Ms Rachel Botes
Registered Social Worker
“Registered social worker and psychotherapist in Hout Bay, Cape Town. I offer in‑person and online therapy for individuals, couples, families, and caregivers, focusing on life transitions, grief, trauma, relationships, and support for parents and caregivers of children with additional needs.”
About Me
Approach
My approach is grounded in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, which focuses on uncovering unconscious patterns, internal conflicts, and relational dynamics that inform current behaviour, relationships, and emotional experiences. This form of therapy invites deeper reflection and helps clients make sense of long-standing patterns or emotional struggles in a way that supports meaningful change.
In addition, I work from a strength-based, people-centered, and ecosystemic framework, which allows me to consider the broader social, developmental, and cultural factors that influence each individual’s life. I offer a therapeutic space that is respectful, steady, and attuned to the complexity of the human experience.
Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.
Services
Life Transitions Counselling
- Navigating significant life changes (career, relocation, separation, identity shifts)
- Developing self-understanding, purpose, and emotional resilience
Grief, Loss & Trauma Psychotherapy
- Working with clients experiencing bereavement, ambiguous loss, and traumatic disruptions
- Offering long-term support for the emotional processing and integration of loss and trauma
Family & Relationship Therapy
- Addressing relational conflict, breakdowns in communication, and intergenerational dynamics
- Strengthening emotional connection and building healthier relational patterns
End-of-Life & Caregiver Support
- Providing holistic emotional care for individuals facing terminal illness
- Supporting caregivers in navigating anticipatory grief, meaning-making, and emotional burden
- Facilitating end-of-life conversations and legacy work
Neurodiversity & Developmental Support
- Supporting children, adolescents, and families navigating neurodevelopmental differences
- Providing psychoeducation, emotional support, and collaborative care planning
- Advocating for inclusion, understanding, and strength-based support
Services Offered:
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Conflict Management
Structured approaches to resolving disputes and improving communication between people in conflict, whether in relationships, families, or workplaces.
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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.
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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
Works With:
- •Adolescents
- •Adults
- •Families
- •Individuals
- •Parents
Area of Expertise
Scope of Practice:
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Adolescent Therapy
Therapy designed for teenagers, using age-appropriate methods to address issues like anxiety, identity, peer pressure, and family conflict.
Learn more about Adolescent Therapy - •
Grief & Loss
The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.
Learn more about Grief & Loss - •
Divorce Counseling
Counselling for individuals or couples going through separation or divorce, addressing the emotional, practical, and relational dimensions.
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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 - •
Family Issues
Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.
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Parenting Support
Guidance for the psychological challenges of raising children, including discipline, communication, co-parenting, and managing the emotional demands of parenthood.
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Relationship Counseling
Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.
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Young Adult Issues
The unique psychological challenges of emerging adulthood (18–25), including identity formation, independence, relationship navigation, and finding direction.
Learn more about Young Adult Issues
Professional Title:
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Registered Social Worker
A social worker registered with a regulatory body to provide social work services including therapy and case management.
Qualifications
University of South Africa (UNISA)
Registrations
South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP)
Social Worker
Service Areas
Suite 1610, floor 16, Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital
In-person & OnlineCape Town, Western Cape 8001
