Children and Family Counselling in Pretoria
You’re not failing your family. You just need a different way.
When big emotions take over and communication breaks down, therapy offers a space for your child and your family to feel seen, heard, and supported.
Real people. Real support. Real connection.
Helping your child feel safe
Supporting emotional regulation and helping them name and process big feelings.
Strengthening family bonds
Improving communication and trust so everyone feels more understood.
Restoring calm at home
Reducing conflict, shifting unhelpful patterns, and bringing more peace into your daily routines.
You want to help, but nothing seems to work
Whether it’s tantrums, anxiety, changes at home, or constant tension between siblings or parents, something just feels off. You’ve tried talking. You’ve tried being calm, being firm, or being patient. But things still feel heavy for your child and for you.
Child and family therapy creates space to unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface. It’s not about blame or labels. It’s about understanding, working together, and making home feel lighter again.
What is Children & Family Counselling?
When one person in the family is struggling, everyone feels it. Children and family counselling offers a calm space to understand what’s going on beneath the tension , whether it’s big emotions, behaviour changes, or constant conflict at home.
We’ll explore what each family member needs, work on clearer communication, and help you reconnect as a team. Counselling also supports families through big changes like divorce, blending households, or shifting roles, making space for every voice to be heard. This is a space for real conversations, gentle guidance, and a way forward, together.
Children & Family Counselling in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria
Is Your Child or Family Facing Any of These Challenges?
Children & Family Counselling in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria
Big emotions or frequent meltdowns
Is your child overwhelmed by anger, sadness, or frustration and struggling to calm down?
Trouble adjusting to change
Recent moves, divorce, school changes, or loss, transitions can feel huge to a child.
Withdrawing or shutting down
Is your child more quiet, anxious, or distant than usual?
Constant tension or conflict at home
Are arguments becoming the norm, between siblings, parents, or with your child?
Behavioural challenges
Frequent outbursts, defiance, or difficulties with boundaries or listening?
Parental burnout or helplessness
Do you feel like you’ve tried everything, but nothing is helping?
If any of this sounds familiar, support is available for your child and for you. I offer child and family counselling in Pretoria to help restore calm, connection, and confidence at home.
Approaches I Use in Children & Family Counselling
Children & Family Counselling in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria
Kids don’t always open up in direct ways, and that’s okay. I use creative, play-based, and age-appropriate approaches to help them express what they’re feeling. With families, I focus on communication, boundaries, and co-regulation. We work together, gently shifting the patterns that aren’t working anymore.
Externalising the problem
“We firstly externalise the problem. Like I said, the problem is the problem. The person is not the problem.”
“We name the problem as something that is outside the person… it means that I also will remove people from my club of life who do not belong there anymore.”Deconstructing the problem
“We will deconstruct the problem so that we can see what is actually going on. What’s the tip of the iceberg that this person is talking about — but what is really underneath the water level of this iceberg?”
Identifying hidden values and skills
“We will identify hidden values, hidden skills that this person has used before. But those skills just need a little bit of dusting off.”
“Sometimes they feel that they can’t handle it, but they’ve shown the resilience previous times.”Co-creating the alternative story
“We then go and create the new narrative. We also say it’s the alternative story. We thicken the alternative story. And the dominant problem story is not the main thing anymore, it’s all about the new stories that we focus on.”
I don’t give advice. I ask better questions.
I’m Vanessa, a narrative counsellor based in Pretoria. I serve individuals, teens, couples, and families who are ready to feel safe in their own story again. Back when I was a teacher, I loved seeing people grow, but I also saw how many of them needed something beyond skills. They needed to be heard. Not fixed. That stayed with me.
I still get chills when a client says, “I feel lighter.” Narrative counselling isn’t magic, but it can feel that way when you finally feel seen without being judged. Some say I’m the calmest person they’ve met. Others say I ask the one question they didn’t know they needed. Either way, I’m all in. I listen until the pieces make sense.
You show up. You speak. I listen. We follow your story, not a script. Slowly, you find that your past doesn’t have to define you, and your future doesn’t have to scare you.
ABOUT ME
How Children & Family Counselling Works
HOW IT WORKS
We start by understanding what’s happening, from both the child’s and the parent’s side. Sometimes I meet with just the child. Sometimes with the whole family. Sometimes we take turns. Therapy gives you the flexibility to explore, learn, and grow together. You’ll leave with practical tools, and renewed hope.
I listen to each voice
Whether we start with the child or the parent, I create a calm space where everyone’s experience is taken seriously.
We name what’s causing strain
We explore the emotional dynamics in the home, tension, miscommunication, conflict, without blame.
We rebuild connection
I guide families to repair trust, improve communication, and create a calmer environment that feels safe again
Frequently Asked Questions
Vanessa Crous Narrative Counselling
How long does family or child counselling take?
It depends. Some families come for short-term support during a difficult season. Others stay longer to work through ongoing issues. We go at the pace that works for your child and your family.
Can I bring just one of my children?
Yes. If one child is struggling, we can start there. If it makes sense later, we can include siblings or parents in the process.
How does counselling help with parenting conflicts?
Counselling creates space to understand one another better, improve how you communicate, and shift the patterns that are causing tension, without blame or judgement.
How involved do I need to be as a parent?
Your involvement matters. Even if your child attends most sessions alone, we’ll check in to make sure the support carries through at home.
Is this only for “serious” problems?
Not at all. Counselling can help with everyday challenges too, not just crises. You don’t have to wait until things feel out of control.
Children & Family Counselling in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria
You don’t need a perfect family. Just a safer way to connect
With family counselling in Pretoria, you’ll stop repeating the same arguments, and start building something calmer, stronger, and real.
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You’ll feel more confident handling conflict without yelling
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You’ll learn how to truly listen without going in circles
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You’ll stop walking on eggshells in your own home
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You’ll see your child open up instead of shutting down
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You’ll feel more like a parent, not just a peacekeeper
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You’ll break harmful patterns before they pass on
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You’ll create space for honesty without fear
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You’ll reconnect in ways that feel safe and respectful
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You’ll build emotional safety that lasts
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You’ll feel less stuck , and more like a family again
Start a conversation that changes everything. No pressure, just a safe first step.
Get in touch when you're ready
Counselling in Pretoria & Online Across South Africa
Whether you’re considering narrative counselling for the first time, booking a session for your teen, or looking for help with a family or couple dynamic, I’d love to hear from you.
If you’re not sure what you need yet, that’s okay too. Just send a message. You don’t have to have it all figured out.
- Call: 082 324 9735
- 414 Cliff Avenue, Waterkloof Ridge Ext 2, Pretoria, 0181
- Online counselling across South Africa
Last step: Press SEND. (psstttt… we just became best friends.)
This Work Is Gentle, But It Changes Lives
testimonials
Vanessa het my 18-jarige dogter met spesiale behoeftes met soveel geduld en liefde hanteer. Deur die manier wat sy werk, het sy haar vertroue ten volle gewen. Sy het absoluut ‘n passie vir wat sy doen. Baie dankie Vanessa!
Vanessa’s caring approach brought real breakthroughs. She listens with empathy, offers clear insights, and helps you make sense of difficult thoughts and emotions. Her support has not only helped me grow personally but also improved how I show up in my work and business.
Vanessa Crous Narrative Counselling
Children & Family Counselling in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria
If you’re ready to try something different, reach out.
