MARÉSA VAN DER WALT

Marésa van der Walt

Marésa van der Walt is a qualified psychologist based in Graylands, Cape Town with over 20 years of experience in the industry. She has experience in a wide range of psychological fields, including experience in various systems of psychotherapy, individual therapy, working within a multidisciplinary team, group work, couples therapy, and addiction treatment.

In 1997, she completed a B.A. in Human Sciences at Rand Afrikaans University. After that, she obtained a B.A. Honours in Psychology at the University of the Free State. In 2003, she completed a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology at University of the Witwatersrand, with a focus on Psychotherapy, Psychometric assessments and Community interventions.

Marésa currently owns a private practice in Cape Town. At the same time, she works as a Consultant psychologist at an addiction treatment centre in Treatment Centre in Cape Town, where she treats various addiction, including substance abuse, gambling addiction and gaming addiction.

Through the use of various psychotherapy techniques and collaborative treatment measures, her clients develop life-changing habits to help them deal with life's various obstacles. Her therapy sessions are designed to dissect personal issues and provides clients with practical tools to help them see the glass half full instead of half empty.

Marésa began her psychology career as an Intern at Helen Joseph Hospital. From 2004 to 2009, she worked as a psychologist at the National Defence Force. Here, she played a multifaceted role, providing a wide range of services, including psychotherapy for individuals, families, groups and children. During her time here, she was also deployed to Burundi under the United Nations to provide Psychological services to members deployed, trauma debriefings, and assessments of psychological adjustments.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • BA. Human Sciences (Rand Afrikaans University)
  • B.A. Honours in Psychology (University of the Free State)
  • M.A. in Counselling Psychology (University of the Witwatersrand)

TRAINING

  • DBT (Dialectic Behavioural Therapy)
  • BWRT (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy)

CURRENT FOCUS

  • Online therapy for adults and couples
  • Individual therapy
  • Couples therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Dialectic Behavioral Therapy
  • Existential Therapy
  • Person-centred Therapy

SPECIAL INTERESTS

  • CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
  • Acute Stress Reaction
  • Addictions and Substance Abuse
  • Adjustment difficulties and disorders
  • Anxiety Disorders and Panic Attacks
  • Anxiety and Fears/Phobias
  • Anger Management
  • Couples therapy
  • Confidence and self-esteem
  • Conflict management/resolution
  • Depression
  • Divorce
  • Existential issues
  • Grief counselling
  • Impulse Control Disorder
  • Loss or Grief
  • Mood-disorders
  • Negative thinking patterns
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Parental guidance
  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Relationship Conflict / Issues
  • Self-awareness and self-development
  • Spirituality, Spiritual Conflict, Spiritual Crises (Christian perspective)
  • Stress
  • Trauma Therapy