Counselling Programme

Counselling Programme

We employ part-time counsellors to provide quality counselling support to Grade R to Grade 7 learners at Lourier, Steenberg, Sullivan, Westlake and Ithemba Primary Schools. We counsel children through bereavement, trauma, behavioural problems, neglect, substance use and abuse, gang initiation, bullying and psychological, physical and sexual abuse. Because we believe in providing holistic support, we counsel the child while also offering psycho-social support to his or her educators, family, friends and other social networks.

All our counsellors are qualified professionals, and offer a variety of services including individual counselling, group counselling, staff development, debriefing and child protection services. We offer ongoing training, supervision and debriefing services for all our counsellors, safeguarding their personal and professional wellbeing.

Our Counselling Centres in the schools are equipped with a variety of play therapy and movement resources such as playdough, finger paints, balls, dolls and games. We practice child-centred therapy in the counselling room where children are encouraged to choose their own medium of play and initiate conversation. Our counsellors observe, listen and respond accordingly, all the while adjusting their therapeutic approach to the child.

We also practice resilience and empowerment counselling with the aim that every child who leaves our counselling room is affirmed in his/her identity, abilities, goals and is given coping mechanisms to help them thrive while living in extremely difficult circumstances.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we no longer recruit volunteers for counselling.
We are however always looking for potential funders for this programme so please get in touch if would like to consider contributing to a counsellor’s salary.

Our Success Stories

Meet Anisha

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Meet Anisha

Anisha* is in Grade 5 and was referred to The LifeMatters Counsellor to help her process her parents divorce as well as a recent cancer diagnosis for her mother. With the support of the LifeMatters Counsellors Anisha has been given tools to process these hard life challenges, understanding her parents divorce and learning to cope with the additional stress her mothers illness has brought.

Meet Tristan

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Meet Tristan

A qualified LifeMatters counsellor was able to provide support to both Tristan* and his mother after it came to light she was abusing alcohol, and the stress of the home living situation resulted in Tristan turning to substance abuse as a coping mechanism. Through support from the LifeMatters counsellor Tristan is now living with his older sister and is making excellent progress to overcome his addiction.

Meet Anisha

Read More...

Meet Anisha

Anisha* is in Grade 5 and was referred to The LifeMatters Counsellor to help her process her parents divorce as well as a recent cancer diagnosis for her mother. With the support of the LifeMatters Counsellors Anisha has been given tools to process these hard life challenges, understanding her parents divorce and learning to cope with the additional stress her mothers illness has brought.

Meet Tristan

Read More...

Meet Tristan

A qualified LifeMatters counsellor was able to provide support to both Tristan* and his mother after it came to light she was abusing alcohol, and the stress of the home living situation resulted in Tristan turning to substance abuse as a coping mechanism. Through support from the LifeMatters counsellor Tristan is now living with his older sister and is making excellent progress to overcome his addiction.

* Names have been changed for privacy. Pictures used with permission.