The Mask of Survival
My journey into psychology wasn’t just an academic choice; it was a personal development tool. Like many of the clients I work with today, I spent the first half of my life “masking”—presenting a functional face to the world while carrying the invisible weight of early childhood trauma and misplaced shame.
For years, I internalized narratives that weren’t mine to carry. I became a master of “high-functioning survival,” driven by perfectionism, people-pleasing, and a desperate need to prove my worth. This led me into a cycle of codependency and toxic relationship patterns, where I kept trying to fix others in hopes of fixing myself.
My Academic Foundation
The shift began when I realized I was living someone else’s version of my life. I decided to reclaim my narrative, not just emotionally, but intellectually. I enrolled in my Psychology degree, graduating Cum Laude, driven by a need to understand the mechanics of the human psyche.
However, life has a way of testing your theory. In 2019, shortly after a near-death experience during childbirth, I was suddenly widowed. I was 38, a single mother to an infant and older boys, the breadwinner, and the anchor for everyone else. I entered what I now professionally recognize as “functional freeze”—keeping the lights on, running the business, and parenting, while internally, I was crumbling.
My Own Diagnosis
After years of feeling “misunderstood” despite my success, I received my own diagnoses of ADHD, PTSD, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
For the first time, I didn’t feel “crazy”; I felt explained.
It allowed me to move from shame to strategy. I realized that standard “textbook” therapy often fails because it ignores the nuances of maladaptive coping mechanisms and thought patterns, which I spent years in psychological research uncovering.
I now combine my formal academic training with this profound personal insight to build a practice that is truly empathetic and non-judgemental with professional, practical support.
Today, I am the mental health support I wish I had.
I don’t just offer you theory. I offer you the empathy of someone who has walked the talk, combined with the clinical expertise to help you implement sustainable change.
My work is grounded in continuous professional development. I combine the analytical rigour of Research Psychology with practical, evidence-based therapeutic modalities.
Formal Academic Degrees
- MSc Research Psychology (Currently Completing)
- BA Honors Psychology (UNISA)
- BA Counselling Psychology - Cum Laude (UNISA)
Professional Certifications & Applied Training
- Diploma Professional Counselling
- Cert. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Cert. Life Coaching
Professional Registration
Registered Practitioner: ESPA-SA Registration Number: SA/WC/0110 (Employee Assistance Programs Association of South Africa)
