Kyle MacDonald - Psychotherapist

Kyle MacDonald - Psychotherapist Psychotherapist, Director of the Robert Street Clinic and Mental Health Advocate Nick Smith. He has recently become an insufferable e-bike convert.

Kyle is an AUT trained psychotherapist, with over 20 years clinical experience across the public and private sectors. He is passionate about improving access to mental health and addictions treatment and educating the public about psychotherapy. Since 2016 he’s written a weekly mental health column for the NZ Herald, and co-hosted the award-winning mental health radio show “The Nutters Club” on NewstalkZB. For the last 10 years he has publicly fought for improved access to mental health and addiction services. In 2009 Kyle was one of the media spokespeople for a small group who protested the National Government’s changes to the ACC’s Sensitive Claims scheme – funded counselling for people in New Zealand suffering psychological trauma as a result of sexual violence. As part of these protests he organised one of the first online petitions to be presented in the New Zealand Parliament – by Labour MP Lynne Pillay in October 2009 – in opposition to these changes. The public pressure led the ACC to halt the changes and forced a ministerial inquiry initiated by National Minister the Hon. By 2014 he had worked collaboratively with the ACC to redesign the system to better meet people’s counselling needs. In 2016 he led the “People’s Mental Health Review” with Mike King and Action Station – which led directly to “He Ara Oranga: The Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addictions” initiated by the 2017 Labour led Government. In 2019 he ran for the Auckland District Health Board in the local elections as a Green endorsed “City Vision” candidate, and in the 2020 General election he ran as the Green Party candidate for the electorate of Epsom and was placed at 14 on the Green Party list. He regularly appears on radio and TV offering expert commentary on mental health and emotional wellbeing. He is currently on the Psychotherapy Board of Aotearoa New Zealand (PBANZ), served four years on the NZAP Council and was awarded a Distinguished Service Award by the NZAP for his time promoting psychotherapy. He established – and is co-director of – the Robert Street Clinic in Ellerslie, and lives in Mount Eden Auckland, with his partner and two daughters – where he is a parent representative on the Balmoral School board of trustees.

ChatGPT as Your Therapist? Here’s Why That’s So Risky
10/11/2025

ChatGPT as Your Therapist? Here’s Why That’s So Risky

Using AI chatbots for “therapy” is dangerous, mental health experts say. Here’s why

How to Cultivate an Abundance Mindset in Teens Without Spoiling Them
10/11/2025

How to Cultivate an Abundance Mindset in Teens Without Spoiling Them

How do we teach our kids to feel “full” on the inside without tying their self-worth to things, praise, or approval? With emotional abundance, of course.

Banning teens from social media won’t keep them safe. Regulating platforms might
09/11/2025

Banning teens from social media won’t keep them safe. Regulating platforms might

The burden of online safety shouldn't fall on young people themselves, while the systems that foster harm continue unchecked.

Far fewer Americans support political violence than recent polls suggest
09/11/2025

Far fewer Americans support political violence than recent polls suggest

Well-known flaws in conventional polling methods may be creating the incorrect perception that many Americans think political violence is justified.

Dale Purves, the neuroscientist who makes sense of the brain | Aeon Essays
08/11/2025

Dale Purves, the neuroscientist who makes sense of the brain | Aeon Essays

How can you have a picture of the world when your brain is locked up in your skull? Neuroscientist Dale Purves has clues

Those with varied social lives perceive more everyday 'events' | BPS
08/11/2025

Those with varied social lives perceive more everyday 'events' | BPS

New research suggests that those with a more diverse set of life experiences see more discrete 'events' daily than those who are isolated.

Regulators struggle to keep up with the fast-moving and complicated landscape of AI therapy apps
07/11/2025

Regulators struggle to keep up with the fast-moving and complicated landscape of AI therapy apps

As mental health chatbots driven by artificial intelligence proliferate, a small number of states are trying to regulate them.

Loot boxes are still rife in kids’ mobile games, despite ban on ‘gambling-like’ features
07/11/2025

Loot boxes are still rife in kids’ mobile games, despite ban on ‘gambling-like’ features

Games with ‘loot boxes’ should be classified for over-15s – but a new study shows many of the most popular mobile games completely ignore the rules.

Is narcissism really on the rise among younger generations? | Psyche Ideas
06/11/2025

Is narcissism really on the rise among younger generations? | Psyche Ideas

A fresh investigation of vast numbers of young people from around the world has thrown up some surprising results

Lifeline to cut operations if funding shortfall not plugged | RNZ News
06/11/2025

Lifeline to cut operations if funding shortfall not plugged | RNZ News

A mental health support service says it will have to reduce its operations if it cannot plug a $2 million shortfall.

Wellington depression recovery centre will close its doors after no funding reprieve | Stuff
06/11/2025

Wellington depression recovery centre will close its doors after no funding reprieve | Stuff

Accidental meeting invite from Health NZ gave false hope but no reprieve for Wellington mental health service

Address

Robert Street Clinic, 37 Roberts Street, Ellerslie
Auckland
1051

Telephone

+6421708689

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Kyle MacDonald - Psychotherapist posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category