I am based in Hilton, KZN (South Africa), where I meet with local clients for in-person counselling sessions. I also offer online counselling sessions via zoom for international clients and clients who are otherwise unable to come to my offices.
1:1 Counselling for Individuals:
Mental Wellness:
- Overthinking, self-doubt, and anxious thinking.
- Low mood, and loss of motivation.
- Dealing with difficult emotions, such as grief, anger, resentment, sadness, guilt and shame.
- Navigating difficult life circumstances or managing the emotional weight of chronic illness and physical limitations.
Unhelpful Coping Habits:
- Avoidance and control.
- Substance use.
- Harsh self-criticism.
Work and Daily Life:
- Burnout, boundaries, and career stress.
- Perfectionism, high expectations, and (self-imposed) pressure.
- ADHD-related challenges (e.g., focus and attention, time management, procrastination, rejection sensitivity).
Relationships:
- Difficult relationship dynamics (with partner, parents, friends, children, etc.).
- Navigating relationship break ups, separation, and divorce.
- Loneliness and disconnection.
Contact me to learn more about Individual Counselling Sessions:
Couples & Family Counselling:
- Recurring arguments around parenting, finances, work, home life, social life, and individual needs.
- Difficult dynamic within the couple, i.e. avoidance/withdrawal, blaming, criticizing, contempt, defensiveness.
- Difficult dynamic between the couple and parents/parents-in-law, children, or other family members, friends, or work-related contacts.
- Breakdown or lack of communication, trust, intimacy, and emotional connection.
- Differences in personal values, culture, and/or religion/faith.
- Life transitions (moving in together, becoming parents, loss and grief, retirement or job loss, aging parents, health issues, separation and divorce, empty nest).
Contact me to learn more about Couples Counselling Sessions:
My Approach to Counselling:
Our sessions are conversational, and focused on what you need – whether you want to work on a very specific topic, or you’re here for self-exploration and personal growth. Rather than sticking to a rigid formula that might not make sense for your individual situation, I draw from a mix of evidence-based approaches to best support you:
- Solution-Focused & Systemic Counselling recognizes that none of us exist in a vacuum, and that our personal experiences are closely connected to and shaped by the systems we exist in, such as our family, work environment, culture, and our own biological and psychological system, which includes our physical and mental health and wellness. Instead of searching for simple, single causes for complex challenges, we look at how these different parts of your life interact. This allows us to better understand what you’re experiencing and identify how – sometimes small – adjustments within your daily life can become lasting solutions. The basis of Systemic Counselling is a collaborative relationship between client and counsellor, characterized by the counsellor’s respect, curiosity, openness, and appreciation for the client, their approach to life, and their strategies to solve the problem.
- Acceptance & Committed Action: This includes a set of tools and strategies to help you manage overwhelming thoughts, regulate intense emotions, and choose actions building towards the life you want to live. Together, we’ll figure out what that life might look like and how you can move forward, one step at a time.
- Internal Parts Work: Parts work is based on the idea that we all have different parts inside of us – you can think of it as support team inside of you. People often feel confused when they notice different, sometimes conflicting feelings or thoughts towards a situation (e.g., feeling excited about dating someone, and at the same time feeling anxious and unsure as to whether it is a good idea to date). In parts work you start building a relationship with your inner team, especially the parts you normally try to push down or ignore. This is can be very helpful whenever you experience conflicting thoughts and feelings towards a decision or a situation, or when you’re experiencing strong and difficult to regulate emotions.
A Space Without Judgment
Some of the heaviest thoughts and feelings are the ones we keep to ourselves out of fear of being judged, misunderstood, or seen as falling short. I provide a completely confidential, non-judgmental environment where you can express what’s really going on. It’s a safe space to process your experiences and work through challenges at your own pace.
I offer a free 10–15 minute phone consultation so we can discuss what you’re looking for and see if my approach is the right fit for you.
Simply click on the button below and fill out the contact form – I look forward to hearing from you.
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.