About Dr Celia Falchi
Kia ora, I’m Dr Celia Falchi, a registered psychologist based in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. I specialise in working with the neurodivergent community—particularly autistic (takiwātanga) and ADHD (aroreretini) individuals—and have a strong commitment to providing therapy, supervision, and training that affirms neurodivergent ways of being.
I founded Wellminded Psychological Services in 2021 as a practice dedicated to supporting neurodivergent clients across the lifespan. My work focuses on delivering trauma-informed, neuro-affirming therapy, providing diagnostic assessments, offering professional supervision, and developing training for mental health and education professionals.
I am a registered psychologist with the New Zealand Psychologists Board, an accredited EMDR therapist, and an EMDR Consultant-in-Training with EMDRNZ. Alongside my clinical work, I am a full member of several professional bodies, including the New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS), the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA), and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS).
My practice is built on both professional expertise and personal insight. My lived experience as an ADHDer enriches my understanding of the unique challenges and strengths within the neurodivergent community. I strive to offer a space where clients, supervisees, and trainees feel seen, heard, and supported—without the expectation to conform to neurotypical norms.
Qualifications
- PhD in Psychology – Massey University
- Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Practice (PGDipPP) – Massey University
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology – Massey University
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Massey University
At Wellminded Psychological Services, my work includes:
- Therapy: Providing EMDR therapy, adapted to meet the needs of neurodivergent clients, Ego-State work, PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy), Solution-Focused Therapy, and CBT where appropriate.
- Assessments: Autism and ADHD diagnostic assessments (currently wait-listed) that are grounded in a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed framework.
- Supervision: Supporting psychologists and allied health professionals to develop neuro-affirming, ethical, and effective practices. I provide clinical supervision, as well as specialist supervision focused on working with neurodivergent populations.
- Professional Development: Creating and delivering workshops on neuro-affirming assessment and therapy approaches. I have presented at professional forums and conferences including the joint Australian Psychological Society (APS) & New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS) Trauma and Neurodivergence symposium, and am an Education Committee Member for AADPA, and Committee Member for the Australia & New Zealand Neurodivergence Wellbeing Conference 2025.
Professional focus
Approach and values
Approach and Values
- Neuro-affirming: I respect diverse ways of thinking, feeling, and relating as natural human variation—not deficits or disorders.
- Trauma-informed: I prioritise safety, consent, and collaboration at every stage of therapy or professional support.
- Strengths-based: I support clients and professionals to identify and build upon existing strengths and capacities.
- Person-centred: Every client and supervisee is treated as the expert on their own experience.
- Continuous learning: I actively stay engaged with current research and best practice, and integrate new knowledge into my work.
- Registered Psychologist – New Zealand Psychologists Board (NZPB)
- Full Member – New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS)
- Accredited Member & Consultant-in-Training – EMDR New Zealand Association (EMDRNZ)
- Full Member – Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA)
- Full Member – International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)
Professional memberships
Lived experience
Being neurodivergent myself provides an important lens through which I approach this work. I understand, both personally and professionally, the strengths and challenges that can come with having a different neurotype. My goal is to create environments—whether therapy rooms, supervision spaces, or training sessions—that affirm and empower, rather than pathologise.