Comprehensive Counselling Services – tailored to your needs.
If you often feel anxious, overwhelmed, or dissatisfied but don’t quite know why counselling can help. Maybe you struggle with worrying and overthinking, difficulties making decisions, or feeling emotionally drained. Perhaps you’re navigating a major life change, feeling stuck in a relationship, or dealing with emotions like sadness, guilt, anger, or grief.
Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to go through it alone. In counselling, we’ll explore your challenges, uncover patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and help you build a path toward the life you want.
Counselling is a solution- and resource-oriented prevention and intervention that aims at improving your quality of life, your subjective well-being, and your personal growth.
Some of the areas I help with include:
Emotional Well-Being & Mental Clarity
- Overthinking, self-doubt, and second-guessing yourself
- Anxious thinking, stress management, and emotional regulation
- Dealing with low mood and sadness, guilt, anger, resentment, or grief
- Navigating difficult life transitions and personal growth
Work, Performance & Daily Functioning
- Burnout, work-life balance, and career stress
- Perfectionism, high expectations, and (self-imposed) pressure
- ADHD-related challenges, including focus, organization, time management, and procrastination
- Managing the emotional impact of chronic illness or physical limitations
Relationships & Social Well-Being
- Relationship and communication challenges
- Parenting stress, and family dynamics
- Loneliness, social disconnection, and difficulty forming meaningful relationships
- Identity exploration and self-discovery
Coping Strategies & Personal Growth
- Reassessing unhealthy coping mechanisms (avoidance, substance use, self-criticism)
- Finding clarity and direction in life decisions
Sometimes, the most challenging thoughts and feelings are the ones we feel we can’t share with anyone, due to fears of being judged, misunderstood, or seen as a failure. Counselling provides a judgment-free space where you can express what’s really on your mind without fear, helping you process and navigate these experiences in a way that feels safe and constructive.
What to expect: Sessions are conversational, reflective, and goal-oriented, tailored to your unique concerns and goals. I incorporate elements from Systemic Counselling, DBT-Skills (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Training), and IFS (Internal Family Systems), to provide a structured yet flexible approach to growth and learning. Whether you’re looking for short-term support or a longer-term space for personal exploration, I provide a warm and professional environment where we can work together to find clarity and growth.
Please note: My session rate is R750, but I also offer a flexible pricing option, with sessions available from R650 for clients needing financial accommodation. Additionally, I offer a 5 session package at R700 per session (R3500 per package), which is available to all clients who prefer to commit to longer-term counselling. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss the best option for you.
Not sure if counselling is right for you? Book a free 10-15 min consultation.
My son has been struggling with ADHD from a young age. I didn’t realise the effect it had on his overall mental health and confidence until a few years later. Svenja helped him through counselling, working on issues such as anxiety and managing his emotions. As a mom I am so grateful for that intervention which ultimately helped changed the trajectory of my son’s primary school years.
Jo, Hilton
Svenja is an exceptional individual who has profoundly influenced my journey towards better mental well-being. Her expertise in various therapeutic modalities and use of evidence-based practices further enhanced the effectiveness of the counselling, and her unwavering commitment to my well-being and always ensuring that I felt comfortable and supported throughout the process is what sets her apart.
Tian, Pietermaritzburg
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 