Mrs Esther Engelbrecht

Registered Counselor

“I recognise that reaching out for support is a significant step, and I am committed to meeting you with empathy, warmth, and genuine respect for your unique journey. I am here to walk alongside you as you build the resilience and insights needed to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose.”

About Me

I believe that the most vital element of effective support is the quality of the connection between counsellor and client. My goal is to create a safe, non-judgmental space where you feel truly heard and understood.

Approach

My approach to talk-based counselling is integrative, blending empathetic listening with practical life skills. I view our work as a collaborative process where we gently identify roadblocks and discover steps to manage stress and conflict in a way that truly fits your life. For those who find creative expression helpful, I incorporate expressive art activities as an optional tool for deeper exploration. These activities require no prior artistic skill and offer a different way to connect with emotions when words feel insufficient. My focus is always on empowering you to reclaim a sense of agency and well-being.

Contact Esther

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Johannesburg, South Africa

In-person & Online

Services

I provide targeted support for adults and adolescents (9+) facing challenges such as anxiety, stress, grief, and significant life transitions. In addition to traditional counselling, I am a Certified BWRT® (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy) Practitioner. This neuroscience-based modality is a structured process designed to help recondition the brain’s automatic emotional responses. It is highly effective for addressing triggers related to phobias and traumatic memories, often helping to reduce symptoms without the need for extensive disclosure of past events. Practice Details: • In-person sessions in Linden and online consultations available. • Saturday morning appointments to suit busy schedules. • Registered with most Medical Aids for direct claims."

Services Offered:

Addiction Services
A range of services for addiction that may include counselling, detox support, group programmes, and aftercare planning.
BWRT (Brain Working Recursive Therapy)
A therapy that works with the brain's natural response patterns to change unwanted reactions before they reach conscious awareness.
Child / Adolescent Therapy
Therapy for children and teenagers using age-appropriate methods, such as play, art, or adapted talk therapy, to address emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Learn more about Child / Adolescent Therapy
Counselling
A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.
Learn more about Counselling
Expressive Arts Therapy
A therapeutic approach that combines visual art, music, movement, writing, and drama as channels for emotional expression and processing.
Online Counselling
Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.
Learn more about Online Counselling
SFBT (Solution-Focused Brief Therapy)
A short-term, goal-oriented therapy that focuses on building solutions rather than analysing problems, exploring what is already working and how to do more of it.
Trauma Counselling
Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.
Learn more about Trauma Counselling

Works With:

Adults
Organisations
Children
Adolescents
Elderly
Individuals

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Grief & Loss
The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.
Learn more about Grief & Loss
Career Issues
Work-related difficulties such as chronic dissatisfaction, conflict, burnout, uncertainty about direction, or the stress of career change.
Trauma Therapy
Therapeutic approaches specifically designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences.
Learn more about Trauma Therapy
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
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
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
Phobias
Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations, such as flying, heights, or spiders, that lead to avoidance and limit daily life.
Learn more about Phobias
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:

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

Registration: PRC0040452

Qualifications

Bachelor of Psychology (Cum Laude)

SACAP

Year: 2021

Honours in Financial Management

UNISA

Year: 2009

Bachelor of Commerce in Investment Management

University of Johannesburg

Year: 2005

Memberships

Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA)

Associate Member

Membership: PSY7588

Service Areas

Linden Hub

In-person & Online

Linden

Johannesburg, Gauteng

South Africa

Linden, Johannesburg, South Africa