Christel Maritz Clinical Psychologist

27/03/2026

Finding the strength to try one more time when life feels overwhelming requires a combination of self-compassion, radical simplification, and mental reframing. Mental capacity is not a static resource; it can be nurtured during tough times by focusing on small, actionable steps rather than the overwhelming whole.

Radically Simplify and Take Small Steps
When your mental capacity is depleted, your brain shuts down, making big decisions impossible.

The "Rule of Three": Identify only three tiny things to accomplish each day (e.g., take a shower, eat a meal, send one email).

Focus on the Next Hour: Do not look at the next month or even the next week.

Focus only on getting through the immediate present.
"Brain Dump": Write down everything causing stress on a piece of paper. Cross off what you cannot control, and circle one thing you can take action on today.

26/03/2026

There is a moment many people describe in therapy that sounds something like this:

“I’ve always felt things more deeply than other people… but I thought something was wrong with me.”

They are often referring to what is known as **Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)** traits—a recognised and assessable psychological profile. While not a disorder, it is a clinically observable pattern of heightened sensory processing and emotional responsiveness. In some cases, people are even misdiagnosed or misunderstood for years before recognising this pattern.

Let me tell you a simple story from the consulting room.

A client once said she could walk into a room and immediately feel the emotional atmosphere. Before anyone spoke, she already knew who was upset, who was anxious, and who needed support. At school she was called “dramatic.” At work she was told to “toughen up.” In relationships she was often overwhelmed—not because she was weak, but because she was absorbing everything.

Over time, she learned to survive by shutting down parts of herself. Avoiding noise. Avoiding conflict. Avoiding people. But inside, she felt exhausted and confused. “Why is life so overwhelming for me when others seem fine?”

What we discovered in therapy was not a flaw—but a **highly sensitive nervous system without enough containment or understanding**.

And here is where the shadow side often shows up:
Sensitivity that is not understood can turn into anxiety, burnout, emotional overload, or self-criticism. People start believing they are “too much” or “not coping,” when in reality their system is simply processing more information than most.

The important truth is this:
Being highly sensitive is not the problem.
Not understanding it is.

In therapy, we don’t remove sensitivity—we help you understand it, regulate it, and work with it instead of against it. We build language for what you experience. We create boundaries that protect your system. We help you reconnect with yourself without overwhelm.

And slowly, something shifts:
What once felt like “too much” becomes clarity.
What felt like “overwhelm” becomes awareness.
What felt like weakness becomes depth.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone—and you are not broken.

This may simply be a part of your psychological and emotional make-up that has never been properly understood or supported.

If you recognise yourself in this, therapy offers a space to explore it safely, make sense of it, and learn how to live with more ease in a world that often feels too loud.

Christel Maritz from Christel Maritz Psychologist is a qualified Clinical Psychologist based in Somerset West. Over the past 22 years she has come to realize that although there are different schools of psychotherapy, certain common denominators are occurring and that these denominators are brain ba...

23/03/2026

Ever felt like you were thinking in a different language to everyone else?? Realizing I’m neurodivergent was both empowering and terrifying. It finally made sense of a lifetime of feeling like an outsider in my own skin. Therapy has helped me turn that “difference” into strength, learning to work with my mind, not against it. I may miss some social cues, but I also see the world in a way many don’t.

What’s one thing your “different” brain has helped you do better?

Comment below if you’ve ever felt like you were thinking in a different language to everyone else.

If you’re in Somerset West, Western Cape, and want support understanding your neurodivergent mind, reach out to Christel Maritz, Clinical Psychologist:📧 cmaritz67@gmail.com

https://christelmaritzpsychologist.psychpractice.org/understanding-my-neurodivergence/

Christel Maritz from Christel Maritz Psychologist is a qualified Clinical Psychologist based in Somerset West. Over the past 22 years she has come to realize that although there are different schools of psychotherapy, certain common denominators are occurring and that these denominators are brain ba...

20/03/2026

Therapy is More Than Talking.

Therapy helps you break down experiences, reset your nervous system, and — most importantly — realize you are not broken.

It’s about experiencing life at a different level: understanding your patterns, releasing tension, and building resilience. Healing isn’t about changing who you are — it’s about reconnecting with your true self.

Take the step to feel lighter, clearer, and more in control. Therapy is a safe space to explore, process, and grow.

📩 Connect with Christel Maritz, Clinical Psychologist, and start your journey toward deeper understanding and emotional freedom today.

16/03/2026

The fear of setting boundaries because of how others might feel usually originates from early relational environments where the child’s safety depended on managing other people’s emotions.

In psychological terms, the child learns: “My needs are dangerous if they upset someone.”

Over time, this becomes an internal rule guiding adult relationships.

1. Conditional Safety in Early Relationships

If a caregiver responded to a child’s needs with: anger | withdrawal | guilt-inducing reactions | emotional overwhelm. The child learns that expressing needs causes relational disruption. The nervous system therefore adapts by thinking: “It is safer to suppress my needs than risk losing connection.” Attachment theorists such as John Bowlby described how children will sacrifice authenticity to preserve attachment, because attachment is essential for survival.

2. Emotional Parentification

Another common origin is emotional parentification, where the child becomes responsible for the emotional state of caregivers. The child learns to monitor: mood changes | tension in the environment |
subtle emotional cues. The internal belief becomes: “I am responsible for how others feel.” If boundaries are set later in life, the nervous system reacts as if something dangerous is happening—even when it is not.

3. Guilt Conditioning

Many people were taught—directly or indirectly—that boundaries are: selfish | disrespectful | hurtful.
So the moment they consider saying no, the body generates guilt and anxiety. This is not a moral signal; it is a conditioned survival response.

4. Trauma and the Fawn Response

Trauma specialist Pete Walker describes a survival strategy called the fawn response, where a person protects themselves by prioritizing other people’s needs. Instead of fighting or fleeing, the nervous system says: “Keep everyone happy so nothing bad happens.” Boundaries threaten this strategy, which is why they can feel terrifying even when logically they are healthy.

5. The Nervous System’s Misinterpretation

For someone with this history, setting a boundary can trigger a disproportionate fear response, because the brain associates boundary-setting with: rejection | abandonment | conflict |punishment. So even small boundaries can feel like a risk to belonging.

13/03/2026

A very well-recognized trauma pattern often called the rescuer, fixer, or caretaker identity. It develops when a person learns—usually early in life—that their value and safety come from meeting other people’s needs rather than having their own needs met.

Psychologically, this pattern is closely linked to what is sometimes called the fawn response, a trauma adaptation identified by therapist Pete Walker.

11/03/2026

When a person disconnects from the authentic self, it is usually not a conscious decision-it is a protective adaptation to trauma. The nervous system prioritizes survival over authenticity. Over time this can create a split between the inner self and the presented self.

09/03/2026

Ever felt like your mood is a puppet on strings, yanked by everyone else's chaos? If you weren't taught emotional regulation as a child, perhaps in a home where feelings were dismissed, exploded, or simply ignored, you're left navigating adulthood reacting instead of responding. Now, your inner calm hinges on others "being in control": a boss's tone, a partner's mood, or even strangers' drama can derail you. It's exhausting, leaving you moody, anxious, or numb, as unprocessed emotions bubble up unchecked.

As Christel Maritz, Clinical Psychologist in Somerset West, I help you break free, learning tools to monitor and regulate your own state, no matter the storm around you. Reclaim your emotional steering wheel; contact me today for a supportive space to build resilience that lasts.

📍 Somerset West | Email - cmaritz67@gmail.com to start.

05/03/2026

Toxic behaviours I stopped normalising:

• Being told I’m “too sensitive” when I express how something hurt me.
• Apologising for things that were never my responsibility to carry.
• Staying silent to keep the peace while my boundaries were being crossed.
• Accepting disrespect disguised as “just a joke.”
• Being expected to tolerate behaviour that slowly erodes my wellbeing.
• Believing that love, friendship, or family requires enduring emotional harm.

Healthy relationships are not built on silence, fear, or self-abandonment. They are built on respect, accountability, and emotional safety.

Sometimes the most powerful step in healing is recognising what should never have been normal in the first place.

If you find yourself questioning patterns in your relationships or struggling to reclaim your boundaries, speaking to a professional can help you gain clarity and rebuild your sense of self.

02/03/2026

If you’ve ever been told you’re "too sensitive" or "overly dramatic," you might actually be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).

Being an HSP isn't a medical diagnosis or a disorder—it’s a personality trait shared by about 20% of the population. It means your nervous system is simply wired to process information more deeply than others.

What it feels like:

Sensory Overload: Loud noises, bright lights, or itchy fabrics feel physically painful.

Deep Empathy: You absorb the emotions of people around you like a sponge.

Need for Downtime: After a busy day, you need a dark, quiet room to recharge. Rich Inner Life: You are deeply moved by art, music, and the beauty of the world.

How is it "treated"? Since being an HSP isn't an illness, we don't "cure" it—we manage it. The goal is to move from "surviving" to "thriving."

Lifestyle Design: Creating a "buffer" in your schedule. If you have a big social event, plan for a quiet day afterward.

Boundaries: Learning that "No" is a complete sentence. Protecting your energy is a necessity, not a luxury.

Sensory Tools: Using noise-canceling headphones, dimmed lights, or comfortable clothing to lower the external "volume."

Therapy (Somatic or CBT): Working with a professional to reframe the shame often associated with sensitivity and learning how to regulate an overstimulated nervous system.

The Bottom Line: Your sensitivity is a gift. The world needs people who notice the details, feel deeply, and care intensely. 🌿✨

Christel Maritz from Christel Maritz Psychologist is a qualified Clinical Psychologist based in Somerset West. Over the past 22 years she has come to realize that although there are different schools of psychotherapy, certain common denominators are occurring and that these denominators are brain ba...

23/02/2026

Feeling what you’re afraid to feel isn’t weakness—it’s the essence of real healing. Research in emotional neuroscience shows that when we suppress emotions, the brain actually amplifies stress responses, increasing anxiety, tension, and even inflammation in the body. By allowing ourselves to sit with uncomfortable emotions instead of pushing them away, we give our nervous system permission to process and regulate naturally. Facing fear, sadness, or grief head-on strengthens emotional resilience, helping the brain rewire itself for clarity and calm rather than chaos.

Psychologists have found that people who tolerate and explore difficult emotions develop greater self-awareness and empathy. Experiments in affective science indicate that when we fully experience emotions, we integrate them rather than compartmentalize them, which reduces the likelihood of repeating unhealthy patterns in relationships or life choices. This means that the feelings we fear most—loneliness, anger, vulnerability—are often the very catalysts for profound growth, creativity, and stronger connections with others.

The transformative power of feeling fear is that it teaches you where you are holding back and where your untapped strength lies. Every emotion fully felt becomes data for your personal evolution, signaling what matters, what needs attention, and what must be released. Healing is not the absence of fear—it is the courage to move through it, to meet yourself in the places you’ve been avoiding, and to step into a version of yourself that is wiser, freer, and more whole than ever before.

17/02/2026

Many adults who receive a neurodivergent diagnosis later in life experience a range of intense emotions—and this is completely normal.

The emotional journey often follows a pattern:

Validation – finally understanding, “There was a reason.”
Grief – mourning the misunderstood child, teen, or young adult you once were.
Anger – at systems, workplaces, caregivers, or even yourself.
Identity disruption – questioning, “Who am I now that I know this?”
Integration – gradually rebuilding your self-concept with clarity and compassion.

This process is not a sign of weakness or pathology. It’s a natural response to years of navigating life without answers.

If you’re working through a late diagnosis and need guidance to make sense of your experiences, reach out to discuss how therapy can help you integrate this new understanding. Contact me at cmaritz67@gmail.com

https://christelmaritzpsychologist.psychpractice.org/late-diagnosis-understanding-the-struggle/