Ms Anna Varney-Wong, MSocSc CSW

My approach is psychodynamic with a focus on early development and the unconscious. I draw from other approaches when necessary, such as trauma intervention. My work in this field started in 2006 as a trauma and crisis counsellor, online and face-to-face, training and supervising counsellors at Lifeline, Johannesburg. This work alerted me to how pervasive trauma is in our country. I first encountered the psychoanalytic approach through group work at Ububele, Johannesburg. Group work made me more aware of the crucial role of groups, social networks and communities. We originate in a family group which becomes internalized, and in that sense, every person is also a 'group'. Further study of psychoanalytic thinkers for my Clinical Social Work Masters at UCT deepened my passion for this approach. I would like to see psychotherapy more readily available to everyone from all walks of life, as I believe it is one of the solutions sorely needed in the world today, where there is so much need for healing. I enjoy diversity and work with people from various cultural backgrounds and life experiences. Freud suggested that in the therapeutic process, one should act as if one were a traveller on a train, looking through the window and observing the changing view. I believe what people seek is found within and that in the safety of the therapeutic space, talk therapy can help lead the way. My offices are in Glencairn Heights, in the Southern Peninsula of Cape Town, near Fish Hoek. I also work online. When I am not working as a psychotherapist, I read and write about psychoanalytic-related topics such as those published on this site, and also poetry. I am also an artist, enjoy fibreart and am a qualified yoga teacher.