Upcoming Events: My Son's Brain - 25 & 27 November 2019
My Daughter's Brain - 2020 dates TBA
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.
About me
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 7 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 at the Council for Counsellors SA (registration number CO20427) and am in the process of being registered at the ASCHP as a Specialist Counsellor.