Own your story, and in the process write a brave new ending.

Hi, I'm Diaan, if you have been traumatised or have suffered a loss and are stuck in a cycle of addiction, I am here to help you navigate these issues and experience the change, relief and lightness you’re looking for.

My career journey started as a social worker and with time (and training) evolved into the role of a clinical psychologist. I have been practicing for more than 20 years.

In addition to my private practice, I work at a dual diagnosis psychiatric hospital that specializes in addiction.

Trauma work is my passion and addiction are often closely related to past traumas.

Addiction by its very nature is often complicated by various other co-morbid diagnoses such as depression and anxiety and PTSD and personality issues and it affects both the individual and their families and very often wreaks havoc in everybody’s lives.

I can help you and your family to navigate this rocky road of recovery and help you to resolve some of your traumas.

Because helping people to resolve trauma is my passion I also work with bereavement, grief and loss as well as depression and anxiety and personality issues and I do couple’s counselling.

Let me assist you in finding some clarity and a sense of peace while you realize your own inner strength and resilience.

“Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual's life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviours that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.” – Kidshealth.org

I have experience in the field of addiction and have worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a psychiatric hospital, helping and assisting people who have addiction and other psychiatric issues. I can use my experience to help you and your loved ones to better understand addiction and start your road to recovery.

I work with individuals, couples and families.

Grief is universal. At some point in everyone’s life, there will be at least one encounter with grief. It may be from the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the end of a relationship, or any other change that alters life as you know it.

Grief is also very personal. It’s not very neat or linear. It doesn’t follow any timelines or schedules. You may cry, become angry, withdraw, feel empty. None of these things are unusual or wrong. Everyone grieves differently, but there are some commonalities in the stages and the order of feelings experienced during grief.

Elizabeth Kübler-Ross wrote in her book “On Death and Dying” that grief could be divided into five stages. Her observations came from years of working with terminally ill individuals.

Her theory of grief became known as the Kübler-Ross model. The 5 stages are denial, anger bargaining, depression and acceptance.

In my work as a psychologist, I have had opportunities to help people deal with their traumas. This has also given me an opportunity to go on a journey with them where they have to face the loss they have gone through and grieve and mourn and make meaning out of it.

South Africans face traumatic experiences on a daily basis. We just have to watch or listen to the news. In SA, gender based violence and in particular cases of rape and domestic violence are amongst the highest in the world. Other traumatic incidents include armed robberies, hijackings, motor vehicle accidents, natural and man-made disasters, childhood neglect and abuse etc.

Dealing with and making meaning of such traumas often are made more difficult by a lack of support and understanding in communities.

I can help and support you on your journey of dealing with and making meaning out of your traumatic experiences.

I have years of experience working with trauma. In my many years of practise I have worked with traumatised individuals and families and gained some of my experience at the Trauma Centre for Survivors of violence and torture in Woodstock, Cape Town as well as various other trauma work settings.

My specialty is trauma and I will use my experience to assist you in dealing and making meaning out of your traumatic experiences. I work with individuals, families and couples as well as in corporate settings.

As many as one in six South Africans suffer from anxiety, depression or substance-use problems (and this does not include more serious conditions such as bipolar mood disorder or schizophrenia), according to statistics released by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). If left untreated both depression and anxiety can become pervasive and debilitating, leaving people unable to cope with their lives.

I have worked with many individuals who suffer from depression and anxiety throughout my career as a psychologist and can assist you with finding ways to deal with and cope with your depression and anxiety.