Originally Posted by
petersemple
Full Disclosure: I am a professional psychologist.
What Tea Lady says is correct - look for a psychologist who offers cognitive behaviour therapy. Discuss it with your GP, because you can be referred for counselling under the better mental health scheme, which means that Medicare will cover some of the costs (and if you find a bulk-billing psychologist, who are out there, all of the costs) for (I think) 10 sessions per year.
Hopefully NZ will have a similar scheme.
Research has tended to show that medication and cognitive behaviour therapy are about equally effective. Both together are more effective. Regular exercise is also helpful. From memory, regular strenuous exercise such as jogging etc is actually best in the short term. Cognitive behaviour therapy is better in the long term.
All the best