Ms Amanda Rykaart, BA

When you are overwhelmed, counselling shouldn't feel like another thing you have to manage. My approach is structured, trauma-informed and practical. I focus initially on helping you feel safer, more grounded and better able to cope with what is happening. From there, we can begin to understand what has happened, how it is affecting you, and what you need in order to move forward. I work from a strength-based, person-centred foundation and draw on CBT techniques, positive psychology, existential and solution-focused approaches. I also use BWRT where appropriate. Depending on your circumstances, our work may include understanding the effects of trauma on your thoughts, emotions, body and everyday functioning, developing ways to manage overwhelming emotional or physiological responses, restoring a sense of safety, stability and control, working through grief, loss and significant life changes, developing practical coping strategies for everyday life identifying strengths, resources and supports that can assist recovery and making sense of experiences that continue to affect you I don't believe there is one correct way to respond to trauma or grief, or one timetable for recovery. We work at a pace that is appropriate for you, while keeping the work purposeful and grounded in what you need. In our first session, we will talk about what has brought you to counselling, what you are experiencing now, and what you would like help with. This also gives both of us an opportunity to consider whether I am the right person to support you.