About Chris Caruana

My story

I am a father of two teenage girls whom I share the responsibility of caring for with my ex-partner of seventeen years. I have direct experience with marital separation and I personally know how difficult relationships can be. This personal experience informs how I manage and assist others experiencing difficulties to address issues and concerns and to positively move forward.

I have worked professionally as a counsellor in a variety of settings for the last twenty years and I have maintained a strong working relationship with Unitec as a lecturer teaching communication and counselling skills since 2006. A significant proportion of my counselling training has been experimentally based, meaning that I have spent an extensive period of time looking at issues that have affected me and my relationships on a regular basis. I believe that this commitment to looking at my own life processes has enabled me to work with a heightened sense of efficiency, respect and integrity.

As a professional counsellor I have worked extensively with couples, families and adolescence in a variety of settings including private practice, secondary schools and NGOs. I am very comfortable dealing and managing issues such as; relationship difficulties, betrayal, conflict, separation, depression, anger, crises, anxiety, lack of communication and resignation within relationship.

Chris Caruana’s Professional Training

My formal counselling training consists of a Masters Degree in Counselling (Narrative Therapy) from the University of Waikato and a Diploma in Psychosynthesis Counselling (NZQA). I have a Bachelors of Arts Degree majoring in Psychology and a Post Graduate Diploma of Teaching. I am a certified Master Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner and advanced hypnotherapist. I have had extensive professional training and a strong interest in couples and family counselling, mediation and restorative practices. I have been a full member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) since 1992.

Chris Caruana’s Approach as a Counsellor

I am committed to working collaboratively with people to reach new understandings and to find new possibilities of how to live. In therapy conversations I am guided by the ideas and practices of Narrative Therapy, Resorative Justice and Solution-focused/Brief therapy. I see counselling as a process where client’s ideas and experiences are heard, respected and focused upon as central to the conversations held.

For further information do contact me

“I never see people at their best but my hope is that once the concerns and difficulties can be addressed effectively, people can return to being their best and giving their best to each other again”.