Cherie Benns Clinical Psychology Services Ltd

Reviews

1. Deb Puddy ★☆☆☆☆

   If I could I would give zero stars. I stupidly didn't look at google reviews and again was a desperate mum looking for help for my then 12yr old daughter and boy oh boy do I regret it. After a less than 90min "assessment" (just a discussion) and interaction with teachers (she masks at school) I was told things about how I need to tell my daughter to use her big girl voice, that she has anxiety and most people would be pleased to know their child isn't autistic, or and I quote "with anxiety it tends to be quite contagious and when it's between a mother and child it's especially catching". She made reference that I was the issue and when I questioned her on her "findings" and the missed things she didn't even discuss, she was defiant and rude. I never got a report, only an email. I then linked her into different studies for high masking teen girls after she said that there is no possible way my child can mask for such long periods, she accused me of harassment. I refused to pay my bill given I wasn't given what I was expecting. I also laid a complaint with the HDC and psychology board, not that they did anything. DO NOT USE THIS CROCK OF A SO-CALLED PSYCHOLOGIST!!!

   almost 6 months ago
2. Lisa ★☆☆☆☆

   **UPDATE: My daughter subsequently went on to be properly assessed, in depth not just 1 session, and diagnosed with autism. Not just on the fringe of the spectrum, Level 2 social communication - the very reason she shut down and wasn't able to converse in Cherie's session. She needed to feel respected, safe and understood to be able to find her way and communicate. We both let her down and I take responsibility for my part. Parents, we MUST learn and read all about ASD if going into an ASD assessment so that we can give as many examples and as much insight as possible. Especially if it's a late diagnosis in a teenage girl where symptoms can be less obvious. It becomes so obvious when you read and learn about it. It's the psychologists job to dig deeper and ask the right questions to make sure it's not misunderstood as anxiety, mentioning the signs in boys when I asked what would be seen if she was autistic was a major red flag in itself, girls present differently than boys so that is out-of-date. I am now her biggest advocate and no-one will dismiss her like that again. She deserved kindness, consideration, caring and professionalism. Instead she walked out broken. It was lucky we took it further or she would've gone through life unsupported. She is living life supported and respected as the beautiful neurodiverse person she is.** Please take heed of the negative reviews left by others, and be wary of any defensive response in reply to my review. She may possibly be ok for anxiety or a severely autistic child but DO NOT USE this lady if seeking a diagnosis for ASD where your child's symptoms are more subtle. She focused only on anxiety and wasn't open to look past it (ASD can go undetected in girls until teenage years and can be misdiagnosed as anxiety), and didn't ask any questions relating to autism to figure out the whole picture. She wouldn't listen to me or the counsellor who had seen my daughter for 1hr weekly sessions for almost a year. She also didn't ask if my daughter was ok when she became overwhelmed and highly distressed from feeling violated and misunderstood, and although 2 out of 3 of her gold standard assessments showed autism these were ignored. Unfortunately I thought she was the expert so I hadn't researched ASD and armed myself with knowledge before I went along. Counsellors who have spent longer than her hour and a half session have all concluded themselves that ASD is the cause of my daughters symptoms, one of whom has an ASD diagnosis herself so knows ASD well. I put my trust in Cherie only for my daughter to be misjudged and completely let down. A very traumatic experience and waste of a fully funded assessment that if done by someone who understood the traits and subtleties of high functioning autism could have changed outcomes for my daughter and ensured she would be supported and able to reach her full potential in life. Be warned, it is your right to receive appropriate care and assessment methods when seeking 'expert' help.

   almost 6 months ago
3. Katie Daly ★★★★★

   Can't speak more highly of Cherie! This is our second experience with her, firstly diagnosing my husband's ADHD in 2020 and now our son's ASD. She was great to deal with and was really good at engaging with our son. She wrote a thorough and detailed report and the costs were nowhere near as expensive as other places. I think some of the other reviews are disgruntled customers who just disagree with professional opinion.

   1 year ago

1. Aidan Johnston ★☆☆☆☆

   I do not recommend Cherie Benns. I was referred to Cherie Benns for a ADHD diagnosis several years ago. She conducted an extremely brief and substandard single session assessment. Subsequently, she insisted that I was influenced by popular 'tik tok' trends, and after one session she adamant that it was all in my head. Fast track several years later, I received a thorough assessment by a reputable Psychologist, who provided me with the appropriate diagnosis. However, while this is inherently positive, Cheries lack of professionalism influenced me to believe that I was making my disorder up and held me back from receiving the treatment and help I most desperately needed. .

   1 year ago
2. Two Clayton ★☆☆☆☆

   I was referred to Ms Benns after a year of treatment for reassessment of my case for ACC. There were almost 30 discrepancies in her report from what I told her. She basically torpedoed my sensitive claim that I have been fighting ACC for since 1987. I told her my sister died after suffering from leukaemia for 29 years, and she wrote she died at 29 ( oh which according to her report was the second time my sister died). The psychiatrist who referred me to her, well she never referred to his notes even though he had been treating me for a year. Instead she relied on GP notes and notes from a psychiatrist I only saw twice. I had two 2 hour sessions with her and a 20 minute zoom meeting as a follow up, but she charged ACC for 8 sessions. So I had to lodge an appeal with ACC which meant no treatment for 15 months, so thanks for that. I couldn't recommend her less. Total quackery!

   almost 2 years ago
3. Sarah Watkeys ★☆☆☆☆

   As noted by others, Cherie is dishonest. She wrote a report for ACC claiming twice as many sessions as actually occurred - I have notified ACC of this blatant lie. There are a large number of errors in her report, the report is effectively gibberish. She makes judgements about an area of my expertise which she has zero knowledge about, claiming a crucial area is irrelevant (experts in the field would be gobsmacked at her interpretation and I have advised ACC of who the NZ experts are). She told me she would let me see the report before sending it, and then refused to give me a copy after sending. Avoid at all cost. She’s nice to your face, but turns out to be scum. The only good thing is that I wasn’t the one paying her.

   almost 2 years ago

1. Elaine Sully ★☆☆☆☆

   Avoid at all costs. An absolute quack of a psychologist. Had an assessment through Cherie and at the end she said told me she'd get back to me because she "didn't know". I never heard from her again apart from requests for payment. Cherie, you need to quit this career, you are clearly out of your depth.

   almost 3 years ago
2. Lucas ★★★★★

   Got an assessment through Cherie. Very good communication, great service and great to talk to. Highly recommend.

   almost 3 years ago
3. Nicky Lanyon ★☆☆☆☆

   I find Cherie benns dishonest. We had an agreement for her to do a report. Which would take a few seasons. She sends me an invoice to pay. I advised I'd pay her account but wanted some assurance she would complete the job I asked her to do and provide a report at the end and I was told by friends not to pay her until she completes the job. I trusted her and paid her $185. She later advised me she's not going to do the report . I'm not sure why she pulled out. I feel completely let down by this woman and feel a complete lack of trust in professionals now and I also left feeling ripped off by this woman. Going to her was a complete waste of time and money and achieved nothing. Ive asked for a refund and she has completely ignored me. I am in the process of taking her to the disputes tribunal. I have learned a very valuable lesson not to pay until they complete the job and do not trust professional enough to pay before they complete the job you have asked them to do. I will never go to a shrink ever again they are the

   almost 4 years ago

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