• Programme Coach & Facilitator

    Charmaine Rees - Registered, Clinical Psychologist

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    Charmaine Rees

    Qualifications include:
    • Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology
    • Master of Science with Honours
    • Graduate Diploma in Psychology
    • Full member of the NZ Psychological Society
    • Master of Commerce & Administration
    • Bachelor of Commerce with Honours

    Charmaine Rees is a registered, Wellington-based Clinical Psychologist who offers thoughtful, evidence-based therapy for children, adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment difficulties, and life transitions.

    She brings a calm, compassionate, and collaborative approach to therapy, supporting people to better understand themselves and build meaningful change.

    Charmaine has clinical experience across adult mental health, intellectual disability, and rehabilitation settings, and works with individuals facing complex emotional and psychological challenges.

    Her therapeutic style draws on approaches such as CBT, ACT, motivational interviewing, and behaviourally informed strategies, always tailored to each person’s needs, values, and goals.

    Before training as a psychologist, Charmaine worked in senior commercial roles across government and private corporations.

    This background gives her a strong understanding of stress, trauma, resilience, and the impact of high-pressure environments on mental wellbeing.

    Charmaine is committed to culturally responsive practice and creating a safe, respectful space where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered. She values genuine connection and works alongside clients at their own pace, with care and curiosity.

  • Why the name "Taurikura Ora"?

    The name Taurikura Ora was chosen to reflect both the aspiration and the experience we hope this programme brings to teachers.

    Taurikura speaks to prosperity, peace, and thriving. It describes a state of being settled, undisturbed, and free from unnecessary distraction — a condition in which growth and flourishing are possible. In the context of teaching, taurikura captures our vision of educators who are not merely coping, but are supported to experience stability, clarity, and professional fulfilment, even within complex and demanding environments.

    Ora refers to life, health, recovery, and wellbeing. It encompasses being safe, restored, and well — emotionally, mentally, and physically. Ora also acknowledges survival and renewal: the capacity to recover, to regain balance, and to be sustained over time. For teachers, this reflects the importance of emotional regulation, resilience, and ongoing restoration in a profession where energy, care, and relational presence are constantly required.

    Together, Taurikura Ora expresses a holistic state of wellbeing where teachers are supported to be healthy, grounded, and emotionally regulated, enabling them to thrive rather than simply survive. The name honours both the challenges of today’s teaching environment and the inherent potential for renewal, prosperity, and sustained wellbeing when the right supports are in place.

    At its heart, Taurikura Ora reflects a commitment to nurturing teachers so that wellbeing, balance, and professional vitality can be spread throughout their classrooms, schools, and wider communities.