Mrs Liesl de la Harpe

Specialist Wellness Counselor

“A safe space for healing, growth and building resilience through life’s challenges.”

About Me

Hi, I'm Liesl. I love helping people understand what's really going on beneath the surface. Often, the way we feel or respond makes much more sense when we begin to understand what our mind and body may have learned through difficult or overwhelming experiences. I offer a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where you can simply be yourself. You don't need to arrive knowing exactly what's wrong or where to begin. We can start with what you're experiencing now and gently make sense of it together. I'm a registered Specialist Wellness Counsellor with the ASCHP, with an Honours Degree in Psychology (cum laude) and extensive additional training in trauma-informed, nervous-system and body-based approaches to counselling. Whether you're looking for support following something that has happened recently or trying to understand difficulties you've carried for many years, I'd be honoured to walk alongside you.

Approach

My approach is trauma-informed, integrative and tailored to you. I believe that understanding what's happening in both your mind and body can help things feel a little less confusing or frightening - and give us a clearer idea of what might help. Sometimes the responses that are causing difficulties today - such as anxiety, overwhelm, shutting down, people-pleasing, overthinking or finding it difficult to switch off - developed as ways of coping with stress or difficult experiences. Understanding why these patterns developed can help us approach them with curiosity rather than judgement. Our work may include helping you recognise and regulate nervous-system responses, process emotions and difficult experiences, understand patterns that may be affecting you now, and develop practical ways of responding differently. I draw on a range of approaches, including Polyvagal-informed work, somatic and body-based approaches, Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), and attachment-informed counselling, depending on what feels appropriate and helpful for you. There's no pressure to tell your whole story at once or to move faster than feels manageable. We work collaboratively, at a pace that feels right for you, with the aim of helping you feel steadier, more connected and better able to navigate what's happening in your life.

Contact Liesl

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Durban, South Africa

Online Only

Services

I provide confidential online counselling for adults experiencing difficulties such as anxiety, overwhelm and chronic stress; emotional exhaustion; difficult or traumatic experiences; relationship and attachment difficulties; people-pleasing and boundaries; low self-worth and self-criticism; emotional regulation; or feeling disconnected, stuck or unsure why you feel the way you do. You may be looking for support with something happening in your life right now, or beginning to recognise patterns that have been with you for much longer. Counselling isn't one-size-fits-all. We can explore what you've been carrying, how it may be affecting you now and what you need most, combining deeper understanding with practical tools that you can use in everyday life. I offer a free 30-minute online taster session, giving us an opportunity to meet, talk about what has brought you to counselling and see whether working together feels like a good fit. There's no obligation to continue afterwards.

Services Offered:

Counseling
A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.
Learn more about Counseling
Crisis Counseling
Immediate, short-term psychological support during an acute mental health crisis such as a panic episode, suicidal thoughts, or overwhelming distress.
Divorce Counseling
Counselling for individuals or couples going through separation or divorce, addressing the emotional, practical, and relational dimensions.
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
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
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.

Works With:

Adults
Individuals
Parents

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

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
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
Relocation / Expat
The psychological challenges of moving to a new country or city, including loneliness, culture shock, identity shifts, and loss of social support.
Learn more about Relocation / Expat
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.
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy
Trauma Therapy
Therapeutic approaches specifically designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences.
Learn more about Trauma Therapy
Anger
An intense emotional response to perceived threat, injustice, or frustration that, when persistent or uncontrolled, can damage relationships and well-being.
Learn more about Anger
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
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:

Specialist Wellness Counselor
A counselor specialising in holistic well-being, integrating mental, emotional, and lifestyle support.

Credentials

Registrations

Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP)

Specialist Wellness Counselor

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology

University of South Africa

Year: 2022

Specialist Wellness Counsellor

Humanitas

Year: 2023

Bachelor of Social Science

University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban

Year: 1994

Memberships

Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP)

Candidate Member

Membership: 8337

Service Areas

THRIVE Counselling Services

Online Only

Durban

South Africa