Grounded in Theory

Before I became a psychologist, I was training hard, competing provincially in sport, and keeping everything looking fine from the outside. But privately, I was struggling. A friend encouraged me to see a psychologist, and I often say without hesitation, that my psychologist saved my life. That experience didn’t just help me through a dark time, it gave me direction. I knew then that if I could help even one person the way I had been helped, it would be enough.

I chose to pursue counselling psychology because the work centres on people - their stories, their strengths, their pain, and their potential. I studied at the University of the Witwatersrand, where I completed my Master’s in Community-Based Counselling Psychology, drawn to the programme’s values of connection, inclusion, and real-world impact. In South Africa, entry into these programmes is highly competitive and I consider it a privilege to have been part of that cohort.

Since then, I’ve worked in public hospitals, pain clinics, consulting rooms, and corporate settings. I’ve led mental health initiatives for intern doctors, partnered with multidisciplinary teams on chronic pain interventions, facilitated community projects in Alexandra Township, and consulted to large organisations and executives. Whether I’m working with a CEO, a patient recovering from trauma, or someone navigating burnout or grief, the approach remains the same: meet the person where they are, work collaboratively, and make sure the therapy fits the individual. Not the other way around.

Clients tend to describe me as grounded, warm, and focused. My approach is integrative, drawing from CBT, ACT, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, trauma-informed care, and mindfulness-based strategies. I’m not a blank slate in the room, but I don’t force direction either. I listen, guide when needed, and I make sure clients always feel safe, understood, and supported to do the work that matters to them.

Outside of psychology, I’ve always been drawn to performance, discipline, and community. I’ve captained teams, coached provincial squads, and completed ultramarathons. Running isn’t just a passion, it has taught me about endurance, resilience, and the quiet clarity that comes from pushing beyond your limits. That same philosophy finds its way into my practice: therapy should build sustaonable strength, not dependence.

Ultimately, I do this work because I believe in it. There is a belief in what happens when someone is able to speak honestly, be heard without judgement, and start to shift the weight they’ve been carrying. I believe in what happens after that, when people begin to show up differently in their lives, their work, and their relationships.

As Marianne Williamson writes:

"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

‍

That is the work, the privilege, and that is The Private Practice.

‍