Dr Joseph Foote
I am a consultant (specialist) psychiatrist based in Whangarei. I am a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
I was born and raised in Whangarei, and trained at Auckland University before returning to Northland to specialise 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 (including Asperger Syndrome), and adult ADHD. I began private practice in 2018 after a decade working in Mental Health Services for Northland District Health Board.
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.
Clients sometimes like to know what their doctor will look like, so they don’t have nightmares about scary doctors in white coats… Here’s an amateurish photo:
I live in the countryside with my young family, so don’t be surprised if you see an old Land Rover in the office driveway! I share rooms with Gina Priestley, neuropsychologist, and you may be greeted by Rachel, who has recently become my admin lifesaver.