Malissa

Ms Malissa Mariens

Registered Counselor

“I am a Registered Counsellor offering psychological support to individuals to gain insight, cultivate strength and develop skills to, on a healthy and positive spectrum, manage and overcome difficult turmoils, interpersonal relations and life transitions.”

About Me

I offer psychological support, guiding individuals through life’s complex turmoils and transitions. If you're grappling with difficult experiences or relationship challenges, I aim to help you gain clarity and cultivate inner strength. We will work together to develop practical skills, equipping you to manage hurdles more effectively. This focused approach helps you move towards a healthier, more positive outlook, making it ideal for those ready to embrace personal growth and lasting change.

Approach

Therapy here unfolds as a focused, practical process: I listen closely to your story, help you name what matters, and together we map small, manageable steps toward change. In my Cape Town consulting space or via secure online sessions in English, I blend calm containment with coaching-style tasks—skill rehearsal, brief psychoeducation and reflective tasks to try between meetings. Sessions are paced to suit you, shifting from steady support in grief or trauma to active problem-solving for career, control or relationship stresses. This way of working often helps people seeking steady, skill-based growth and clearer direction.
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Basic Information

In-person & Online

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Services

Services Offered:

  • Coaching

    A goal-oriented practice focused on identifying objectives, overcoming obstacles, and taking action, centred on the present and future rather than past difficulties.

  • Conflict Management

    Structured approaches to resolving disputes and improving communication between people in conflict, whether in relationships, families, or workplaces.

  • 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
  • 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
  • Psychoeducation

    Structured information provided about a mental health condition (what it is, why it occurs, and what strategies can help) as part of the therapeutic process.

    Learn more about Psychoeducation
  • CBT

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured, evidence-based approach that identifies and changes unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.

    Learn more about CBT
  • Skills Training

    Structured programmes that teach practical coping and life skills, such as emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.

    Learn more about Skills Training

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Couples
  • Families
  • Groups
  • Individuals
  • Organisations
  • Parents

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Grief & Loss

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.

    Learn more about Grief & Loss
  • Career Issues

    Work-related difficulties such as chronic dissatisfaction, conflict, burnout, uncertainty about direction, or the stress of career change.

  • Control Issues

    A persistent need to control situations, people, or outcomes, typically driven by underlying anxiety, fear of uncertainty, or past experiences of helplessness.

  • Mood Disorder

    A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.

    Learn more about Mood Disorder
  • Family Issues

    Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Trauma Therapy

    Therapeutic approaches specifically designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences.

    Learn more about Trauma Therapy

Professional Title:

  • Registered Counselor

    A counselor who is formally registered with a professional or regulatory body.

Credentials

Registrations

Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)

Registered Counsellor

Verify License

Qualifications

University of the Western Cape

Service Areas

Online Practice

In-person & Online

Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa