I’m CJ Nel, a HPCSA Registered Counsellor, and for me, counselling isn’t just a career—it’s a space I’ve earned my way into through lived experience, ongoing training, and a deep belief in human resilience.

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My life began with a sense of belonging. I was born prematurely and adopted at birth into a family that has always made me feel deeply accepted and loved. That experience shaped my view of identity—not as something fixed, but as something we grow into, over time, with care and support.

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From a young age, I was curious, reflective, and drawn to the emotional layers beneath people’s stories. I didn’t arrive at counselling immediately. Like many, my path included detours, life events, and moments of reckoning that reshaped my direction. In time, these experiences fuelled a growing interest in mental health, trauma, resilience, and the ways people make meaning in the aftermath of disruption.

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My practicum at Headway Gauteng was a turning point. There, I worked with survivors of brain injuries, their families, and their care teams. It taught me to sit with uncertainty, to witness stories that don’t have clean resolutions, and to appreciate the courage it takes to build a life after diagnosis or injury. Since then, I’ve continued to work with acquired disability, palliative care, trauma, grief, identity development, and adjustment in both NGO and private practice settings.

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I completed my Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree cum laude and have gone on to complete postgraduate training in Palliative Care through the University of Cape Town, as well as training in BWRT to support trauma work more effectively.

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I use an eclectic, evidence-informed approach grounded in DBT, ACT, SFBT, Narrative Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, Existentialism, Feminist Theory, and Multicultural/African Psychology. What that means in practice is that I tailor each session to the client in front of me, while holding a consistent commitment to ethical, respectful, and collaborative care.

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This work matters to me—not just because of what I’ve studied, but because of what I’ve lived. Whether I’m working with someone facing grief, long-term adjustment, self-medication, or something that feels harder to name, my aim is always to offer steadiness, reflection, and a safe space to grow.

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Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me. If you feel I might be the right fit for your journey, I’d be honoured to walk a part of the road with you.