Elma Retha

Mrs Elma Retha Bartlett

Licensed Clinical Social Workers

“An experienced clinical social worker and therapist enabling people to find meaning and direction in times of loss, trauma and transition.”

About Me

I offer a supportive space to navigate life's most challenging moments. As an experienced clinical social worker and Logotherapist, I help you find meaning and direction. We can explore what truly matters when facing loss, trauma, or significant transitions. This approach is for those seeking to understand their experiences deeply. My aim is to help you build resilience and find renewed purpose, even in difficult times.

Approach

When life feels unmoored by grief or sudden change, my sessions focus on small, practical steps that help you clarify values and ease overwhelm. I meet people in Cape Town and online, in Afrikaans or English, and we keep a calm, predictable rhythm—brief check‑ins, deeper exploration, and pragmatic tasks between meetings. Gentle assessment and tracking guide the pace, balancing safety with meaning‑focused questions so painful memories can be contained while new choices emerge. This approach tends to help adults, couples and families seeking steady, empathetic guidance.
Contact Elma Retha

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

In-person & Online

Services

Services Offered:

  • Psych & Diagnostic Assessment

    Formal psychological testing to identify conditions, understand cognitive and emotional functioning, and guide treatment planning.

  • Coaching

    A goal-oriented practice focused on identifying objectives, overcoming obstacles, and taking action, centred on the present and future rather than past difficulties.

  • Conflict Management

    Structured approaches to resolving disputes and improving communication between people in conflict, whether in relationships, families, or workplaces.

  • Crisis Counseling

    Immediate, short-term psychological support during an acute mental health crisis such as a panic episode, suicidal thoughts, or overwhelming distress.

  • Trauma Counseling

    Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.

    Learn more about Trauma Counseling
  • Wellness Support

    Holistic support focused on overall well-being, including stress management, lifestyle balance, and building sustainable healthy habits.

  • Ukraine Aid

    Mental health support specifically for people affected by the conflict in Ukraine, including refugees, displaced families, and those experiencing war trauma.

  • Mindfulness

    The practice of paying deliberate attention to the present moment without judgement, used to reduce stress and increase awareness of automatic reactions.

    Learn more about Mindfulness
  • Psychiatric Social Work

    Social work services for people with mental health conditions, assisting with access to care, housing, benefits, and community integration.

  • Family Therapy

    A form of therapy that works with family members together to improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen relationships within the family system.

    Learn more about Family Therapy
  • Relationship Counseling

    Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Communities
  • Couples
  • Elderly
  • Individuals
  • Organisations
  • Parents

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Abuse

    Emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment by another person that causes lasting psychological harm and disrupts a person's sense of safety.

  • Life Transitions

    Major life changes, such as relocation, retirement, parenthood, or career shifts, that disrupt routine and require psychological adjustment.

    Learn more about Life Transitions
  • Grief & Loss

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.

    Learn more about Grief & Loss
  • Stress / Burnout

    The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).

    Learn more about Stress / Burnout
  • Divorce Counseling

    Counselling for individuals or couples going through separation or divorce, addressing the emotional, practical, and relational dimensions.

  • Family Issues

    Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.

  • Relationship Issues

    Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.

    Learn more about Relationship Issues
  • Trauma

    The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.

    Learn more about Trauma

Professional Title:

  • Licensed Clinical Social Workers

    A social worker licensed to provide clinical therapy, diagnosis, and treatment for mental health conditions.

Credentials

Registrations

South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP)

Social Worker

Qualifications

University of Pretoria

Service Areas

Private Practice Office

In-person & Online

Claremont

Cape Town, Western Cape

South Africa

Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa