TESTIMONIALS
"What if this actually works ..."
“Elmarie” (60) describes her experience of therapy as follows:
“I needed therapy because I felt as if I were trapped in a maelstrom of anxiety and negative thoughts and also as if I had lost faith in my own abilities, life and even God. I had lost touch with my creativity. My inner compass was therefore completely dysfunctional.
What struck me most about the therapy was how important my own inputs, insight, background, knowledge and experience were for its ultimate success. This made me realise that I am responsible for my own process and that I do have the ability to make positive changes in my life.
What surprised me the most about the therapy was how rapidly I began to feel better and how much I achieved in such a short time. What I found most valuable was that we got straight to the point. We didn’t spend unnecessary hours delving into my past or my pain. The fact that we evaluated my progress during every session and discussed the sessions themselves encouraged and inspired me to work really hard between sessions to achieve my goals. I was able to see real progress every time.
The most important thing I’d like to tell anyone considering going for therapy: Don’t hesitate. If you want to empower yourself, do it. The therapy is highly individual and your needs are addressed fast, thoroughly and successfully.
“Neville” (24) reports as follows on his therapy:
''Outstanding therapy! It works fast and effectively. Positive results from the first session got me out of my depression following the break-up with my girlfriend. The emphasis on the positive in the therapy had a very good effect and I soon saw results – almost like a “miracle”! I’d recommend this to anyone, no matter what the problem is. If you are wondering whether therapy will work for you … it will! Anyone would benefit from this therapy.”
“Leo” (46):
“For a long period I felt as if my life was spiralling downwards into a dark hole and it became increasingly difficult to get out of bed in the mornings and face the new day with any optimism at all. After reading an article in Rooi Rose about the new approach Cizelle uses in her therapy, I decided that this was something I needed in my life. I was amazed to find that after just three sessions I was conscious of a big difference in my state of mind. The evaluation during each session helped me to monitor my progress. Today I would like to encourage everybody to invest in their own mental health through positive therapy so that they can increase their enjoyment of life and set goals for themselves.”
“HWJ” (20) writes as follows after his second session of Solution Focused Brief Therapy: “After one session I learned that my problems were not such a big train smash and in any case even if there has been a train smash one can clean up afterwards by taking small steps. I feel very much at ease with Cizelle and find that the therapy is not forced. It’s not a question of “it's my way and no other way” – we try things until we find something that works and then we build on that. If you want to be happy, be happy!”
Many people ask the question: How lasting is the effect of therapy? Dirk tells his story ...
"It is about 14 years since my therapy with Cizelle. At that stage I had nothing, only people who cared about me. I suffered from depression and had a poor self-image. I found it almost impossible to concentrate and was making a mess of my undergraduate studies. I found it difficult to hold my own in social situations. I was a loner, nervous and isolated from normal social relationships. At that stage I didn’t have a girlfriend. But I had a dream: to become a motivational speaker ...
It was a big step to go and see a psychologist – I saw it as declaring emotional bankruptcy and placing yourself under administration! But in the end I agreed to go.
I soon realised that my psychologist was a woman who displayed love and empathy, someone who truly had a deep understanding of my situation. It was easy for me to share with Cizelle and open up and frankly tell her all the details of my life so that she could help me. I was receptive to that and ready to embark on a new course in life.
Within the secure environment created by empathy and acceptance, it was surprising to see how professionally and with what precision Cizelle approached my situation and led me slowly but surely through all the steps of emotional healing. Emotional health is not achieved overnight. It takes time and is a process. She never opened up wounds; I never felt exposed or disrespected.
Cizelle helped me to get my self-respect and dignity back, to enjoy my own company, to be gentle with myself and to build up my self-confidence. I was able to believe and hope again, and feel I could take on the future. My studies no longer got me down and I completed my BCom degree and began to follow a healthier lifestyle. I had received new tools with which to look after myself and build myself up.
Today I have been happily married for eight years and we have two beautiful sons. I am spiritually and emotionally stronger than ever, I look forward to the future and have a strong faith in our Heavenly Father’s plan for our lives.
I am the proud co-owner of a large business that is completely free of debt, is growing fast and should soon be a household name. We are on radio and TV and on eleven massive hoardings alongside Gauteng’s motorways. We have made our mark in our industry and we are making a difference. With Cizelle’s therapy the basis of my self-esteem is so firm that it forms an immovable foundation for healthy and spontaneous social interaction. This is why I have self-confidence and am able to communicate dynamically and inspire other people by projecting new visions for them as well. Yes, my dream of becoming a motivational speaker has come true! In our business it is my privilege to gather our staff of 60 together once a week so that I can inspire and motivate them to be their best selves, not only at work and at home but also in society. "
"Dennis" tells his story:
Somewhere in the confused and dark soup of my life of depression, debilitating angst, fear, fear, fear, I had an insight ... I knew that if I was able to write a letter to me as the little boy of 5 and have a positive and inspiring message to give in it, I would know that I was well, I had turned the corner and I was going to make it.
For more than 40 years now, I’ve been trying to write that letter. Sometimes I got to the end of the first sentence, the first paragraph, only to run out of true things to say that would have been in keeping with my initial commitment of being honest, positive and sure that I’d arrived at my spiritual home of wellness, wellbeing, but I was unable to testify to the fact that I had a home to house my soul and that I had arrived at it, found it, made it mine and feel safe and secure in it.
For more than 40 years I searched, read books, talked to people I thought could help me, had conversations with myself and saw psychologists, psychiatrists, healers, spiritualists, begged God to forgive me if I had done wrong and remove the scourge of my burden. I would howl like a mad animal at night or when alone in my car on the highway, I would withdraw, I would often hit myself mercilessly in the panicked believebelief that the pain would exorcise the madness creeping up on me, I would travel to India for spiritual upliftment, I would read and pray and even contemplate the unmentionable, drink myself into stupor and stay drunk for a few days, all the time being made aware of the fact that the time was slipping away from me. I was slipping away from me.
I was starting to understand that I may never be able to write that letter.
It was an average day at the office when a colleague returned from a marketing show carrying a popular magazine given away for free at one of the stands. It was an Afrikaans women’s magazine, the Rooi Rose of July 2014. I opened it at home that night and read an article about a person who had lost her father and explaining the trauma of growing up without your father. There was a contact number and name for a therapist at the end of the article and I dialled the number that evening. In less than an hour after leaving the voicemail message, Cizelle Louw phoned me and gave me a slot to meet her.
The first meeting was six weeks ago. I have written the letter to me.
If you also have a story to tell about your therapy (anonymous if you wish), you can send an e-mail from CONTACT.
Cizelle Louw
Clinical Psychologist
“Elmarie” (60) describes her experience of therapy as follows:
“I needed therapy because I felt as if I were trapped in a maelstrom of anxiety and negative thoughts and also as if I had lost faith in my own abilities, life and even God. I had lost touch with my creativity. My inner compass was therefore completely dysfunctional.
What struck me most about the therapy was how important my own inputs, insight, background, knowledge and experience were for its ultimate success. This made me realise that I am responsible for my own process and that I do have the ability to make positive changes in my life.
What surprised me the most about the therapy was how rapidly I began to feel better and how much I achieved in such a short time. What I found most valuable was that we got straight to the point. We didn’t spend unnecessary hours delving into my past or my pain. The fact that we evaluated my progress during every session and discussed the sessions themselves encouraged and inspired me to work really hard between sessions to achieve my goals. I was able to see real progress every time.
The most important thing I’d like to tell anyone considering going for therapy: Don’t hesitate. If you want to empower yourself, do it. The therapy is highly individual and your needs are addressed fast, thoroughly and successfully.
“Neville” (24) reports as follows on his therapy:
''Outstanding therapy! It works fast and effectively. Positive results from the first session got me out of my depression following the break-up with my girlfriend. The emphasis on the positive in the therapy had a very good effect and I soon saw results – almost like a “miracle”! I’d recommend this to anyone, no matter what the problem is. If you are wondering whether therapy will work for you … it will! Anyone would benefit from this therapy.”
“Leo” (46):
“For a long period I felt as if my life was spiralling downwards into a dark hole and it became increasingly difficult to get out of bed in the mornings and face the new day with any optimism at all. After reading an article in Rooi Rose about the new approach Cizelle uses in her therapy, I decided that this was something I needed in my life. I was amazed to find that after just three sessions I was conscious of a big difference in my state of mind. The evaluation during each session helped me to monitor my progress. Today I would like to encourage everybody to invest in their own mental health through positive therapy so that they can increase their enjoyment of life and set goals for themselves.”
“HWJ” (20) writes as follows after his second session of Solution Focused Brief Therapy: “After one session I learned that my problems were not such a big train smash and in any case even if there has been a train smash one can clean up afterwards by taking small steps. I feel very much at ease with Cizelle and find that the therapy is not forced. It’s not a question of “it's my way and no other way” – we try things until we find something that works and then we build on that. If you want to be happy, be happy!”
Many people ask the question: How lasting is the effect of therapy? Dirk tells his story ...
"It is about 14 years since my therapy with Cizelle. At that stage I had nothing, only people who cared about me. I suffered from depression and had a poor self-image. I found it almost impossible to concentrate and was making a mess of my undergraduate studies. I found it difficult to hold my own in social situations. I was a loner, nervous and isolated from normal social relationships. At that stage I didn’t have a girlfriend. But I had a dream: to become a motivational speaker ...
It was a big step to go and see a psychologist – I saw it as declaring emotional bankruptcy and placing yourself under administration! But in the end I agreed to go.
I soon realised that my psychologist was a woman who displayed love and empathy, someone who truly had a deep understanding of my situation. It was easy for me to share with Cizelle and open up and frankly tell her all the details of my life so that she could help me. I was receptive to that and ready to embark on a new course in life.
Within the secure environment created by empathy and acceptance, it was surprising to see how professionally and with what precision Cizelle approached my situation and led me slowly but surely through all the steps of emotional healing. Emotional health is not achieved overnight. It takes time and is a process. She never opened up wounds; I never felt exposed or disrespected.
Cizelle helped me to get my self-respect and dignity back, to enjoy my own company, to be gentle with myself and to build up my self-confidence. I was able to believe and hope again, and feel I could take on the future. My studies no longer got me down and I completed my BCom degree and began to follow a healthier lifestyle. I had received new tools with which to look after myself and build myself up.
Today I have been happily married for eight years and we have two beautiful sons. I am spiritually and emotionally stronger than ever, I look forward to the future and have a strong faith in our Heavenly Father’s plan for our lives.
I am the proud co-owner of a large business that is completely free of debt, is growing fast and should soon be a household name. We are on radio and TV and on eleven massive hoardings alongside Gauteng’s motorways. We have made our mark in our industry and we are making a difference. With Cizelle’s therapy the basis of my self-esteem is so firm that it forms an immovable foundation for healthy and spontaneous social interaction. This is why I have self-confidence and am able to communicate dynamically and inspire other people by projecting new visions for them as well. Yes, my dream of becoming a motivational speaker has come true! In our business it is my privilege to gather our staff of 60 together once a week so that I can inspire and motivate them to be their best selves, not only at work and at home but also in society. "
"Dennis" tells his story:
Somewhere in the confused and dark soup of my life of depression, debilitating angst, fear, fear, fear, I had an insight ... I knew that if I was able to write a letter to me as the little boy of 5 and have a positive and inspiring message to give in it, I would know that I was well, I had turned the corner and I was going to make it.
For more than 40 years now, I’ve been trying to write that letter. Sometimes I got to the end of the first sentence, the first paragraph, only to run out of true things to say that would have been in keeping with my initial commitment of being honest, positive and sure that I’d arrived at my spiritual home of wellness, wellbeing, but I was unable to testify to the fact that I had a home to house my soul and that I had arrived at it, found it, made it mine and feel safe and secure in it.
For more than 40 years I searched, read books, talked to people I thought could help me, had conversations with myself and saw psychologists, psychiatrists, healers, spiritualists, begged God to forgive me if I had done wrong and remove the scourge of my burden. I would howl like a mad animal at night or when alone in my car on the highway, I would withdraw, I would often hit myself mercilessly in the panicked believebelief that the pain would exorcise the madness creeping up on me, I would travel to India for spiritual upliftment, I would read and pray and even contemplate the unmentionable, drink myself into stupor and stay drunk for a few days, all the time being made aware of the fact that the time was slipping away from me. I was slipping away from me.
I was starting to understand that I may never be able to write that letter.
It was an average day at the office when a colleague returned from a marketing show carrying a popular magazine given away for free at one of the stands. It was an Afrikaans women’s magazine, the Rooi Rose of July 2014. I opened it at home that night and read an article about a person who had lost her father and explaining the trauma of growing up without your father. There was a contact number and name for a therapist at the end of the article and I dialled the number that evening. In less than an hour after leaving the voicemail message, Cizelle Louw phoned me and gave me a slot to meet her.
The first meeting was six weeks ago. I have written the letter to me.
If you also have a story to tell about your therapy (anonymous if you wish), you can send an e-mail from CONTACT.
Cizelle Louw
Clinical Psychologist
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