Who I am

My Self

I was born in South Africa, but I immigrated twice (with my family) and I made the necessary and profound adjustments in each case, successfully re-inventing myself in different and exciting career paths.

Trained as a lawyer, I have practised law and worked in the corporate world as a lawyer and human resource director of a large group of companies. In Australia, my life began as a travel agent/tour operator, winning a national award for my achievements. In mid-life, I made a profound change, went back to university, got a masters degree in counselling (with distinction) and I now practice as a psychotherapist. My life's journey has taught me to 'do what it takes' to make things work and this is one of the crucial elements which I offer my clients.

As a therapist and life coach, I have evolved from an eclectic background owing to my life's journey and this broad exposure to life has made me what I am. My experience of having to re-define myself and acquire and nurture a new identity in each of my new environments has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, opening up unique windows for me in cross-cultural awareness and expanded empathy.

But, most of all, I have learned to see challenges and opportunities in place of problems and difficulties, and consequently I have learned to grab life and make things work. This is the single most valuable perspective I bring to my therapy and coaching sessions.

My Approach

Person-centred, where we explore your feelings and the meaning of your unfolding life - how does your world view affect you and how you might change? I try to be a therapist who accepts, yet one who provokes, who frustrates, and one whose interaction enriches both my clients' lives and my own.

I offer cognitive behavioural therapy which is currently considered the first-line approach for mood disorders (anxiety and depression) and I offer a structured program which involves the giving of information (education), the practice of various techniques for relaxation, breathing, visualisation, and various other techniques for managing anxiety and approaching depression.

I also work psychodynamically and my orientation (for those readers who might want to know) is object relations.

Finally, my entire practice is based on an eclectic mix of a 'meaning' approach - existential in formal terms, but relying heavily on various 'meaning' therapists and philosophers whom I have read for most of my life. The simple fact really is that I have had to much self-work around what meaning my own life has had for my family and me as a result of our having moved so much in our lives.

My Focus

Loss, grief and trauma counselling

Working through your emotions following losses and trauma, gradual acceptance of pain, resolution and changed meaning.

Life transitions, immigration trauma, adjustment issues

Dealing with the grief and losses inherent in life transitions, career changes, immigration, changes in identity/family dynamics, all leading to an emphasis on seeing opportunities and challenges in place of problems and obstacles.

Anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia, depression

Education about, and insights into anxiety and depression, techniques to help manage these painful emotions, cognitive and behavioural restructuring, and an exploration of what these emotions mean in your life, all aimed at acceptance, followed by changes in these states.

Life and relationship coaching

Looking at patterns of relating and how your relationships evolve, both in your personal and working worlds and exploring changes that may enrich your life.

Cross cultural relationship issues

Understanding how your world-view and values are formed, examining them in relation to other, different cultural norms and moving towards a comfortable, workable reconciliation.

Couples counselling and break-up mediation

Facilitating better communication between spouses/partners and helping them to focus on the relationship rather on themselves. My previous work as a lawyer has been extremely valuable in my approach to my couples work, particularly in the event of a break-up.

Groupwork

I run several mood disorder groups (anxiety/depression), immigrant adjustment groups and distinctive pro-active therapy groups embodying combined exercise and group therapy sessions. E-therapy
Since 2002, I have offered a comprehensive e-therapy service which utilises encrypted (safe!) software for real-time client communication. I invite you to browse this site: www.net-therapy.com.