Counselling is a process where a trained professional helps individuals or groups address emotional, psychological, or personal issues. It provides a safe, confidential space for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, with the goal of gaining insight, resolving problems, and improving mental well-being. Counselling can help with a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, and personal growth.

• Feeling overwhelmed or stuck: If you’re struggling to cope with emotions or life situations and find it hard to move forward on your own.
• Experiencing persistent emotional distress: Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or anger that don’t seem to go away despite your efforts.
• Going through a major life change: Such as a divorce, job loss, or a move, which might cause stress or confusion.
• Facing relationship difficulties: Whether with a partner, family members, or colleagues.
• Wanting personal growth: If you're seeking to better understand yourself or improve your coping skills.
• Dealing with trauma or past experiences: If you’re struggling with unresolved past trauma or experiences.

If any of these resonate with you, it may be worth exploring counselling to help navigate these feelings and gain support.

The first session is usually a getting-to-know-you session. Here's what to expect:

1. Introduction and Rapport Building: The counsellor will explain how the process works and ensure that you feel comfortable. They'll ask questions to understand your background and reasons for seeking therapy.
2. Assessment of Your Concerns: You may discuss your current situation, the issues you're facing, and what you hope to achieve through therapy. This allows the counsellor to understand your needs and goals.
3. Setting Goals and Expectations: Together, you and your therapist will discuss your goals for counselling. This can help you stay focused and ensure that the sessions are productive.
4. Confidentiality and Boundaries: The therapist will explain confidentiality and establish any necessary boundaries to ensure that you feel safe throughout the process.

Choosing the right counselling is important for the success of the therapeutic journey. Here’s how you can approach it:

• Consider Specialisations: Therapists often specialise in different areas (e.g., anxiety, trauma, relationships, family therapy). Think about what specific issues you want to address and seek a therapist who specialises in those areas.
• Therapeutic Approach: Different counsellors use different methods, such as Person-centred approach or Solution-focused approach.
• Qualifications and Experience: Make sure the counsellor is properly qualified, registered with a relevant professional body (such as the HPCSA in South Africa), and has experience working with the issues you want to address.
• Personal Compatibility: It's crucial that you feel comfortable with your counsellor. This helps build trust and a therapeutic relationship. If the first counsellor you see doesn’t feel like the right fit, it’s okay to try someone else.
• Accessibility and Practical Considerations: Consider factors like location, session availability, online vs. in-person sessions, and cost.

What you speak about in counselling depends on your individual needs and concerns. Common topics include:

• Emotions and feelings: Exploring what you’re feeling and why, and understanding how to cope with them.
• Relationship issues: Addressing communication difficulties, conflicts, or patterns in your relationships.
• Personal growth: Exploring your self-esteem, goals, and life ambitions.
• Stress management: Finding ways to cope with work, family, and other pressures.
• Trauma or past experiences: Unpacking painful or traumatic events that may be affecting your current well-being.
• Behavioural changes: Identifying negative patterns or behaviours and working on changing them.

Your counsellor will guide the conversation based on your goals and concerns.

After a counselling session, your feelings can vary depending on the nature of the session and the work you're doing:

• Relieved or lighter: Many people feel a sense of relief after expressing their feelings or gaining clarity on an issue.
• Exhausted or emotionally drained: Counselling can bring up deep emotions, and it’s not uncommon to feel tired or emotionally drained afterward.
• Cautiously hopeful: After discussing issues and receiving professional guidance, you might feel more optimistic about resolving problems or making progress.
• Reflective or thoughtful: You may feel like you have a lot to think about or process, especially if the session was emotionally intense.

These feelings are normal and part of the healing or growth process.

The duration of counselling depends on various factors:

1. The Nature of the Issue: Short-term issues like stress or situational concerns might only require a few sessions, while deeper, long-term issues like trauma or chronic mental health problems might take longer.
2. Your Goals: If you’re looking for brief support, you may only need a few sessions. If you're aiming for long-term personal growth or deeper healing, it could take longer.
Progress and Readiness: Your counsellor will periodically assess your progress and help determine when you are ready to end counselling. Counselling often ends when you feel you have achieved your goals or have learned the tools you need to cope independently.

On average a client will complete six to twelve sessions. Many clients also like to do a monthly check in after the initial counselling sessions have been completed. It’s all a personal experience! Whatever works for you!

I believe everybody should have access to mental health services, reduced rates can be organized upon the initial consultation. Certain circumstances are understandable and life can be unpredictable at times. Please request more information about this.

At the moment, all session are completely online. In a few months a physical space will be opened for clients based in Cape Town.

Payments are made beforehand to secure the booking slot, no appointment will be made until payment is received. If you are unable to attend the session, you are required to cancel 24hrs before the session and a full refund will be provided.