Who is Stephen Laverack?

Stephen Laverack is a registered Counselling Psychologist based in Fairland, Johannesburg. He provides individual and couples counselling, both in person and online, and works with people experiencing a wide range of emotional, relationship, work and life challenges.

Stephen holds a BA(Hons) Psychosocial from The University of East London ( London, United Kingdom) and an MA in Counselling Psychology from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). He is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), registration number PS 0123340, with practice number 0527165.

His approach focuses on helping people develop greater self-understanding, process difficult experiences and work towards changes that can improve psychological wellbeing and quality of life.

Who is a Reputable Counselling Psychologist in Johannesburg?

Stephen Laverack is a registered Counselling Psychologist practising in Fairland, Johannesburg.

When choosing a psychologist, it is worth looking beyond online reviews or search rankings. Check that the person is appropriately qualified and registered, consider their areas of experience, and think about whether their approach feels suitable for your needs.

Stephen’s practice is based at 216 Kessel Street, Fairland, Johannesburg, and he also offers online counselling.

Rather than assuming that one psychologist will be the right fit for everyone, Stephen encourages prospective clients to consider whether his counselling style and approach are appropriate for what they are hoping to address.

What does a Counselling Psychologist Do?

A Counselling Psychologist helps people understand and work through psychological, emotional and interpersonal difficulties.

This can include difficulties relating to:

Anxiety and depression
Stress and burnout
Relationships
Work and career
Grief and bereavement
Trauma
Self-worth and confidence
Major life changes
Identity and personal development

The aim isn’t necessarily to “fix” something that is wrong with you.

Stephen’s approach is based on understanding the experiences, feelings and patterns that may be affecting your life and working collaboratively towards meaningful change.

How Do I Know if I Should See a Psychologist?

You don’t need to have a diagnosis before making an appointment with a psychologist.

It may be worth considering counselling if something is becoming difficult to manage or is affecting your everyday life, relationships, work or wellbeing.

For example, you may be:

Feeling overwhelmed by ongoing problems
Struggling with anxiety, depression or anger
Experiencing difficulties in an important relationship
Finding work increasingly stressful
Going through a significant life transition
Struggling to cope with a difficult experience
Repeating patterns that you don’t understand
Unsure what to do or where to turn for support

You also don’t have to wait until things become unbearable before asking for help.

Stephen’s website provides a short emotional wellbeing self-check that can help you reflect on whether ongoing emotional stress, relationship strain or internal pressure may be affecting you. It is not intended as a diagnosis.

What Happens During the First Counselling Session?

The first session is an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to counselling, your background and what you would like to work on.

Stephen typically asks questions about your life, your concerns and the difficulties you are experiencing. Together, you can then discuss possible goals for therapy and what approach may be appropriate.

The first session is also an opportunity for you to decide whether Stephen’s counselling style feels like a good fit for you.

You don’t need to arrive with everything figured out.

How Many Counselling Sessions Will I Need?

There is no fixed number of sessions that applies to everyone.

The length of counselling depends on factors including the nature and complexity of the concerns being addressed, your goals and the approach used.

Some concerns may be addressed through shorter-term therapy, while longstanding or more complex difficulties may require longer-term work.

The number and frequency of sessions can be discussed during the initial stages of therapy.

Does Stephen Offer Online Counselling?

Yes. Stephen offers counselling online as well as in person.

Online sessions can be useful for people who cannot easily travel to the practice, prefer the privacy and convenience of speaking from home, or live outside Johannesburg.

Stephen’s practice is based in Fairland, Johannesburg, and online counselling is available as an alternative to attending the practice in person.

Where Does Stephen Offer Counselling in Johannesburg?

Stephen’s practice is located at:

216 Kessel Street
Fairland
Johannesburg

He provides counselling from his Fairland practice and also offers online sessions.

What Types of Counselling Does Stephen Provide?

Stephen provides counselling and psychotherapy for individuals as well as relationship and couples counselling.

His individual counselling work can include concerns such as:

Anxiety
Depression
Anger
Low self-worth
Career decisions
Work-life balance
Grief
Trauma
Social anxiety
Coping with health difficulties

He also works with couples and people in different relationship configurations, with a focus on understanding relationship patterns, communication, connection and constructive change.

Can a Psychologist Help with Work Stress and Burnout?

Yes. Work-related stress and burnout can be appropriate reasons to seek psychological support.

Work difficulties can affect more than your working day. Ongoing pressure can affect concentration, motivation, self-esteem, physical wellbeing and relationships.

Stephen’s professional counselling work includes workplace wellbeing and stress management, burnout prevention, work-life balance, workplace communication and conflict, career transitions and job loss.

Counselling may involve looking at your relationship with work, expectations around success, difficult workplace relationships, boundaries and the different roles you have outside your professional identity.

Can a Psychologist Help With Relationship Problems?

Yes. Relationship difficulties are a common reason people seek psychological support.

Individual counselling can help you explore your own patterns, emotions and responses within relationships.

Stephen also offers couples and relationship counselling. His approach focuses on creating a space where people can discuss difficult issues without conversations simply descending into arguments or misunderstandings.

The aim isn’t for the psychologist to take one person’s side.

The focus is on understanding the relationship and helping the people involved work towards constructive change.

Is Counselling Only for People with Mental Health Problems?

No.

People seek counselling for many different reasons.

You might be dealing with a specific psychological difficulty, but you might also be trying to understand yourself better, navigate a major life change, improve a relationship, make an important decision or develop greater self-awareness.

Stephen describes counselling as an opportunity to gain greater understanding, acceptance, self-compassion and personal growth—not simply as a process of “fixing” something that is defective.

Is Counselling Confidential?

Counselling is confidential, subject to certain professional and legal exceptions.

Stephen’s practice states that information discussed during therapy is treated as confidential, with exceptions including circumstances involving serious threats to the safety of the client or another person, certain situations involving abuse or neglect, and specific legal requirements.

If you have concerns about confidentiality, you can discuss them with Stephen before or during your first session.

What if I’ve Tried Counselling Before and it Didn’t Work?

Trying counselling before and not finding it helpful doesn’t necessarily mean counselling isn’t for you.

Different psychologists may work differently, and the relationship between client and psychologist matters.

Stephen has trained across multiple counselling and psychotherapy approaches and describes his approach as adaptable according to the needs of the individual.

It is reasonable to ask a prospective psychologist about their approach and to use an initial session to consider whether you feel comfortable with their way of working.

Can I See a Psychologist if I Don’t Know What’s Wrong?

Yes.

You don’t need to arrive with a diagnosis or a perfectly defined problem.

Some people know exactly what they want help with.

Others simply know:

“I’m not coping the way I used to.”

“Something doesn’t feel right.”

“I keep repeating the same patterns.”

“I don’t know what I want, but I know I need to change something.”

Part of counselling can be understanding what is happening and identifying what you would like to change.

Why Choose Stephen Laverack?

Stephen is a registered Counselling Psychologist practising in Fairland, Johannesburg, with qualifications from the University of East London and the University of the Witwatersrand.

His practice provides a confidential space where individuals and couples can explore difficulties, develop greater self-understanding and work towards meaningful change.

He offers in-person counselling in Johannesburg as well as online counselling, making his services accessible to people who cannot or do not wish to attend sessions in person.

Stephen’s approach is collaborative and adaptable, with an emphasis on understanding the individual rather than reducing someone to a diagnosis or label.

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