Dr Joseph Foote
I am a consultant (specialist) psychiatrist, and a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
I was born and raised in Whangarei, and trained at Auckland University’s medical school before specialising in psychiatry.
I’ve spent most of my career in general adult psychiatry, using medications and psychotherapy to treat anxiety problems (including social anxiety, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder), mood disorders (including depression, dysthymia, and bipolar affective disorder), psychotic illnesses (including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder), and personality disorders (including borderline personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder).
I have special interests in perfectionism, burnout, obsessive-compulsive personality, autism-spectrum disorder, and adult ADHD. I began private practice in 2018 after a decade working in Mental Health Services for Northland District Health Board. I have since completed many hundreds of complex medicolegal assessments across the country. At present, I do not have capacity for routine private assessments or any treatment, though I continue to be available for complex diagnostic reviews; and assessments for ACC, Veteran’s Affairs, various insurance companies.
I have been an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland, and I’ve taught medical students, junior doctors and general practitioners on a variety of psychiatric topics. I have undertaken training in eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) therapy.
I aim for an interviewing style that is relaxed, gentle, and respectful. I am more than happy for clients to bring along a family member or therapist, as this helps the meeting to feel ‘safe’ and supportive for them, and often helps me to understand the picture even better. I welcome questions before, during and after the meeting.
People sometimes like to know what the doctor will look like – no white coats here! Here’s an amateurish photo:
I look forward to meeting you.