Natasha

Natasha Nel, MA

Specialist Wellness Counselor

verified by TherapyRoute

I work with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and relationship challenges. Others come to counselling with a desire to better understand themselves and to grow into a fuller, more aligned version of who they are. Whatever brings you here, you are welcome.

About Me

After completing my Masters in Psychology I co-founded a research agency and spent the next 15 years working with vulnerable groups throughout Africa. I later completed my counselling certification, and qualified as an end of life companion and worked in the palliative sector. I am currently a Trauma Counsellor at the Christian Barnard Memorial Hospital. I am currently busy with the Professional Training in Compassion Inquiry run by Dr Gabor Mate.

Approach

I believe that we grow and change when we can explore our behaviour and emotions with curiosity, rather than judgement, and from a place of deep compassion for ourselves. These may be skills we have not previously learnt, and the counselling space can be where we learn to engage more kindly with ourselves. The first session or two is spent getting to understand what you would like to change in order to be happy, calm and authentic. In sessions that follow, we will identify core beliefs (often unconscious), learn to listen to cues from your body, develop a practice of self-compassion, explore coping mechanisms developed (perhaps no longer helpful), and clarify actions to be taken between sessions.
Contact Natasha

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Services


Services Offered:

  • 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
  • Crisis Support & Counselling

    Emergency emotional support and counselling for people in acute psychological distress, available at the point of need.

    Learn more about Crisis Support & Counselling
  • Integrative Psychotherapy

    An approach that draws on multiple therapeutic models, tailored to the individual, rather than following a single method.

  • 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
  • Online Counselling

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

    Learn more about Online Counselling
  • Psychoeducation

    Structured information provided about a mental health condition (what it is, why it occurs, and what strategies can help) as part of the therapeutic process.

    Learn more about Psychoeducation
  • 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

Works With:

  • Adults
  • Individuals

Area of Expertise


Scope of Practice:

  • Anxiety

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

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Depression

    A mood disorder marked by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and changes in energy, sleep, or appetite that impair daily functioning.

    Learn more about Depression
  • Family Issues

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

  • Grief, Loss & Bereavement

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss, varying widely in duration and expression.

    Learn more about Grief, Loss & Bereavement
  • Identity & Self-Image

    A person's sense of who they are, including their values, beliefs, roles, and self-perception, and the distress that arises when this sense is unclear, fragmented, or negative.

  • 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
  • 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-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

Professional Title:

  • Specialist Wellness Counselor

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

Qualifications


Master of Arts

Masters

University of Cape Town

Year: 2002

End of Life Companion certification

The Wellness Specialist

Year: 2022

Counselling certificate

The Wellness Specialist

Year: 2022

Memberships


Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP)

Graduate Member

Membership: 10265

Service Area


In-person & Online

Rondebosch

Cape Town, Western Cape 7700

South Africa