Counsellor profile
Dr. Amanda Van Der Westhuizen, HCPC
Based in United Kingdom ยท 17 years of experience
Counsellor for trauma and life stress
Continue with AmandaAt a glance
- Registration
- HCPC, United Kingdom (PYL040429)
- Qualifications
- HCPC
- Experience
- 17 years
- Languages
- English, Afrikaans
- Based in
- United Kingdom
Details come from information Amanda supplied to BetterHelp.
- Trauma-focused methods
- Client-centred counselling
- EMDR offered
About Amanda
HCPC. 17 years' experience. Dr. Amanda Van Der Westhuizen works in the United Kingdom and offers counselling in English and Afrikaans. She helps with a wide range of concerns including trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, self-esteem, grief, and work-related stress.
Dr Amanda often supports people with complex presentations, such as neurodiversity and co-occurring mental health conditions. She also addresses areas like attachment and abandonment, codependency, dissociation, chronic illness and pain, and issues that arise from family of origin. Her practice includes work with first responder issues, compassion fatigue and career-related difficulties.
Her approach draws on client-centred counselling alongside trauma-focused methods and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, often used when trauma or distressing memories are central. Sessions aim to be conversational and practical, with attention to how problems affect everyday life.
Amanda adapts the pace of counselling to suit each person, focusing on clear steps and practical coping strategies alongside talking-based work. She places emphasis on strengthening identity and self-esteem and on making manageable changes rather than rushing progress.
People seeking help are guided through a short matching questionnaire and then invited to book a first session. Fees vary by location and are provided through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. International clients can be accepted and sessions are offered in English and Afrikaans.
How her approaches translate to online counselling
Client-centred counselling focuses on the person and their needs. It involves open dialogue, reflective listening and practical problem-solving to help with issues like low self-esteem, relationship strain and coping with life changes.Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a trauma-focused method that works with distressing memories. In practice it combines guided recall with specific bilateral stimulation and can be used when past events continue to cause symptoms such as anxiety or intrusive memories.
Trauma-focused therapy concentrates on processing traumatic experiences and reducing their ongoing impact. It aims to identify patterns that maintain distress and to develop coping skills for everyday situations.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The counsellor will discuss goals, preferences and practical needs and agree a plan together. Decisions about pacing and techniques are collaborative and can change as therapy progresses.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives, reduce travel time and let people join from different locations, which can help with continuity of care and ongoing attendance.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English, Afrikaans
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with?
She works with trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, self-esteem, grief and career stress among other concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is conversational and practical, using client-centred counselling and trauma-focused approaches to address how problems affect daily life.
How much experience does she have?
She has 17 years of professional experience offering counselling and related therapeutic work.
Is she registered and where does she practise?
She is registered with HCPC and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and Afrikaans.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are accepted.
How are sessions paid for?
Fees vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
What are the steps to start counselling?
Select the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Checking a registration
Professional bodies keep public registers. If Amanda lists a membership, you can look it up on that body's own website:
Online counselling is not emergency or medical care. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers