	Psychologist Tauranga 1 Village Way Welcome Bay 3112 Tauranga
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✓ I also offer online therapy

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Carien | Psychologist

Psychologist Tauranga

Kia ora! My name is Carien (kind of pronounced as "Kha-rene").

Feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges? In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel disconnected from our inner selves and what truly matters. Sometimes, it is difficult to navigate life’s complexities, leading to stress and uncertainty.

I offer a compassionate, holistic approach combining 30 years of experience in psychology, education, guidance and counselling. I use an integrative scientific approach to find a unique and individual pathway for each of my clients. I work with people from all walks of life that are experiencing emotional difficulties (e.g., depression / anxiety/ anger management issues), or difficult life circumstances (e.g., divorce/ immigration / grief).

I specialise in supporting people through overwhelming stress and trauma, with a special focus on somatic experiencing and somatic regulation. This focuses on building emotional resilience through nervous system regulation.

I love what I do: helping people regain their inner resources and find meaning and purpose in life. Sometimes, we need someone else to be a soundboard, to see through the “fog” and help us back on a path of well-being.

If you want to know more or make an appointment, feel free to contact me.

Carien

Online therapy

Zoom is a secure medium for online therapy, but we can also use Skype or other telehealth options. Online therapy feels different, but it is as effective as in-person, and I invite you to be curious and open as to how effective it can be.

Ideally, surround yourself with something that you find resourceful (pleasing to the eye), such as a beautiful object, or have a scarf or favourite pillow close. I will talk us through the ethical considerations of going online, such as privacy, safety and confidentiality, during the first session and send some information beforehand.

Qualifications and registrations

HIghest academic qualification
PhD (2005) Educational Psychology, University of Pretoria with a thesis titled: The experiences of children growing up in same-gendered families

Professional qualifications

MEd Educational Psychology, University of Pretoria (1999),
BEd Hons Educational Psychology, University of Pretoria (1997),
BA(Ed) School Guidance and Counselling, University of Pretoria (1993)

Registration and memberships

New Zealand Board for Psychology: NZPB Reg no 90-06379

The New Zealand Psychological Society Member no 10409

ACC (ISSC/ Sensitive Claims) Provider no 26CEXY

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SE International)

Somatic Regulation & Resilience Practitioner

Additional further training

Sandplay therapy (ISST)

Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Solution Focused Therapy

Medical Hypno-analysis Level 1

Energy Psychology

Mindfulness based practices
Brain Working Recursive Therapy Level 1

Registrations

I offer therapy in

✓ Afrikaans

✓ English

Specialisations

1. Somatic Experiencing
2. Psychological therapy
3. Anxiety
4. Stress
5. Overwhelm
6. Grief
7. Life adjustments
8. Loneliness
9. Trauma

Specialisations and Expertises

Fields of Expertise
My work focuses on supporting individuals experiencing overwhelm, stress, burnout, anxiety, and trauma. I specialise in helping people navigate periods when life feels too much, emotions are hard to manage, or the body carries the impact of past or ongoing difficulties.

Specialisations
I draw on Somatic Experiencing (SE) as a primary approach, working gently with the nervous system to restore balance and resilience. Alongside SE, I integrate evidence-based psychological therapies including mindfulness practices, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Therapy, Rational Behaviour Therapy (RBT), and Sandplay therapy. This integrative approach allows me to tailor sessions to each person’s needs and readiness for change.

Most Treated Issues

Chronic stress and emotional overwhelm
Workplace burnout and fatigue
Anxiety and worry patterns
Trauma and post-traumatic stress responses
Difficulty regulating emotions
Disconnection from self or body

Number of Sessions
The number of sessions varies depending on the person and the depth of the issue. Some people experience meaningful relief in as few as 6–8 sessions, while others benefit from a longer-term therapeutic process. My aim is always to move at a pace that feels safe and manageable, supporting sustainable change rather than quick fixes.

Most common issues I support people with:

I specialise in supporting people through highly stressful experiences, which result in nervous system dysregulation. This shows up in for example anxiety, anger, hypervigilance, restlessness, panic, or feeling numb, flat, and exhausted all the time.

Therapies offered

Areas of counselling I can help with

Fees

Sessions are 50 minutes in length, and $220 (NZD GST incl) per session.
Payment via bank transfer or cash.

Availability (Opening hours)

Monday	08.30 - 17.00
Tuesday	08.30 - 17.00
Wednesday	08.30 - 17.00
Thursday	08.30 - 17.00
Friday	08.30 - 15.00
Saturday	-
Sunday	-

Contact me

Do you want to make an appointment or do you have a question?

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Great, you are taking the first step.
Leave a message and I will contact you as soon as possible.