Claudia Chakar

Claudia is one of the most experienced couple and family Therapists at the Sydney Couple and Family Specialists with over 20 years of clinical work.  Prior to joining Sydney Couple and Family Specialists, Claudia worked at Relationships Australia for 13 years as a senior Couple and Family Therapist where she supervised and led a team.  Claudia continues to provide her expertise and clinical supervision to other Therapists.

Claudia is one of very few Therapists who can work with all types of couples and family presentations due to her vast experience.

She has a particular interest in helping couples, families and individuals understand the unhelpful way they communicate which often leads to conflict. She also has years of experience working with estrangements and conflict in adult families, as well as helping parents navigate complex situations where neurodiversity may be present.

Claudia is highly sought after by couples and families alike because she is known for being a trauma informed Therapist.  Claudia’s background training in mental health means she can incorporate trauma ideas with a relationship lens. This greatly benefits couples who have experienced a trauma like an affair or other betrayal, significant loss, health diagnosis and all types of drug and alcohol addictions.

Claudia is a “Child Inclusive Consultant” for children whose parents are in the process of separation, mediation or Court proceedings.  Claudia says, “I find it highly rewarding when I can help couples manage separation in a healthy way which reduces the impact on children”.

Claudia has trained in Systemic Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Solution Focused, Emotionally Focused Therapy and uses Gottman interventions in her work.  She is known for bringing extensive knowledge and a lovely warmth to her work. However, as well as her warmth, she has a direct interventionalist style – which means clients receive direct guidance and help for their relationship problems.

Claudia is a Clinical Supervisor, and a parent.

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Masters in Counselling (UWS)
Bachelor Degree of Social Work (UWS)
Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling (USYD)
Child Inclusive Training
Prepare and Enrich Facilitor
PACFA – Clinical Member

“I’d just like to say how pleased we were with the work Claudia did with us on our relationship.  Very professional, very empathetic, but stayed strongly neutral with both of us.  Was a big help in addressing some issues with strategies going forward.”. – Clients who saw Claudia for Couples Counselling.

“We have been so fortunate to have Claudia as our Family Counsellor. She is knowledgeable, kind and empathic and has made sure our sessions were productive and contained”.  – Clients who saw Claudia for Family Counselling.

“We saw Claudia for couples counselling. Claudia was direct and informative in her approach which we loved as we were not looking for a passive approach, but someone who could give us honest feedback and get us back on track with our relationship – which we achieved – very happy!” – Clients who saw Claudia for Couples Counselling.

“Claudia is not only very kind and compassionate, but she really listens. We saw her for couples counselling and we both felt heard by Claudia. She was also very fair and didn’t let us get away with things. We would highly recommend Claudia”. – Clients who saw Claudia for Couples Counselling.

“We had a very distressing estrangement in our family when we sought help from Claudia. We were not sure if Claudia (or anyone) was going to be able to help us, but she did. She was very dedicated to helping us all repair and heal our relationships. She is a very kind and a very good listener – we all felt heard by Claudia. We will be forever grateful to Claudia. A wonderful family counsellor”. – Clients who saw Claudia for Family Counselling.