FAQ
What is the difference between a registered counsellor, psychiatrist and a psychologist ?
Registered Counsellors
I like to describe a registered counsellor as the general practitioner of mental health. We are often the first person someone speaks to when they are unsure of what they are experiencing or where to begin.
Counsellors offer support and help clients navigate challenges that are affecting their emotional and psychological wellbeing. We can also help identify patterns or symptoms that may be linked to mental health conditions. If needed, a counsellor can also help refer a client to another professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, for further assessment or diagnosis.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in psychiatry. Psychiatrists can diagnose psychological issues and dysfunction, prescribe medication and perform therapy.
Psychologist
A psychologist can also diagnose psychological issues and dysfunction and
treat these mental health conditions with therapy. However, unlike a psychiatrist, they cannot prescribe medication.
Can my medical aid cover my fees?
As I am a registered counsellor with the HPCSA and BHF many medical aids will help cover part or all of the counselling fees. However, I am a cash practice, which means I do not make the claims on my clients' behalf. Rather clients settle their fees with me upfront and then they have the option to claim back from their insurance directly.
Do you do online counselling?
Yes, I offer both in-person counselling and online counselling via Google Meets, Zoom or other similar services.
How many sessions do I need?
My aim is to try to help clients achieve meaningful progress in a relatively short period. I focus on providing effective, goal-oriented counselling designed to address your specific needs and facilitate positive change as efficiently as possible. With that, between 6 to 8 sessions are usually a sufficient number of sessions to address specific concerns and to see significant progress.
However, this will be different for every person and will depend on a few things such as the reasons you are seeking counselling, what you want to gain from the sessions, the work you do between the sessions and your financial situation. We will discuss this together in our first session and continue to reassess as our sessions continue. If it becomes apparent that long-term support is necessary, we will discuss the best options for your continued support.