Professional Support for Self-Exploration & Growth
I’m Svenja, a Specialist Wellness Counsellor designated by the ASCHP (Membership Number: SWC23/3005). My work focuses on helping people who feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or emotionally drained find clarity and direction.
Many of my clients are high-functioning individuals who appear to be managing life well on the outside but feel stuck, unfulfilled, or lost beneath the surface. They often struggle with overthinking, self-doubt, or an underlying sense that something needs to change but they’re not sure where to start.
I have an academic background in psychology, having earned my B.Sc. in Psychology (2016) and M.Sc. in Psychology (cum laude, 2017) from the University of Konstanz, Germany. My training in systemic counselling allows me to take a broad, relational approach to counselling, helping clients understand how their thoughts, emotions, and interactions shape their experiences.
After working in family counselling in Germany and trauma counselling in Uganda, I moved to South Africa in 2019 and became a Specialist Wellness Counsellor designated by the ASCHP in 2023. This allows me to work as a counsellor in privat practice, offering counselling services tailored to individuals seeking self-exploration, emotional resilience, and personal growth. I currently provide counselling sessions in person in Hilton, KZN and online via Zoom.
My approach is integrative, drawing from various evidence-based modalities, including Systemic Counselling, Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills (DBT-Skills), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). I tailor my methods to fit each client’s unique needs, helping them build resilience, improve emotional regulation, and navigate life’s complexities with confidence.
I also specialize in supporting individuals who struggle with ADHD symptoms—whether formally diagnosed or not. Many of my clients experience difficulty with focus, impulsivity, emotional regulation, or feeling overwhelmed by daily tasks. Counselling can provide valuable strategies for managing these challenges, improving self-understanding, and creating systems that work for you.
If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed, you don’t have to go through it alone. Counselling offers a space to reflect, gain new perspectives, and develop practical ways to move forward with confidence.
I look forwards to my sessions with Svenja because she really listens. She lets you talk and talk. And then she gently helps you through your grief, anger, guilt or whatever your issues are and you just know she understands. There is never a magic cure but talking to Svenja every week has been a God send for me. I have already recommended her to a great friend of mine and would not hesitate to recommend her again.
Stephanie
*The ASCHP (ID 984) is a SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) recognized professional body with listed designations on the National Qualifications Framework (Act 67 of 2008)
MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION NO: SWC23/3005
Counsellors are bound to a specific scope of practice which is comprehensive but excludes psychotherapy, social work, medical health work and occupational therapy. Counsellors are obliged to terminate counselling and refer clients to a professional (doctor, psychologist, social worker or psychiatrist) where their counselling, with reference to possible pathology or dysfunction, falls outside the scope of their practice.
CORNERSTONE COUNSELLING 