Miss Victoria Schwulst, BPsych

Registered Counselor

“Maybe you look like you're coping, but inside you're exhausted. You're overthinking everything, questioning yourself, worrying about relationships, feeling uncertain about the future or wondering why everyone else seems to have life figured out. You might know you want things to feel different, but you're not quite sure where to begin. I work primarily, but not exclusively, with teenagers, young adults, and expats who are navigating anxiety, relationships, self-esteem, life transitions and the many uncertainties that can come with this stage of life. ”

About Me

I am a registered counsellor with the HPCSA in South Africa & BACP in the UK. I offer in-person or online sessions to teenagers and adults. My approach is integrative & completely tailored to you, drawing on CBT, Schema Therapy, Attachment and Solution-Focused techniques to help you understand yourself & develop ways to cope. Working with me feels less like a clinical session and more like an honest conversation; warm, unhurried, and genuinely collaborative, where you're never just a case to manage but a person I'm walking alongside.It's the kind of space where you can say the messy, half-formed thing out loud, and know it'll be met with care instead of judgement. Reaching out can feel like a big step. When you're ready, I’m here. You are not alone in this. I won't expect you to have the right words or know exactly what you need from counselling. We'll start where you are and work things out together.

Approach

I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, because you're unique. I draw on CBT, IFS, attachment-based, schema, and narrative therapies, and I bring in whichever of these feels right for you, in that moment. Some days we'll work on quieting the anxious thoughts that won't let you rest. Other days we'll get curious together about the different parts of you, maybe the part that learned to stay guarded to feel safe, or the part that's still quietly hoping things can be different. And sometimes we'll simply look at the story you've been telling yourself about who you are, and gently ask whether it still fits, or whether it's ready to be rewritten. However we get there, the goal is always the same: helping you feel more like yourself again.

Contact Victoria

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Cape Town, South Africa

In-person & Online

Services

My areas of special interest include anxiety and overthinking, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, life transitions, and the pressure that often comes with big decisions and an uncertain future. I work particularly closely with teenagers, young adults, and expats, clients who are often rebuilding a sense of identity, belonging, or direction, sometimes all at once.

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
Trauma Counseling
Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.
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Relationship Counseling
Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy
Stress Management
Techniques and strategies for managing the body and mind's response to excessive demands, including relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and lifestyle changes.
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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.
ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
A form of therapy that teaches acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while guiding action aligned with personal values.
Learn more about ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
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
Integrative Psychotherapy
An approach that draws on multiple therapeutic models, tailored to the individual, rather than following a single method.

Works With:

Adolescents
Adults
Couples
Individuals
Organisations

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
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
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
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
Body Image
How a person perceives, thinks, and feels about their physical appearance. When persistently negative, it can drive distress, avoidance, and disordered eating.
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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).
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Career Issues
Work-related difficulties such as chronic dissatisfaction, conflict, burnout, uncertainty about direction, or the stress of career change.
Relocation / Expat
The psychological challenges of moving to a new country or city, including loneliness, culture shock, identity shifts, and loss of social support.
Learn more about Relocation / Expat
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
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