Monika

Mrs Monika MacNaughton, BPsych

Registered Counselor

Verified

“I work with adults who are struggling with addiction, anxiety, stress or burnout.”

About me

I have been working in mental health since 2007; and my focus areas are Anxiety, Stress Management, Burnout and Substance Abuse. I started off working at a mental healthcare clinic in Cape Town, and have been in private practice since 2015 offering counselling to individuals (over the age of 19). I also offer online/in-person talks for various companies and high schools around Mental Wellbeing. My approach is holistic and person-centred, incorporating principles of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness, Neuro-linguistic Programming, Hypnotherapy and Motivational Interviewing. My guiding belief ever since I started working in mental health, is that everyone can heal. Some challenges are smaller; others feel too big to carry alone and needing support sometimes is human. I see each client as a unique individual, and my aim is to understand their situation as fully as possible in order to work out a way forward together.

Approach

I do not think there is a set way to do therapy. People are different, and what helps one person might not help another. I work in an integrative way, drawing on different evidence-based approaches like: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Neuro Linguistic Programming and Person-Centred Therapy, depending on what you need and what is most appropriate at the time. That might include: *Exploring patterns from your past that are showing up in your present. *Practical tools to manage anxiety in the moment. *Working through the beliefs that keep you stuck. *Creating space to think out loud with someone who is really listening.
Contact Monika

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic information

Languages:

Afrikaans, English, Polish

Fees:

Please enquire

In-person & Online

Services

I am a registered counsellor based in Cape Town, and I have spent the last two decades helping adults work through anxiety, stress, burnout, and dysfunctional coping mechanisms like substance abuse. I got into this work because I believe everyone can heal, no matter what they are going through or how they are feeling. I try to create a genuinely safe and non-judgmental space in every session, where you can show up exactly as you are.

Services Offered:

  • Addiction Counselling

    Counselling specifically focused on substance use or behavioural addictions, addressing the psychological drivers and patterns of dependence.

    Learn more about Addiction Counselling
  • CBT

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured, evidence-based approach that identifies and changes unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.

    Learn more about CBT
  • 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
  • Corporate Workshops

    Mental health and well-being workshops delivered in workplace settings, covering topics like stress management, resilience, and communication.

  • Free Consultation

    A no-cost initial session to meet the therapist, discuss needs, and decide whether they are the right fit before committing.

  • Hypnotherapy

    A therapy that uses hypnosis — a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility — to help people explore thoughts, feelings, or memories that may be held outside everyday awareness.

  • Individual Therapy

    One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.

    Learn more about Individual Therapy
  • Online Counselling

    Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.

    Learn more about Online Counselling
  • Online Therapy

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

    Learn more about Online Therapy

Works With:

  • Adults
  • Couples
  • Individuals
  • Organisations

Area of expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Addiction

    A compulsive dependence on a substance or behaviour, such as alcohol, drugs, or gambling, that causes harmful consequences to health, relationships, or daily life.

    Learn more about Addiction
  • Alcohol Use / Addiction

    A pattern of alcohol consumption that has become harmful to a person's health, relationships, or ability to function day-to-day.

    Learn more about Alcohol Use / Addiction
  • 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
  • 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
  • Sleep Problems

    Persistent difficulties with falling asleep, staying asleep, or achieving restful sleep, including insomnia, nightmares, and disrupted sleep patterns.

  • 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

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)

Registered Counsellor

Verify licence

Qualifications

Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych)

University of South Africa/Universiteit van Suid-Afrika

Year: 2012

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

University of Cape Town (UCT)

Year: 1995

Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherpay

London College of Clinical Hypnotherapy (LCCH)

Year: 2008

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

University of Cape Town

Year: 2001

Service Areas

Main practice

In-person & Online

Rosebank

Cape Town, Western Cape 7700

South Africa

Also serving online:

Cape Town

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Rosebank, Cape Town, South Africa