About Clare

Kia ora | Hello. I’m Clare Rousseau, a psychotherapy practitioner based in Central Wellington and online.

I offer psychotherapy to support people in deepening self-awareness, healing relational wounds, developing thriving relationships - both personal and professional, and creating more fulfilling lives.

I believe that at the heart of a good life are good relationships.

We are born out of and into relationships.
We come to know ourselves through relationships.
We learn, grow, contribute, create, and play in relationships.
We are hurt (❕) —and we heal ( 🌱 )— in relationships.
We leave our mark on the people around us and carry each other with us in the world.
And when we leave this life, our legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of those we’ve touched.
So the cycle continues.

My Approach & Philosophy

My work is shaped by my own journey of healing from early relational trauma—a process that at times felt more challenging, shaming, and tumultuous than it needed to be. I know firsthand that being a client can be bloody hard work, and I believe that your commitment should be recognised and celebrated.

My mission is to clear the path for you, should you choose to walk it. 

Qualifications, Training and Therapeutic Orientation

I completed counselling training nearly 15 years ago and have been practicing psychotherapy in private practice for about five years. My current training is a three-year advanced programme designed for mental health professionals already working in psychotherapy and counselling, including psychiatrists, GPs, psychotherapists, psychologists, counsellors, and other allied health professionals.

I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Science (Consciousness, Spirituality, and Transpersonal Psychology) and am currently completing a Master of Science (MSc), with my dissertation expected to be finished in July 2025. My undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Philosophy. Alongside my professional training, I’ve also undertaken long-term personal psychotherapy, which continues to shape my work.

My approach is integrative, drawing on Internal Family Systems, Psychosynthesis, Jungian analytic psychology, contemporary psychodynamic and attachment theories, and the neurobiology of early childhood and intergenerational trauma. I’ve also undertaken training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, dreamwork, yoga and meditation teacher training, mindfulness-based CBT, non-violent communication, systems leadership, and group facilitation. Alongisde this, I have significant experience with the public sector, having previously worked in senior roles across strategy, policy, communications, and organisational development. This background allows me to see both the big picture—the interconnectedness of things—and the deeply personal, inner aspect of our lives. 

I understand that opening up about certain parts of your mind or life can feel uncomfortable, even shameful. Many of us carry beliefs—passed down through our families and culture—that certain emotions or experiences are bad or wrong. While it’s important to acknowledge how we impact ourselves and others, these judgments can make it difficult to seek support.

The irony is that the very places we feel discomfort or shame are often where the greatest transformation happens. Our early experiences shape us profoundly, and while healing is our responsibility, we have, in many ways, inherited much of our psyche from the generations before us.

I commit to holding a non-judgmental, open, and expansive space—where all parts of you are welcome. Your thoughts, emotions, sensations, experiences, dreams, stories, beliefs, desires, essence, and the parts that may be hard to name.

I regularly undertake supervision with three registered psychotherapists in New Zealand and consult with other practitioners as needed to support my work with you.

Beyond Private Practice

I am passionate about empowering people and systems to heal, and I am exploring ways to open-source what I have learned—so that healing can be more widely accessible.

Outside of my work, I love immersing myself in nature, making music, and experimenting in the kitchen—especially when it comes to pairing wine and food!