Erika

Dr Erika Hitge, PhD

Registered Counselor

Verified

“When people are traumatised and hurt they need a safe space. I provide such a space and work in a kind and competent manner.”

About Me

Feeling hurt or traumatised can be overwhelming, leaving you searching for solid ground. I offer a truly safe and confidential space where you can gently explore difficult emotions without judgement. Working together, we can make sense of your experiences and find a path towards healing. This compassionate, secure environment is ideal for healing from trauma and difficult life experiences. I hold a PhD in psychology and is an accredited provider of BWRT.

Approach

I offer steady, focused sessions that combine a gentle presence with clear structure. We start with what feels most urgent, take brief moments to understand patterns, and work through practical interventions that help shift reactions and rebuild confidence. Between sessions, I may suggest simple reflections or small experiments to support new ways of relating to stress, relationships, and loss.
Contact Erika

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

In-person & Online

Services

I offer trauma counseling, relationship counseling and executive coaching. I have a strong interest in well-being, regulating stress, relaxation, self-worth, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Services Offered:

  • Brain Working Recursive Therapy

    A therapy that works with the brain's natural response patterns to change unwanted reactions before they reach conscious awareness.

  • Coaching

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

  • 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
  • Relationship Counseling

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

  • Online Therapy

    Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.

    Learn more about Online Therapy
  • Stress Management

    Techniques and strategies for managing the body and mind's response to excessive demands, including relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and lifestyle changes.

    Learn more about Stress Management
  • Supervision

    Professional oversight for therapists and counsellors, providing guidance, ethical support, and reflective space for their clinical work.

    Learn more about Supervision
  • Wellness Support

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

Works With:

  • Adults
  • Couples
  • Elderly
  • Organisations

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • 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
  • Behaviour or Conduct Issues

    Persistent patterns of defiant, aggressive, or rule-breaking behaviour in children or adolescents that significantly disrupt home, school, or social life.

  • Personal Development

    The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.

  • 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
  • Self-Care

    Deliberate actions taken to maintain or improve one's own mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

    Learn more about Self-Care
  • Self-Esteem

    A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.

    Learn more about Self-Esteem
  • 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
  • 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
  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety

Professional Title:

  • Registered Counselor

    A counselor who is formally registered with a professional or regulatory body.

Credentials

Registrations

Health Professions Council Of South Africa (HPCSA); Board of Health Funders (BHF)

Registered Counsellor; Psychometrist

Registration: PMT 0027944

Qualifications

PhD Psychology

North-West University

Year: 2014

North-West University

MDIAC (Play Therapy)

UNISA

Year: 2005

Memberships

Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA)

Graduate Member

Service Areas

31 Congo Road Emmarentia

In-person & Online

Johannesburg, Gauteng

South Africa