Valerie

Ms Valerie Shayne, BPsych

Registered Counselor

“As a dedicated Registered Counsellor, with years of counselling experience, I provide a safe space for you to freely explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. I journey alongside you, helping you navigate life's complexities and manage personal challenges.”

About Me

Having lived much of my life in Zimbabwe, I moved to Cape Town in 2005, where I raised my three children and spent many years facilitating personal growth groups for women. My longstanding interest in emotional wellbeing and personal development led me to formal counselling training, and I completed my BPsych Equivalent Honours degree in Psychology through the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP). I am a Registered Counsellor with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), practising within the ethical and professional standards that govern psychological care in South Africa. I bring both professional training and lived experience to my work, offering a grounded therapeutic space for adults navigating life’s challenges.​ My approach is warm, thoughtful and person-centred, integrating psychological insight with practical emotional support. I work collaboratively, helping clients deepen self-awareness, strengthen coping, and move toward meaningful change.

Approach

At a pace that feels right for you, we take time to untangle thoughts, emotions and behaviours so things begin to make more sense. I meet clients in a quiet, private space in Constantia or online. Sessions are focused but flexible; sometimes we talk things through, and at other times I suggest simple tools to try between meetings. Together, we will make sense of the current challenges in your life, understand the patterns that may be contributing to distress, and identify meaningful ways forward. Along the way, we may explore both present difficulties and the deeper roots that shape how you think, feel, relate, and respond. My aim is to help you develop greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and alignment with the values that matter most to you—so that you can move through life with greater clarity, confidence, and choice.
Contact Valerie

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

In-person & Online

Services

Life can feel overwhelming even when you appear to be coping on the outside. You may be dealing with - anxiety or chronic stress - burnout and emotional exhaustion - relationship difficulties - grief or loss - major life transitions - low mood or feeling stuck - difficult family dynamics - challenges with self-worth or emotional regulation. Counselling offers a confidential space to slow down, make sense of what you’re experiencing, and find healthier ways forward.

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

Works With:

  • Adults

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • 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
  • 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
  • Behaviour or Conduct Issues

    Persistent patterns of defiant, aggressive, or rule-breaking behaviour in children or adolescents that significantly disrupt home, school, or social life.

  • Grief & Loss

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.

    Learn more about Grief & Loss
  • 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.

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Anxiety

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

    Learn more about Anxiety

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); Board of Health Funders (BHF)

Registered Counsellor

Qualifications

Bachelor of Psychology

South African College of Applied Psychology

Year: 2024

Service Areas

Valerie Shayne Counselling

In-person & Online

Bel Ombre

Cape Town, Western Cape 7806

South Africa

Also serving online:

Cape Town · Johannesburg · Durban

Bel Ombre, Cape Town, South Africa