About
Jacqui
Over the years, I have come to understand people through many roles in my own life: healthcare professional, corporate leader, entrepreneur, mother, partner, patient, daughter, sister and lifelong learner.
My path has not been linear. Like many of the people I work with, I have lived through seasons of uncertainty, loss, reinvention and growth.
I have experienced the devastation of divorce, the realities of single parenting, and the emotional complexity of rebuilding a life while still caring deeply for others. I am also the mother of two remarkable, late diagnosed autistic daughters, a journey that has deeply shaped the way I understand neurodivergence, parenting, family systems, sensory needs, emotional regulation and advocacy.
These experiences have strengthened my commitment to working from a neuro affirming lens, where difference is understood with compassion rather than judgement.
Along the way, I have also received a late diagnosis of ADHD, lived with chronic fatigue syndrome, and recovered from severe burnout. My personal experience of burnout has been hugely valuable in the way I support clients who are exhausted, overwhelmed, over responsible, high functioning on the outside, and quietly struggling on the inside.
I understand how burnout can affect your body, your confidence, your relationships, your identity and your ability to feel like yourself.
Another important part of my journey has been my relationship with my body and weight. Having struggled with weight for much of my adult life, I understand the shame, frustration and emotional complexity that can come with obesity. I also understand obesity as a disease, not a character flaw.
My own experience with weight loss, including lifestyle change, GLP-1 medication and gastric sleeve surgery, has given me both personal and professional insight into supporting others through weight loss, body image, identity change and the emotional adjustment that often comes with living in a changing body.
These personal chapters are not separate from my work. They are woven into the way I practise. They help me bring warmth, realism, compassion and practical insight into the counselling and coaching space.
At the heart of my work is the belief that healing and growth happen through connection, insight, practical tools and feeling safe enough to be fully yourself.
Professional guidance. Lived experience. Real support.
My Professional Background
I hold a degree in Nursing from the University of Cape Town, as well as postgraduate qualifications in Counselling and Life Coaching. My professional background spans healthcare, counselling, coaching, corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, group facilitation and psychoeducational work.
This combination of clinical experience, psychological training, coaching skills and lived experience allows me to support clients in a grounded, compassionate and practical way.
I am an Accredited Sensory Intelligence® Practitioner, which informs my work with stress, burnout, overwhelm, emotional regulation, neurodiversity, sensory processing, relationships and workplace functioning. Sensory Intelligence® helps clients understand how their sensory system affects focus, behaviour, energy, stress, relationships and wellbeing.
I am also a PEERS® Certified Provider, which supports my work with teens and young adults who may struggle with social confidence, communication, friendship skills, relationship skills and navigating everyday social expectations.
In my couples work, I draw on attachment theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy principles, nervous system awareness and Gottman Method Couples Therapy training. I have completed Level 1 and Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, which supports my work with couples around conflict, communication, emotional safety, rupture and repair, and rebuilding connection.
I have also been invited to speak at events, facilitate workshops, run support groups and create psychoeducational resources for clients, families and communities. I enjoy making complex emotional, relational, sensory and psychological concepts feel clear, practical and human.
I work with adults, couples, families, teens and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, relationship difficulties, neurodiversity, parenting, chronic illness, weight loss journeys, life transitions and personal growth.
How I work
My approach is integrative, person-centred, practical, and compassionate. I draw from counselling, life coaching, nursing experience, nervous system regulation, Sensory Intelligence®, attachment theory, relationship frameworks, and practical psychoeducation to help clients better understand themselves and create meaningful, sustainable change.
I believe that people do not need to be fixed. They need to be understood, supported, equipped, and gently guided back to themselves.
My work is safe, trauma-informed, neuro-affirming, and tailored to each client’s needs. Depending on what you are navigating, sessions may include emotional support, practical tools, psychoeducation, nervous system regulation strategies, communication skills, relationship work, sensory awareness, goal setting, or support through a specific life transition.
Integrative Support
I draw from a range of evidence-informed approaches, including counselling and life coaching, solution-focused approaches, cognitive behavioural tools, attachment-based work, Emotionally Focused Therapy principles, Gottman Method Couples Therapy training, nervous system regulation, Sensory Intelligence®, PEERS® informed social skills support, psychoeducation and practical skills development.
My aim is to help you understand your patterns, reduce overwhelm, strengthen your relationships, reconnect with yourself, and take realistic steps toward the life you want to build.
Sensory Intelligence®
As an Accredited Sensory Intelligence® Practitioner, I help clients understand their unique Sensory Identity™ and how their seven senses influence daily life, stress, overwhelm, focus, relationships, productivity, emotional regulation, and wellbeing.
Sensory Intelligence® helps people recognise how their environments, habits, routines, and sensory needs affect how they feel and function. It also offers practical ways to adapt daily life so that your nervous system feels more supported, regulated, and resilient.
The free Sensory Quiz™ is a helpful starting point. In under five minutes, it offers a snapshot of how you are wired to respond to sensory input and how this may influence stress, distraction, energy, overload, and daily functioning.
Sensory Quiz™ practitioner URL: https://sensoryintelligence.com/sensory-quiz-practitioners-and-licensees/
Couples and Relationships
My couples work is informed by attachment theory, Gottman Method Couples Therapy training, Emotionally Focused Therapy principles, nervous system awareness, and practical communication tools.
I help couples understand the patterns they get caught in, repair emotional ruptures, communicate more safely, rebuild trust, and strengthen emotional connection. This work may include support around conflict, disconnection, communication breakdowns, blended family challenges, neurodiverse relationship dynamics, discernment counselling, divorce support, rupture and repair, and rebuilding emotional safety.
Teens and Young Adults
As a PEERS® Certified Provider, I incorporate PEERS® informed social skills support where appropriate. PEERS®, developed through UCLA, is a manualised, evidence-based social skills programme for youth and adults who experience social challenges.
This can be especially helpful for teens and young adults who need support with social confidence, friendship skills, communication, dating, independence, emotional wellbeing, neurodiversity, school-related stress, family dynamics, and the transition into adulthood.
Workshops, Talks and Groups
I have also been invited to speak at events, facilitate workshops, run groups, and create psychoeducational resources for clients, families, and communities.
I enjoy translating complex emotional, relational, sensory, and psychological concepts into language that feels clear, practical, and human.
At the heart of my work is the belief that healing and growth happen through connection, insight, practical tools, and feeling safe enough to be fully yourself.
Professional guidance. Lived experience. Real support.
How I Can Support You
I work with individuals, couples, families, teens and young adults navigating emotional, relational, health, identity and life transitions.
My work includes support with anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, neurodiversity, emotional regulation, parenting, self esteem, relationship difficulties, dating, divorce and separation, chronic illness, life transitions, and weight loss journeys, including bariatric surgery and GLP-1 medication support.
I also support couples navigating conflict, disconnection, communication breakdowns, blended family challenges, rupture and repair, discernment counselling and rebuilding emotional safety.
For teens and young adults, I offer guidance around emotional wellbeing, confidence, social skills, neurodiversity, school stress, friendship challenges, dating, family dynamics, independence and the transition into adulthood.
Why I Do This Work
Because I know how it feels to be stuck, overwhelmed, and uncertain — and I also know how it feels to move forward with support, self-awareness, and the right guidance.
I am passionate about helping you rewrite your story with self-compassion, resilience, and authenticity. You do not have to do this alone — and you do not have to be anyone other than yourself in my space.
If you are ready to explore what healing, clarity, and growth could look like for you, I would be honoured to walk that path with you.
Areas I Can Support With
Self-Esteem, Confidence & Identity
Many people come to counselling feeling not good enough, overly self-critical, uncertain of who they are, or disconnected from their own needs and voice.
I support clients in developing greater self-awareness, self-compassion, confidence, and emotional resilience. Together, we explore the beliefs, experiences, patterns, and relationships that may have shaped how you see yourself, and gently work toward a more grounded and compassionate relationship with who you are.
Anxiety, Stress & Emotional Overwhelm
If you often feel anxious, emotionally flooded, irritable, shut down, or overwhelmed, counselling can help you understand what is happening beneath the surface.
We may look at your triggers, nervous system responses, coping strategies, boundaries, sensory needs, and emotional patterns. The aim is not to judge your reactions, but to understand them and build practical tools that help you feel calmer, more regulated, and more in control of your responses.
Burnout, Chronic Stress & Feeling Depleted
Burnout is not simply being tired. It can affect your body, emotions, relationships, confidence, work, and sense of self.
I support clients who are high-functioning on the outside but privately exhausted, overwhelmed, over-responsible, or struggling to keep going. Together, we explore what has led to burnout, what needs to change, and how to rebuild energy, boundaries, resilience, and a healthier relationship with yourself and your responsibilities.
Life Transitions & Personal Growth
Major life changes can bring uncertainty, grief, fear, hope, and possibility all at once.
I support clients through transitions such as divorce or separation, career change, parenting shifts, health challenges, identity changes, midlife reflection, relationship changes, weight loss journeys, and new beginnings.
Together, we clarify what matters most to you, identify realistic next steps, and help you move through change with more direction, courage, and self-trust.
Boundaries, Relationships & Communication
Many individual clients come to counselling because their relationships feel painful, confusing, one-sided, conflictual, or emotionally draining.
I support clients in understanding relationship patterns, attachment needs, people-pleasing, codependency, communication difficulties, emotional triggers, and boundary setting. This work can help you relate to others with more clarity, confidence, and emotional safety.
Whether you are seeking healing, clarity, emotional support, practical tools, or a renewed sense of direction, individual counselling and coaching offers a space where you can feel heard, understood, and supported.
You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. You can arrive as you are, and we can begin from there.