Hello, I'm Liesl Bekker

I’m a firm believer in creating your own life, planning action to change, and above all, being accountable for your choices.

I am not the type of therapist that you have seen on Netflix. I am personable, human and laid-back (and far from perfect or serious – that does not mean that I am not competent at what I do). I have wild hair, no style, often act inappropriately, sometimes use foul language and hate loud noises. I talk so casually during sessions that you’ll feel like we’ve met before. I’ll ask you about what’s been going on and how you’re experiencing it. I’ll ask what you did last week and about the people you usually engage with. I genuinely want to know how you’ve been doing and who you are. I’m not afraid to talk about the hard or awkward stuff, and I’m also not afraid to let you know when you’re limiting yourself.

Together we will sort all of the “puzzle pieces” of your life out and then we look at the big picture together. We’ll find the things that are holding you back and create plans to overcome them. I’ll help you put all the pieces back together again to form the picture you set out to draw for yourself in the first place.

I approach therapy with the idea that the things you tell yourself day-in and day-out have a huge effect on how you experience your life. Our thoughts affect the way we feel and the way we behave, so it’s an important starting point for therapy. You are welcome to watch the cartoon to get what I am saying by clicking on the ribbon “Let me tell you a story”

Everyone has something to work through.

Life happens to all of us and we ALL sometimes get tangled in all the live wires around us. If you struggle to get fit you hire a personal trainer and if you struggle with emotional issues you hire me (I might be less sexy than a personal trainer comparing our wardrobes but I definitely am way more affordable – trust me, I have been down that road!). Having a counsellor or life coach to talk to does not mean you are mentally unfit for life just as not being super fit to run the Comrades makes you unfit for all sport (or sports!). It only means that you might need someone to help you get unstuck from the tangled mess you feel trapped in. Getting support is not a sign of weakness – quite the opposite. Seeing a therapist is the brave, responsible and grown-up thing to do. All behaviour has purpose – let’s find out what your purpose is and get you to operate the remote control.

Participating in your own life is what’s most empowering.

Sometimes we feel like life just throws crap at us and we have to sit back and either dodge or take it. Therapy will teach you how to expand your choices so that not to just sit back and wait for the storm to pass or feel thrown around by it. You teach life how to treat you! You should feel in charge of what is happening in your life. I can teach you to do that.

Imperfect is welcome.

Feel free to leave your perfectionism at home. The Act is a place where human beings (yeah, me too) connect in real life. You are only allowed to bring your Sense of humour, your Patience and your Willingness to participate in the process. Together we will find the solutions to your barriers to joy. What we will NOT do is pretend to be perfect, experts at life, or having all the answers to life’s mysteries.

You are not better than anyone else, but you are just as good.

Social comparison and social media makes us forget this sometimes. In my office you will learn to get your expectations in line with reality. Change does not happen overnight and people do not change easily. People will never be who you want them to be, you are only in charge of your own beliefs and behaviour.

You’re worth the time, money, energy and effort spent in therapy.

You only have one life we know of. It is really worth the investment to make it the best life you could have. Therapy will help you clarify your goals and teach you how to get there. You’re worth the hard conversations and the babysitter and the extra hour you might have to work at your job.

Your new life is going to cost you your old one, and that’s okay.

You can’t hold on and move forward. To move forward we have to leave what is familiar. We would all stay stuck if we only did what was comfortable. Change is hard and unpredictable and uncomfortable, but it is not only a loss. You owe it to yourself to explore the unfamiliar to find what suits you and what not. Let me help you find the courage to invest the time and energy in what it takes to at least try new ways of being.

I hold a MEd Educational Psychology degree obtained from the University of Pretoria and I am a professional registered psychologist accredited with the National Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). I am also registered with most health insurance providers. I have 28 years’ experience and have been trained in various therapeutic techniques in South Africa, the USA and in Germany. I specialise in Impact Therapy, a practical and creative approach to careerology and in various assessment procedures used for subject electives and career careerology. I am also trained in hypnosis and have completed various courses in Jungian philosophy where focus is on dream work and the unconscious psyche.