Erna Nel

Counselling & Industrial Psychologist - La Lucia Ridge, Durban

M Soc Sc; MA (UKZN)

I have my practice at The Square, La Lucia Ridge. My clientele include children, adolescents, adults and organisations. My areas of interest include but are not limited to:

• Depression and anxiety
• Stress and adjustment to life changes
• Trauma and debriefing (individuals and groups)
• Children and adolescent therapy
• Couple and marriage therapy
• Scholastic assessment
• Career mapping, planning and assessment
• Work related difficulties
• Targeted selection (personnel selection and interviewing)

My therapeutic approach is eclectic, in that I use a variety of concepts and techniques from various theoretical modalities. These theoretical frameworks include transactional analysis, psychodynamic/psychoanalytical/self psychology, cognitive behaviour therapy, the Bio-psycho-social model, and existentialism. Each client presents with a unique set of reasons, experiences and motivations for therapy. Guided by what the client presents, I believe more may be gained by this eclectic approach, than by being restricted to a single theory. I aim to create a trusting and safe environment in which the client can explore, discover and journey to a place where he/she is able to live a fuller life, be able to contribute more effectively to society and there are no limits to his/her potential.

Having worked for the South African Police Services in the Helping Professions, I have a special interest in working with trauma cases. Whilst working in the SAPS, I gained experience in working with, and was exposed to various traumatic incidences in which members were involved. These included shootings, hi-jacking, assault, rape, house breaking, suicide and murder. In the event of a critical incident, trauma or a flagged emergency, I can consult within 48 hours of the initial contact. Services offered include trauma debriefing, crisis management, psychological assessment, consultation, counselling and/or therapy for individuals, families and groups.

On a daily basis every effort is made to integrate well-being into the fabric of organisations, enhance individual functioning, promote better work satisfaction and morale, improve the quality and productivity of work, and create a supportive workplace climate and culture.
My primary goal is to inform and skill employees to take ownership of their well-being (physical, psychological and social) and to provide them with the necessary support to make informed decisions regarding their work and personal lives. I can assist in creating well-rounded employees by running workplace programmes that keep healthy staff healthy, assist them to make positive lifestyle choices and build company capacity. Programmes offered include stress management; life skills/life style education i.e. financial planning, debt management, budgeting; conflict resolution; communication skills; motivation; personal relationship development; self-esteem and assertiveness; HIV/AIDS education; pre and post test HIV counselling; organisational diagnosis; career development and career assessments.

People change careers more frequently, searching for the ideal job that both meet their economic and personal needs. Organisations need an effective selection process that identifies people who can and will do the job over a period of time. Developing and maintaining a selection system that yields solid returns is critical to the success of every organisation. Targeted selection is a proven, practical, consistent and legally credible system that provides a firm foundation for accurate hiring decisions and affords me the tools and skills to gather and evaluate data effectively. Additional information can be gathered through the use of various assessments, which could include: Intelligence, aptitude and potential tests (i.e. Trade aptitude test etc); Personality Tests (i.e. Personality at work, Personal Profile Analysis; Myers-Briggs Type Indicator etc) and Career Counselling Tests (i.e. Differential Aptitude Test, South African Vocational Interest Inventory etc.)

I am fully accredited to administer the Thomas Personal Profile Analysis (PPA), the Thomas TST, measuring aptitude and ability, and the Thomas EIQ, measuring emotional intelligence. These are assessments designed to assist organisations to understand, realise and develop the full potential of their people.

Gestalt Colour Therapy

Everyone is born with a unique parcel or package with equipment, packed with everything that is needed to live a meaningful life. Each person should discover his/her own parcel or package. This parcel or package consists of items such as personality, feelings, senses, physical and cognitive abilities, talents and gifts.

Gestalt Colour Therapy is a method of awareness. Through the process clients are assisted to find their lost treasures, to make it their own again and to become self-supportive. It is a short term treatment programme with the emphasis on the client’s responsibility and self-support.

Through the therapy the client gains more awareness of his/her own needs and personal experiences on an emotional, physical, cognitive and spiritual level. The client’s self-awareness is developed to penetrate his/her world with his/her own abilities and resources. At first the client is assisted to become aware how she/he operates presently to solve his/her difficulties, followed by experimentation with new ways to make his/her existence more satisfying.

I am fluent in Afrikaans and English and conduct therapy, assessments and workshops in both languages.

PS 0094714
Practice no: 0221805