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NeuroHealth

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Name
NeuroHealth
Category
Brain health
Address
Christchurch
Regions
West Coast, Canterbury
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Are you concerned about your thinking or everyday functioning?

WELCOME TO NeuroHealth
At NeuroHealth, we focus on living well. Our mission is to make comprehensive neuropsychological assessments accessible to all, empowering individuals to lead their best lives. With almost thirty years of combined experience in healthcare and neuropsychology, our team offers personalised, evidence-based assessments to help you or your loved ones understand changes in cognition (thinking), memory, and attention.

WHAT IS Neuropsychology?
One of the most common questions we hear at NeuroHealth is, “What is neuropsychology?”
Neuropsychology is a specialised area of psychology focusing on the relationship between brain function and behaviour. It helps identify how changes in brain health can impact thinking, memory, attention, and emotional well-being.
For a more detailed explanation of what a neuropsychologist is and what they do, check out our What is Neuropsychology page on our website.

ASSESSMENT Services
NeuroHealth is a specialist healthcare provider based in Christchurch, offering a full range of neuropsychological assessments. We support individuals experiencing cognitive changes due to:
- Acquired brain injuries (e.g., stroke, concussion, traumatic brain injury, hypoxia, infections like meningitis)
- Age-related conditions (e.g., mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease)
We provide both brief cognitive screenings and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, guiding diagnosis, treatment, and recovery planning with a focus on improving quality of life.
Service Description
Service Description
At NeuroHealth, we offer a range of specialised assessment services, from one-off consultations to full neuropsychological evaluations. Each assessment is individually tailored to your needs and uses the latest evidence-based tools to provide clear, practical recommendations. Our goal is to support you and your wider care team on your journey toward recovery and cognitive well-being.
If you’re unsure which service is right for you, check out our website or get in touch with us directly. We’re happy to help.

1. Neuropsychology Consultation
This is a one-off consultation with a clinical neuropsychologist. It provides an opportunity to explore current concerns around your cognitive or psychological well-being, without formal testing.
You’ll have a space to discuss what’s changed, gain insight on potential causes, and determine whether further assessment is appropriate.

Who is this for? This service is ideal if you:
- Want a professional opinion about changes in your thinking, memory, or emotional well-being
- Are unsure whether a full assessment is needed
- Need clinical insight to guide next steps

What’s involved?
- A structured clinical interview
- Observation and discussion of your cognitive and emotional presentation
- A written summary letter with impressions and recommendations

2. Targeted Neuropsychology Assessment
This focused assessment helps clarify current changes in thinking, such as memory lapses, attention difficulties, or slowed processing.
It offers a flexible alternative to a comprehensive assessment, adapted to your specific needs.

Who is this for? This assessment may be helpful if you are:
- Experiencing memory or attention changes
- Recovering from a concussion or illness (e.g., long COVID)
- Noticing signs of cognitive decline or burnout
- Beginning an early investigation into conditions like Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment

What’s involved?
- A clinical interview to explore your health background and current concerns
- Brief, targeted neuropsychological testing
- A written summary report with results and tailored recommendations
- This assessment can be tailored to focus on specific areas such as memory, processing speed, or decision-making.

3. Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment
A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment provides a detailed understanding of how your brain is currently functioning. It explores a wide range of thinking (cognitive) skills, including memory, attention, language, problem-solving, processing speed, and multitasking.
This type of assessment also considers how psychological factors such as low mood, anxiety, fatigue, or post-traumatic stress may be affecting your cognitive function and everyday life.

Who is this for? This assessment is recommended if you’ve experienced:
- Neurological events (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, meningitis, hypoxia, or carbon monoxide exposure)
- Repeated head injuries (e.g., sports concussions)
- Age-related cognitive decline
- It may also be required by insurance providers (such as ACC) for rehabilitation planning, return-to-work considerations, or medico-legal reporting.

What’s involved?
- A clinical interview with a neuropsychologist
- One or more neuropsychological testing sessions tailored to your presentation
- A comprehensive written report
- Time for analysis, interpretation, and personalised recommendations
- The process takes multiple appointments. If less testing is required, your total cost will be adjusted.

If you want to know more about these assessments or whether they might be useful for you, please contact us.

Updated: 8 May 2025

Description
Description
NEUROHEALTH’S Story
NeuroHealth was founded by Jonathan and Leah Hackney, experienced clinicians with over two decades of combined experience in New Zealand’s health system. Frustrated by the gaps in long-term neurorehabilitation and the slow, fragmented care many patients faced, they established NeuroHealth to offer timely, evidence-based support without the barriers often found in traditional healthcare settings.
Here, our clients receive the understanding and personalised care they deserve, without unnecessary delays. We hope our approach empowers individuals and whānau with the knowledge and support needed to confidently navigate cognitive health challenges.

Updated: 8 May 2025

Meeting the needs of older people
Meeting the needs of older people
At NeuroHealth, we are fortunate to have Dr. Jonathan Hackney working with our team. His PhD research explored the detection of pre-dementia in older adults living in the community. He has also worked in a range of rehabilitation settings, supporting patients who have experienced conditions including stroke, traumatic brain injuries, dementia, and neurological conditions affecting the brain.

Updated: 12 Feb 2025

Payment
Payment
Payment Status Details
Payment required Yes The cost of assessment varies depending on your concerns and how much time is needed to investigate this appropriately. Please contact us to discuss this further to get an estimation of what an assessment will cost for you.
Subsidy may be available Yes If you have been referred to NeuroHealth through ACC, ACC will cover the cost of your assessment (no co-payment required).

Updated: 12 Feb 2025

Access
Access
Access Status Details
Easy access Yes Our clinic room in Spreydon allows for wheelchair access and also provides on-site parking.

Updated: 12 Feb 2025

Suburbs/Districts/Towns Serviced
Suburbs/Districts/Towns Serviced
NeuroHealth is proudly based in Christchurch, and we see clients from across the wider Canterbury region.

When you book an assessment, we’ll send you directions and parking information ahead of time. There is some onsite parking available, and street parking is usually easy to find nearby.

We occasionally offer neuropsychology clinics outside of Canterbury. If you're based elsewhere and are interested in being seen, please get in touch - we’ll let you know if an upcoming clinic may suit, or discuss other options.

Updated: 8 May 2025

Credentials & Membership
Credentials & Membership
Credentials & Membership RC Status Details
Police checked Yes
Other details Yes Dr Hackney is a Registered Clinical and Neuropsychologist (New Zealand Psychologists Board). Dr Hackney is also a member of the NZCCP (New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists) and INS (The International Neuropsychological Society).

Updated: 12 Feb 2025

Specialities or Areas of Expertise
Specialities or Areas of Expertise
Specialties or Areas of Expertise Status Details
Other Specialties Yes Neuropsychology

Updated: 12 Feb 2025

Support Services Personnel
Support Services Personnel
Status Details
Psychologist Yes

Updated: 12 Feb 2025

Additional Information
Additional Information
Topic Details
Staffing qualifications and details PhD, PGDipClinPsych, PGCertHealSci (Clinical Rehabilitation), BSc(Hons) in psychology. Jonathan completed his PhD and clinical psychology training at the start of 2017 and has been working clinically since this time. In 2018 he was accepted into the Neuropsychology scope of practice through the New Zealand Psychologists Board.

Updated: 12 Feb 2025

ACC
ACC
ACC Status Details
Approved Yes NeuroHealth is an approved provider of the Neuropsychology Assessment Service contract through ACC.

Updated: 12 Feb 2025

What's New
What's New
Facility Image

NeuroHealth – Website Refresh and New Assessment Options

We’ve refreshed our website to make it easier for you to find the right support, and we’ve updated our assessment offerings based on patient feedback to better meet your needs.

Choosing the Right Assessment
We know that understanding which assessment is right for you or a loved one can be challenging. That’s why we’ve streamlined our services to include:

✔️ Comprehensive Neuropsychology AssessmentsFor a full understanding of cognitive function and overall brain health.
✔️ Targeted Neuropsychology AssessmentsFocused evaluations for specific concerns, designed to be efficient and insightful.
✔️ Neuropsychology ConsultationsOne-on-one sessions for personalised guidance and support.

Learn more about our updated assessment options on our new Choosing the Right Assessment page: Visit Now

If you have any questions or would like to make a referral, we’re here to help. To connect with us or book an appointment, visit our Contact Page on the website—we’re here to help! 

Updated: 8 May 2025