About Me

Welcome!
I’m Annaretha van der Merwe

I’m here to support you on your journey to self-healing and personal growth. I provide a safe and supportive space where you can be truly heard and understood. Together, we’ll work towards resolving personal and relational challenges, fostering growth, healing, and self-improvement.

CONTACT ME

My Mission

My mission as a Registered Counselors is to promote the optimal functioning of the unique individual in their home, work and social environments by providing them with the tools to make informed decisions to cope with the challenges that they are faced with in life.

Qualifications and registrations

Registered with the health professions council of South Africa (HPCSA)
B Psych Internship in Trauma Counselling (UNISA)
BA Honours (UNISA)
B.Comm
Extensive experience in counselling of diverse people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures. I have been in Private Practice since 2010.

My areas of interest include

Individuals, couples and families who are struggling to adjust to a life- changing event such as marriage, parenthood, loss of a loved one, betrayal, divorce and illness,
Couples and families who are finding difficulty in communicating with each other, experiencing conflict, and who may be hurting each other through their word and / or actions,
Parents: to help them tune into and parent their children effectively, from the stage of infancy to adolescence,
Individuals: learn to cope with stress,
Manage difficult emotions and situations.

Man in White Dress Shirt Standing Beside Man in Brown Suit

THE BENEFITS OF COUNSELLING

You are heard and understood in a safe and confidential environment
Through exploration and rationalization of your thoughts and feelings you gain a sense that you are not entirely alone with your problems
Reduces stress
Gain self awareness
Gain the knowledge required to make informed decisions relating to your personal experiences
Improve confidence and self esteem
Learn coping skills to help you overcome your challenges
Gain a sense of control over your life
Improve social relationships

What Our Patients Say

Danksy Annaretha se positiewe benadering, vrolike karakter en spesiale insigte het Annaretha my deur ’n moeilike tyd gehelp. Ek het destyds ’n verkeerde diagnose van demensie gekry, wat sy dadelik deurgesien het. Sy het my in hierdie tyd gemotiveer en ondersteun.

Flip Möller

Nederland

“I had the privilege of working with Annaretha, and my experience was truly transformative. Her compassionate and non-judgmental approach created a safe space for me to explore my thoughts and emotions. Her exceptional listening skills and insightful questions helped me uncover underlying issues and gain valuable perspectives. Her expertise in relationships was evident, and her personalized approach tailored to my needs was impressive.
With Annaretha, I felt seen, heard, and empowered. She challenged me to grow while offering unwavering support. Her guidance and tools have improved my mental well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life. I highly recommend Annaretha to anyone seeking a dedicated, empathetic, and skilled therapist. She’s a true gem in her field!”

Anoniem

Annaretha is ‘n hoogs professionele asook uiters diskrete terapeut. Uit eie ervaring vind ek dat sy altyd ‘n groot rustigheid bring oor enige vorm van angs wat ‘n pasiënt mag deurmaak. Ek sal haar diens ten sterkste aanbeveel.

Dokter

Kaapstad

Ek was al drie keer by Annaretha vir hulp. Sy is empaties en straal omgee en liefde uit. Sy het my werklik geweldig gehelp en my “tools” gegee om mee te werk! Ek kan haar baie sterk met liefde en waardering aanbeveel.

Mariet

In a most unhappy chapter of my life I found a therapist that was easy, comfortable and very understandable to talk to. As I was very unhappy in most part of life. I was at a cross road where I had no choice but to seek professional help from a therapist. The choice was very difficult for me because I was a firm believer of self-help. Now years down the line Annaretha is still my comfort place in times of distress and emotional turbulence. I would easily recommend her as I have found someone I can confide in with assurance of confidentiality and a safe place for hearts like mine that was left out in the cold. From the start that I met Annaretha I never felt pressurised and the sessions were valuable so that I decided to go through with it. Every counselling session was rewarding and very non-judgemental for me. Great thing about Annaretha’s sessions was that it allowed me to grow in my psychological atmosphere but as well as my mental and spiritual wellbeing. To be in control of my own life and circumstances was her ultimate goal for me. She had a skill to brought my thoughts above what I expected to get. That was very rewarding for me. She has a soft and a empathetic yet professional character but the warmth of being in a soft place were always felt in her sessions..

Leanie Jacobs