Dr. Tani Khara

Tani brings a cross-cultural perspective to her work as a couple’s therapist. She grew up in Singapore, and has worked in Singapore, Australia, India and the United Kingdom.

Her personal experiences have given her great insight into two challenges that can affect how couples communicate, manage conflict, and experience connection.

The first is difference. How do people manage differences in culture, in family expectations, in sexuality, in values?

And how can people navigate very significant transitions or ‘shifts’ in their lives? Transitions due to migration, separation, career changes, bereavement, or life stages.

Whether she is working with couples in a cross-cultural relationship, people from the LGBTQI+ community, or with couples who are experiencing high conflict, Tani starts the same way: by creating a respectful space where her clients feel heard and understood.

Tani draws on Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative Therapy and other evidence-based approaches. She adapts her work to the needs, values and goals of each couple. Tani particularly known for her skills in helping couples communicate more effectively and reduce conflict in their relationship.

Before entering counselling and psychotherapy, Tani spent several years in leadership and academic roles. She understands how high-pressure careers, leadership responsibilities and workplace stress can affect relationships.

Tani’s style is warm and thoughtful. Clients value her ability to understand complex issues and offer clear, practical guidance. She helps clients look beyond blame and understand the patterns that keep them feeling stuck.

On a personal note, Tani has a keen interest in animals and the important place they hold within families and relationships. Her PhD focused on human-animal interactions, and this remains a particularly meaningful area for her. She is especially interested in the ways relationships with companion animals can shape attachment, connection and family life.

ACADEMIC Qualifications

PhD, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – interdisciplinary research spanning sociology and social psychology
Master of Research, Curtin University
Master of Marketing, UNSW
Master of Counselling, Monash University – currently completing final units
Therapeutic approaches used in Tan’s current practice include CBT, ACT, DBT, Schema Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Narrative Therapy and attachment-informed approaches, depending on the client and presenting concerns (Relevant to understanding how individual histories, attachment patterns, schemas and emotional regulation can affect couple and family dynamics)

ACADEMIC, RESEARCH AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Current Honorary Adjunct Fellow, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Currently engaged with the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), UTS, with a particular focus on human–animal relationships.
Published research through UTS in human–animal interactions, with my work increasingly extending into the intersection between human–animal relationships and mental wellbeing.
Currently also a sessional lecturer with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), teaching psychology to American university students undertaking study abroad in Australia.
Extensive university teaching experience on research methods across Macquarie University, UNSW and Swinburne University (My academic and research background has involved understanding human behaviour through psychological and social lenses)

“I felt like Tani really got me.  She was warm and kind, but also fair and honest and I always felt that I knew where I stood with her.” – Clients who saw Tani for Couples Counselling

“Tani made us both feel heard without taking sides. There was a real sense of care and fairness in the room. She helped us speak more openly, while she kept us feeling safe, and helped us understand each other more.” – Clients who saw Tani for Couples Counselling

“I have also never experienced someone making this much genuine effort to help me.  I am deeply grateful for the way you have held these experiences, and for responding to them with the accuracy and depth” – Clients who saw Tani for Couples Counselling.

“We really want to thank you for all your guidance and support.  Our sessions have given us valuable tools and insights that we will continue to work on and apply in life together.  We genuinely appreciated your perspective and the time you’ve invested in supporting us.” – Clients who saw Tani for Couples Counselling