Frequently Asked Questions

A first session moves through three stages:

• Settling in: paperwork and confidentiality, including the rare legal exceptions, so you know where you stand before sharing anything.
• Your story: what brought you here, at your pace. Nothing is required of you, and there is no pressure to cover it all today.
• Before you go: what to focus on, how often to meet, and what happens next — agreed before you leave the room or the call.

Long enough to do the work properly. Couples, family and trauma sessions run longer than individual ones, simply because there are more people to hear and more ground to cover — and some days a session needs a little more time than planned. You are told what to expect when the appointment is booked, and nothing is cut short by a clock.

It varies. Some people find that 4 to 6 sessions are enough; others choose longer-term support. It is discussed in the first session and revisited as you go. You are never locked into a fixed number, and you can stop whenever you choose.

Yes — secure video sessions on a POPIA-compliant platform, available nationwide. Nothing is recorded, and the quality of care is the same as meeting in person. It suits anyone who cannot travel in, or who would simply rather talk from their own space.

English and isiZulu. You are welcome to move between them mid-session — for most people it is easier to describe something painful in the language they first learned it in.

Yes. Teen and child support covers behavioural concerns, emotional struggles and developmental challenges, using approaches suited to the child’s age rather than adult talking therapy. Sessions for anyone under 18 are arranged through a parent or legal guardian, who is given the fee before anything is booked.

Yes. Couples counselling and family counselling are both offered, and either can follow on from individual sessions if that turns out to be what is needed. They are longer sessions and carry their own fee, which you are given when you enquire. You do not have to decide up front.

Then I will say so, and point you to what is. Medication is prescribed by a psychiatrist or a doctor; a formal psychological assessment or diagnosis falls within a psychologist’s scope of practice; a legal matter needs an attorney. Being referred onward is a normal, ethical part of this work — not a rejection.

It depends on the kind of session — individual, couples, family, trauma debriefing, a report, or a workplace programme. The fee is shared with you on enquiry rather than printed here, because a single figure cannot fit every situation honestly. Ask, and the current fee schedule comes back within 24 hours on business days, with no obligation. A reduced student rate is available, and whatever you are quoted is agreed before you book — nothing is added afterwards.

No — a 50% deposit secures the appointment, and the balance is payable on or before the day. You are given the fee and the deposit for your session before anything is booked, so there is nothing to work out for yourself. Proof of payment is needed before the consultation. See payment terms.

Yes. This is a registered service provider with the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), and all major medical aid schemes are accepted for claims. Sessions are paid for directly and you claim the money back — schemes are not billed on your behalf.

Four steps:

1. You pay for the session, by EFT or cash.
2. You receive a valid invoice carrying the practice details your scheme needs.
3. You submit it through your scheme’s app, member portal, or claims email address.
4. Your scheme reimburses you directly.

How much comes back depends on your plan and your remaining benefits, so it is worth checking your cover before the first session. See the fees page for more on medical aid.

EFT (bank transfer) and cash. Banking details are provided when you book, and a tax invoice is issued for every session.

More than 24 hours notice and the appointment can be rescheduled without penalty. Less than 24 hours and the deposit is forfeited. A missed appointment with no notice may be charged at the full session fee.

Yes — registered students pay a reduced rate on individual counselling, with no difference in the session itself. Bring a valid, current student card with you, and mention that you are studying when you enquire so the student rate is quoted from the start. It is offered in support of both your mental health and your studies.

If your employer runs an Employee Wellness Programme, quite possibly — this practice provides structured EAP support to a number of health and occupational health organisations. Ask your HR or wellness contact whether counselling is covered, and get in touch if you would like the practice to approach them directly with a proposal and costing.

Yes. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of social work practice, and what you say in a session stays in that session. There are a small number of exceptions required by law, and they are explained to you at the start of the first session rather than sprung on you later.

Only where the law requires it:

• Where there is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else
• Where a child is being abused, or is at risk of abuse
• Where a court orders the disclosure of records

Outside those situations nothing is shared with anyone — including family members, an employer, or a medical aid — without your consent.

Clinical notes are kept as SACSSP record-keeping requirements oblige, and stored securely in both physical and digital form under POPIA. Records are retained for a minimum of five years after your last consultation, or until a client who was a minor turns 21. You have the right to request access to your personal information — the privacy policy sets out the detail.

The platform is encrypted and POPIA-compliant, and nothing is recorded. The remaining variable is the room you take the call in — headphones and a door that closes make more difference to privacy than any software setting. If a private space at home is hard to find, say so, and we will work around it.

If you are in immediate danger, or thinking about harming yourself, please contact the SADAG Helpline on 0800 567 567 (24hr), or go to your nearest emergency room. This practice is not a 24-hour emergency service, and a booking form is the wrong tool for a crisis — please use a line that answers immediately.

It usually is if you are carrying stress, anxiety, low mood or grief that has begun to feel heavier than usual; if a relationship or a family needs a neutral space to talk honestly; if you are supporting a child or a teenager through a hard season; or if you want practical coping strategies alongside being listened to. It is not the right tool for a crisis, for medication, or for a formal diagnosis — and in those cases I will refer you rather than take the booking.