In the counselling process the client is the expert of their own life and experiences. The goal of counselling is set by the client and involves creating awareness about negative patterns, exploring different perspectives and facilitating positive change. The counsellor’s role is not to advise, judge or tell the client what to do, but rather to provide a safe and supportive space for the client to come to their own insights, solutions and conclusions. 
Throughout life we learn many skills, but effective communication skills, regulating and expressing our emotions in a healthy way, self care and developing sound boundaries are often not amongst those. Lacking these skills and feeling isolated and unsupported can make us vulnerable to negative and depressive feelings, critical self-talk, anxiety, burn out and feeling overwhelmed. In addition bad and sad things happen to good people, we can lose a loved one, our job, experience a traumatic event or find ourselves in a toxic or abusive relationship. Counselling can help with creating awareness of our dysfunctional patterns, it can empower and support us to consciously make the changes we want, in order to become happier, and find more meaning in our relationships, work and life. 
The counselling process is shorter, on average between 6 and 12 sessions, more goal oriented, and less expensive than for example Psycho Therapy. Counselling differs from Coaching by not only focusing on the future, but also considering and acknowledging the influences of a client’s past experiences on their behaviour and wellbeing.
My name is Ymke Hemminga (pr.Imke) Originally from the Netherlands I found my home in South Africa in the late 90’s. I have a background in fine arts, creative writing and education but have always been consistently passionate, fascinated and interested in human beings, their emotions and behaviours.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • I am a person-centred Wellness Counsellor, registered with the ASCHP.
  • Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences, Majoring in Counselling and Psychology.
  • Humanitas Counselling Course.
  • Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T) Instructor.
  • Advanced Tree of Life Practitioner.
  • T.I.R (Traumatic Incident Reduction)Trauma counselling.
In 2019 I qualified as a P.E.T (Parent Effectiveness Training ) instructor which allows me to offer exciting 8-week parent training courses in which parent gain valuable communication, relationship-building, and creative conflict resolution skills. I love spending time with my family and Iggy Pup my shiny black dog. I enjoy walking in nature, one on one time with friends who are like family, dancing to 70-s funk, reading poetry in a hammock, doing research on all things wonderfully human, drawing, and finding humor in daily objects and situations.I also like collecting funny, beautiful or awkward retro items…for example cookie tins with children with bad hair cuts or disheveled pets.
Of all the psychological theories I studied during my degree, the person-centered theory developed by Carl Rogers resonates with me the most. Person-centred counselling is a non-directive approach founded on the 3 humanist principles of Congruence or realness, Empathy and Unconditional Positive Regard. when we live congruent lives, our authentic self, or who we really are is aligned with what we do and how we live. If we feel like we cannot truly and freely be who we are, (think accountant with the soul of a poet) we struggle with inner conflict which can get in the way of emotional wellbeing, happiness and personal growth. Empathy is the ability to walk with someone, to acknowledge that you don’t know what the other has lived through, and to validate and respect their feelings without judgement. Unconditional Positive Regards means that there are no conditions of worth attached to acceptance and support.
I use an integrated approach to helping my clients, which is firmly rooted in person centered theory but allows me to use my creativity to figure out what is needed, and helpful to the client I have in front of me. I am passionate about discovering, highlighting, or dusting off strengths and talents in my clients which will enable them to embrace life and all it’s expected and unexpected challenges in a happier, more confident and resilient way.

I have experience working with a diverse range of individuals from all ages and walks of life. I can assist with Trauma counselling, Life Transition Obstacles, parent coaching/counselling, loss and grief counselling, perinatal depression, as well as issues relating to confidence and low self esteem. I can help client’s face to face at my counselling room in Hatfield, Pretoria or via zoom.

ymke@becomingwell.co.za

071 7480315
1127 Stanza Bopape street
Hatfield | Pretoria