Gabi Kell is a qualified Counselling Psychologist with a Masters in the Social Sciences from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, where she received her Honours (cum laude). She is registered with the Health Professions Council as a Counselling Psychologist and have additional qualifications as a Play Therapist. Gabi begins work with her clients in a pragmatic way, with a focus on their immediate goals. She believes in a collaborative relationship between therapist and client -- her clients are seen as the experts on their own lives and problems and she sees her role as a consultant who can assist them to change. Her professional expertise and authority, in combination with her clients' knowledge of themselves, helps them to live their lives in more satisfying, authentic ways. She has found with her clients that often in order to unlock the answers for themselves and to shift them out of being 'stuck' in their understanding of their situation, they need someone to bounce thoughts off of, someone who is unbiased and not deeply involved in their current situation, someone who can help them in extricating themselves from a situation that at first may seems inescapable. In fact, in her experience, it is through this growth that my clients adversity can bring about positive change and new elements in their life. Her work is influenced by a number of approaches, primarily Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Person-Centred therapy. She is also significantly influenced by Mindfullness-Based Cognitive Therapy, this is a relatively new form of therapy that takes features from both mindfulness techniques and cognitive therapy. Lauren Bloch is both an Educational Psychologist and Montessori Teacher.She qualified with a Masters (cum laude) in Educational Psychology from The University of the Witwatersrand. Lauren sees the individual as existing within a system and thus am influenced by the ecosystemic approach to therapy. Her focus is on the individual's perception of his or her truth and walk along side the client to achieve their therapeutic goals. In the therapeutic relationship the client is the expert on his or her problems and the therapist is an aid who can help provide tools to experiment with along the way. The ultimate goal is for the client to leave therapy at the end of the final session with a feeling of accomplishment and having gained tools to help him or her with life's curveballs. Lauren has counseled adults, adolescents, children and families and believes in a holistic and family oriented approach to therapy. She has had experience with a range of clients in the areas of play therapy, adolescent therapy, parent guidance, family therapy and educational assessments. Lauren has worked with adults and children with anxiety, dyslexia, autism, language confusion, etc. In addition, Lauren has taught a range of subjects to students from a variety of backgrounds and age ranges. Lauren has also taken on the role as Head of the English Department in the school in which she worked and was responsible for creating the school's educational programme.
