payment Options

- Bank transfer prior to your scheduled session(s)

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