Dr. Chris Coleiro

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Dr. Chris Coleiro

(he/him)
“I provide a safe, non-judgemental, and compassionate space which encourages my clients to tune into and understand the processes of their own mind and internal world. I’m passionate about providing therapy which allows people to grow, heal, and empower themselves.”

Dr Chris Coleiro is a senior clinical psychologist based in Melbourne. He has experience working with a wide range of mental health concerns and is particularly drawn to complex presentations that require thoughtful, longer-term work.

Chris helps people with:

  • Mood difficulties such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive presentations, and bipolar disorder
  • Trauma-related issues including PTSD, complex trauma, and dissociation
  • Personality-related difficulties including Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Emotional dysregulation and emotional sensitivity
  • Identity and self-esteem issues
  • Adjusting to or managing challenging life circumstances
  • Concerns related to sexuality and gender diversity
  • Neurodivergence, including Autism, ADHD, and AuDHD
  • Body image concerns and disordered eating

BACKGROUND & APPROACH

I’ve always been drawn to working with people experiencing complex and long-standing emotional difficulties. Much of my work involves supporting clients navigating intense emotions, relationship difficulties, longstanding patterns, and the effects of painful or overwhelming experiences. I often work with complex attachment and relationship patterns, including anxious, preoccupied, avoidant, and narcissistic patterns, helping people understand how these may shape their relationships, emotional responses, and sense of self.

I draw from a range of evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches. I incorporate Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help people better understand and work with the different “parts” within themselves. I also draw from psychodynamic approaches to explore how earlier experiences, relationships, and unconscious patterns may continue to influence a person’s emotions, relationships, and sense of self.

I’m passionate about supporting neurodivergent people, including autistic folk, ADHD’ers, and AuDHDers. I value helping people develop a fuller and more affirming understanding of themselves, navigate a world often shaped by neurotypical expectations, and strengthen their identity, self-acceptance, and wellbeing. I also conduct comprehensive neurodivergence assessments for adults seeking greater clarity around autism, ADHD, or AuDHD.

My style is warm, authentic, and collaborative. I balance practical strategies with deeper exploration of the patterns, relationships, and experiences that shape people’s lives. Above all, I aim to create a space where clients feel genuinely understood, respected, and supported to make meaningful changes.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology; with Honours), Deakin University
  • Doctor of Psychology (Clinical), Deakin University

Therapeutic Approaches

Chris takes a collaborative and person-centred approach, drawing from a range of evidence-based therapies that can be tailored to each individual’s needs, including:

  • Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): A structured and well-researched therapy for trauma that helps people process distressing experiences, reduce their emotional intensity, and support recovery.
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS): A compassionate model that supports people to explore and heal different “parts” of themselves, particularly those impacted by trauma or difficult life experiences.
  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT): A practical, skills-based approach that explores the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Chris also draws on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to build self-awareness and compassion.
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): An approach designed for people experiencing intense emotions or difficulties with self-regulation. DBT focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and relationship skills.
  • Schema Therapy: A longer-term therapy that looks at entrenched patterns and beliefs often rooted in early experiences, helping people shift toward healthier, more adaptive ways of relating to themselves and others.
  • Psychodynamic Therapy: A depth-oriented approach that explores how past experiences and unconscious processes shape current relationships, self-perception, and patterns of behaviour.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

  • Registered Psychologist (Clinical) with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
  • Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS)
  • Member of the Clinical College of the Australian Psychological Society
  • Member of the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA)
  • Member of the Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria (ADAVIC)