Face to Face and Online Counselling
Online can be done via Zoom, WhatsApp video call, or In Person.
For more information on the current state of COVID-19 in SA, please visit the SA Coronavirus website.
2021 Upcoming Events
Understanding and working with the adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse
The Teenage Client
Trauma Bonding
My Daughter's Brain -
My Son's Brain
Counselling services
Welcome to Meraki Counselling
My name is Mariska van der Meulen. I do marriage and relationship counselling as well as trauma counselling.
I chose the name Meraki, as it really speaks to me about the supportive, open counselling environment in which healing takes place. It’s a Greek word meaning “to do something with soul, creativity, or love; to put something of yourself in your work.”
This sets the tone for a safe, understanding, non-judgmental space where together we can explore solutions and find new empowering ways of dealing with problems, traumas and creating a meaningful future which inspires you.
No matter how difficult life may feel at this moment, together we can discover the solutions and changes that you want in your life. I sincerely believe that using therapy to provide support and assistance in a compassionate, non-critical, understanding environment is my life’s calling.
Mariska van der Meulen
I have always experienced my greatest sense of accomplishment in helping people deal with challenges. After completing my BLC LLB, this passion led to my completing a Honours Degree in Psychology at the University of Pretoria in 2004. I trained as a counsellor for an NGO, focusing on marriage and relationship counselling, individual counselling and trauma related counselling for the last 10 years, furthering my passion and knowledge with key courses in trauma counselling and couples therapy. I have been lecturing various modules of Psychology since 2011 - Marriage counselling, Sexual trauma, Personology and Social Psychology.
I regularly host workshops or talks on a variety of subjects from dealing with your teenager, to coping with stress, resolving relationship issues and more. I am a wife and mother, which gives me deeper insight into my clients’ experiences and challenges.
I am registered with the ASCHP as a Specialist Counsellor (SWC21/823).