Hello World!
My name is Marelize Krieg and I am a Specialist Wellness Counsellor designated by the Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP). I live in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. I offer counselling services and create content, resources, and products that enable and empower you to thrive and not just survive.
The Blooming Practice is a resource and service provider for healing, personal growth, mental health, specialist wellness counselling, holistic wellness, and lifestyle design. Find thoughtful, inspirational, motivational, and practical content to assist you in becoming your favourite self and growing a beautiful, purposeful life. My work aims to nurture your mind, body, and soul, to open your mind, heal your heart, and inspire positive change in your life.
As a Specialist Wellness Counsellor, my primary aim is not to treat, but to improve, not to diagnose, but to screen (identify), and not to cure, but rather to care.
Let Yourself Bloom…
Why are we here? Because we’re alive. Because we each have a purpose to fulfil on this earth.
Life can be hard, unfair, intense, and terrible. But, life can also be beautiful, enriching, inspiring, and hopeful. Surviving is not easy, and thriving is even more difficult.
However, you are resilient.
Everything you need to succeed, you already have access to – perhaps you just don’t know it yet. Still, a little help never hurts anyone. My role as your Specialist Wellness Counsellor is to help you unlock your own potential so that you can empower yourself to transcend your fears, become your favourite self, and live your best life. By utilising a person-centred approach and drawing on my own personal experience, I will guide, support, and facilitate the healing and growth process for you.
The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire.
Richard M. Nixon
I will fight for you, but I cannot save you – only you can do that.
However, I can equip you with the tools you need to succeed and help you find your way by and for yourself. Together, we will work on promoting functional, healthy thoughts and behaviours. I will help you to feel your feelings, because the only way out is through. And, if we need more help, I can help you get it. You know yourself best and only you can choose what you want to do with your life. You are the expert on you. We work with what you bring. Commit to the process for long enough and make the shift from victim to survivor to warrior.
In addition to my 220-hour Specialist Wellness Counsellor internship training from Humanitas and honours degree in Psychology from the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP), I have also completed a life coaching course through the University of the Free State (UFS) and several other courses in counselling, most notably in counselling children and adolescents through the University of South Africa (UNISA). I also managed a support group for depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for young adults (ages 18-35) under the banner of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). As part of my undergraduate degree in Psychological Counselling from the University of South Africa (UNISA), I focused on victimology and criminology. I am a firm believer that most of life’s difficulties arise from trauma, and therefore chose to complete the thesis for my honours degree in Psychology on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
I offer a wide range of services to individuals, couples, families, and other groups, including trauma counselling, debriefing, crisis management, addiction counselling, and loss/grief counselling.
Don’t be sad that roses have thorns.
Lee Child
Be glad that thorns have roses.
How badly do you want it?
As a Specialist Wellness Counsellor, I live for a single moment… The moment the individual sitting opposite me realises their own strength and capability, when they light up and the fire of determination burns in their eyes, because they know they will rise up and fight back, no matter how many times they are knocked back down and have to try again. Try, they will, because they choose to do so.
You are strong enough. You are worthy enough. You can do it.
There is no easy way through life, no safe way. There is nothing you can do to prevent the pain of being alive. Pain is inevitable. But, suffering is optional. For a million, tiny reasons, life is worth it. You just need to find your reason. Find something to hold on to, something to fight for, something to live for. Trust me and let me hold the space for you. Let me help you to not only survive – but thrive.
Your life is your own. Rise up and live it.
There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
Henri Matisse
About Me…
I lean towards the humanistic school of thought, specifically the person-centred approach proposed by Carl Rogers, which maintains that clients are a product of their own subjective experiences. Person-centred counselling is a highly empathetic approach that contends the client’s nature is goal-directed, and that the client is capable of change and has constructive potential. I believe that my clients can direct their potential towards the change they need if they are unconditionally accepted and feel free to grow without being limited. Throughout my counselling, I practice the Rogerian principles of congruence (genuineness), empathy (putting myself in the client’s shoes), and unconditional positive regard (having a non-judgemental attitude).
Ergo, I want to collaborate with my clients to facilitate an environment wherein they can empower themselves to process the difficult emotions they are struggling with and the trauma behind those emotions, to find a healthier, more functional alternative to coping, so that they can move from victim to survivor to warrior.
Check out my Philosophy for more information on my approach.
P.S. I am also a crazy cat lady.
One person’s weed is another person’s wildflower.
Susan Wittig Albert
This Is My Story…
Completed a Short Learning Programme (SLP) in Counselling Children and Adolescents at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2019.
Completed a Short Learning Programme (SLP) in Health Coaching at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2019.
Graduated with distinction in a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and Social Services (Psychological Counselling) from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2022.
Managed and hosted a depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) support group for young adults (ages 18-35) under the banner of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) from 2022 to 2024.
Graduated with a BSoSci Honours (Psychology) degree from the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP) in 2023.
Completed training and a 220-hour internship as a Specialist Wellness Counsellor with Humanitas in 2024. In addition to interning with Humanitas, I also worked with Optimystic Bikers Against Abuse.
Qualified and registered as a Specialist Wellness Counsellor with the Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP) in 2024.
Completed several short courses in working with teenagers (self-harm and suicide) and couples counselling in 2024.
Started completing a life coaching course from New Insights Africa.
All that blooms must wither first.
Dahi Tamara Koch
My Current Journey…
At present, I am working to complete a life coaching certification with New Insights Africa. Becoming a life coach has been a long-held dream of mine for many years now. I am excited to start offering life coaching services to my clients soon!
I am also busy with the trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator training hosted by the incredible Candice Clark.
In my personal life, I am working to heal and nourish my physical and mental health so that I can be my best self and devote my best efforts to my clients.
Choose to bloom with all of your flaws.
Anonymous
A Final Note…
I am privileged to be able to truly “see” my clients, to help them to live well, and to feel better than they ever thought they possibly could. I am passionate about helping them to take control of their mental health in a practical way and to guide and support them as they make the changes they believe are necessary.
It is an incredible responsibility and privilege to earn a client’s trust and share in their journey of healing and growth. To be the recipient of so much vulnerability and honesty is not something I take lightly. Instead, it is something I strive to be worthy of every moment of every day.
Sending you love and light, Marelize.
Accepting help is its own kind of strength.
Kiera Cass
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