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 has 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. I am currently undertaking an advanced three-year programme for experienced mental health professionals (GPs, psychiatrists, counsellors, psychotherapists, and other allied health professions) already working in psychotherapy and counselling.

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 integrates psychodynamic psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, Psychosynthesis, Jungian analytic psychology, contemporary attachment theories, and the neurobiology of trauma. I also draw on training in mindfulness-based CBT, dreamwork, non-violent communication, yoga and meditation, and systems leadership.

If you’re wondering whether I do “inner child work,” the answer is: not by that name, but yes. Meeting the ‘young’, wounded parts of us is - often - an essential part of healing.

Alongside my clinical training, I have significant experience with the public sector, having previously worked in senior roles across strategy, policy, communications, and organisational development - primarily across the social and justice sectors, including at the New Zealand Treasury. 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, sometimes even shameful. Many of us carry beliefs—passed down through our families and culture—that certain emotions or experiences are bad or wrong. Or we might feel that deep down, we 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 - especially the ocean, making music, and experimenting in the kitchen—especially when it comes to pairing wine and food!

Want to know more about psychotherapy

If you’re not sure about what psychotherapy is, you may like to explore the videos on my About Psychotherapy page.

Ready to Begin?

If you’re curious about working together, I invite you to reach out. Let’s explore whether psychotherapy with me is the right fit for you.