Writing
Notes from the counselling room
Plain answers to the questions people bring — written from a long career of sitting with them.
19 August 2026
Why trauma lives in the body — and what to do about it
Why understanding what happened to you often doesn't stop the reaction — and what body-based counselling actually involves. A plain explanation from Erene Mitchell.
12 August 2026
What is Christian counselling, really?
What Christian counselling is and isn't — how it differs from pastoral care, how faith is brought into the room, and what to ask before you book with anyone.
29 July 2026
Panic attacks: what they are and what actually helps
What a panic attack really is and what genuinely helps in the moment — a plain, practical explanation from an experienced counsellor.
21 July 2026
What is the difference between a social worker and a psychologist?
The difference between a social worker and a psychologist in South Africa — training, what each does, medical aid claims, and how to choose a counsellor.
8 July 2026
Carer burnout: the symptoms, the guilt, and what to do first
Carer burnout symptoms explained by an experienced counsellor — the signs, the guilt trap, practical first steps, and when counselling helps.
1 July 2026
How much does counselling cost in the UK?
How much does counselling cost in the UK? An honest look at typical private fees, what drives the price, low-cost routes, and where online counselling at £40 fits in.
24 June 2026
How to cope with losing a parent
How to cope with losing a parent — the paperwork, the odd moments grief chooses, becoming the older generation, and when counselling can help.
17 June 2026
Seeing a counsellor in another country: how it actually works
Does online counselling work, and can you see a counsellor in another country? The honest practicalities: time zones, dropped calls, privacy at home, and crisis limits.
27 May 2026
Grief support group or one-to-one counselling — which do you need?
Grief support groups or one-to-one counselling — which is right for you? An honest comparison from a grief counsellor, including free options in South Africa.
13 May 2026
The stages of grief — and why yours may not follow them
The five stages of grief are a useful map, but grief rarely follows them in order. A grief counsellor on what the stages get right, and what actually helps.
29 April 2026
My elderly mother is never happy — and I feel awful for minding
My mother is never happy — why a parent turns critical or demanding in later life, why it lands on you, and how to set limits without abandoning her.
15 April 2026
Does medical aid cover counselling? A plain South African guide
Does medical aid cover counselling in South Africa? A plain guide to counselling benefits, practice numbers, what to ask your scheme, and what a claimable receipt needs.