Frequently asked questions

The first session is a conversation. I ask questions to understand what brings you in and what you are hoping for, and you get a sense of whether this feels like the right fit. There is no structure you need to get right and no history you need to have prepared. Most people find it easier than they expected.

If you are wondering whether it might help, it probably will. Counselling suits a wide range of situations, from acute difficulty to a general sense that something needs to shift. You do not need to be in crisis, you do not need a diagnosis, and you do not need to have experienced trauma. Wanting a space to think and be heard is enough.

No. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral, or a particular reason. You can come simply because you want to.

Person-centred counselling, associated with Carl Rogers, treats you as the expert on your own life. Rather than following a fixed programme, the work is led by what you bring and what matters to you. I do not assess you, prescribe, or tell you what your experience means. In practice, sessions are shaped around you.

Brainspotting is a focused, body-and-brain approach for working with difficult experiences at a deeper level than talking alone sometimes reaches. It is one approach among several that I draw on where it suits the person and the work, not something every session involves.

Yes. I work with clients of many cultures, faiths and backgrounds, including people whose first language is not English. Your beliefs, culture, identity and lived experience are understood as part of the context of your life, not dismissed and not used against you. I am also LGBTQIA+ affirming and neurodiversity-informed.

Sessions are 60 minutes.

Yes. Individual, family and specialist counselling are available online, using a private, secure video link. Couples counselling is in person only.

Cover for registered counsellors is limited and varies by scheme and plan, with many plans offering partial reimbursement. It is worth checking your plan before booking. I am a cash practice: you pay on the day and receive a receipt to submit. My practice number is 0958352.

Please give at least 24 hours’ notice. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice remain payable in full.

Yes. Everything discussed is confidential. The only exceptions are where there is a risk to your safety or someone else’s, as required by HPCSA ethical guidelines and South African law. If that ever applied, I would discuss it with you first where possible.

My practice is subject to the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and the HPCSA’s confidentiality guidelines. Session content is not shared with third parties, and notes are stored securely. For online sessions, you are responsible for keeping your own physical space private.

A registered counsellor is a mental health professional registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) under the Professional Board for Psychology. A registered counsellor provides supportive, preventative and developmental counselling and psychoeducation. A registered counsellor does not diagnose or prescribe. Where your needs fall outside that scope, the right step is a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist, and I will say so if that is the case. You can verify my registration on the HPCSA iRegister at hpcsa.co.za (registration number PRC0039357).

Both are HPCSA-registered, but they work at different scope levels. A registered counsellor provides supportive, preventative and shorter-term counselling. A psychologist holds a Master’s or Doctorate, completes more supervised hours, and can carry out formal assessment, diagnosis and longer-term clinical treatment. Where your needs exceed the scope of registered counselling, I will say so and provide a referral.