Rahila

Miss Rahila Waka, MA

Registered Counselor

“MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Chicago School of Professional Psych. Licensed in Canada and IL, USA. Practicing therapy rooted in compassion and understanding. I use mindfulness, interpersonal & stress management skills in sessions. Raised Muslim, I empathize with cultural barriers to mental health.”

About Me

I offer therapy rooted in deep compassion and understanding, creating a space where you can feel truly heard. My approach helps individuals explore their inner world, especially those navigating cultural barriers to mental health. Drawing on my lived experience, I empathise with these unique challenges. We can gently practice mindfulness together, building practical interpersonal and stress management skills to find a way forward. This fosters a supportive relationship for your wellbeing.

Approach

Sessions move with a gentle rhythm I set together with you: moments of guided attention followed by practical rehearsal to build confidence. Whether we meet in Pretoria or connect online in English, I keep pace to your comfort, checking in about cultural context and daily stressors. In-session we practice grounded breathing, try interpersonal experiments, and name trauma responses; between sessions you might try short reflective exercises to notice patterns. People navigating cultural tension, life transitions or questions of identity often find this approach helpful.
Contact Rahila

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

In-person & Online

Services

Services Offered:

  • Coaching

    A goal-oriented practice focused on identifying objectives, overcoming obstacles, and taking action, centred on the present and future rather than past difficulties.

  • Conflict Management

    Structured approaches to resolving disputes and improving communication between people in conflict, whether in relationships, families, or workplaces.

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Online Therapy

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

    Learn more about Online Therapy
  • 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:

  • Adolescents
  • 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
  • Mood Disorder

    A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.

    Learn more about Mood Disorder
  • LGBTQI+ Support

    The unique psychological experiences of LGBTQI+ individuals, including identity exploration, coming out, discrimination, minority stress, and relationship dynamics.

  • 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
  • Trauma Therapy

    Therapeutic approaches specifically designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences.

    Learn more about Trauma Therapy
  • Women's Issues

    Psychological challenges more commonly experienced by women, including gender-based stress, reproductive health concerns, body image, caregiving burden, and societal expectations.

  • 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:

  • Registered Counselor

    A counselor who is formally registered with a professional or regulatory body.

Credentials

Registrations

Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP)

Specialist Counselor

Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)

Certified Counsellor

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

Licensed Professional Counselor

Verify License

Qualifications

Master of Arts (MA)

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Service Areas

Online

In-person & Online

Pretoria, Gauteng

South Africa

Pretoria, South Africa