Ms Valerie Shayne, BPsych

Registered Counselor

Verified

“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

Cape Town, South Africa

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
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
Support Groups
Facilitated groups of people with shared experiences who meet regularly to listen, share, and support one another.
Trauma Counselling
Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.
Learn more about Trauma Counselling
SFT (Solution-Focused Therapy)
A goal-oriented approach that draws on a person's existing strengths and resources to build practical, future-focused solutions, rather than dwelling on the causes of difficulties.
Relationship Counselling
Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.
Psychodynamic Therapy
A therapy that explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape current feelings, relationships, and behaviour.
Learn more about Psychodynamic Therapy
Online Counselling
Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.
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Narrative Therapy
A therapy that helps people separate themselves from their problems by exploring and reauthoring the stories they tell about their lives, drawing out values, strengths, and preferred identities.
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

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