Open Sky Counselling

20/04/2026

I am a qualified counsellor registered under the category of *counsellor* registered with C4C SA.

I provide counselling for children (over the age of 8 years old) I work very well with teens. I also provide counselling for adults (this includes relationship/marriage counselling.

My fees are affordable, focusing on those who possibly need assistance, but cannot afford it. Or those who do not have medical aid.

I provide non diagnostic support which means that I am not allowed to diagnose anything (I have a referral system in place for this)

I conduct online sessions as well as face to face sessions. Please note that I do not conduct online sessions for children under the age of 12 years as it does not serve them well. They need to be present and to also utilize my playroom.

I have previously assisted clients in other countries and can easily accommodate time zones.

Languages spoken are English and Afrikaans.

I look forward to working with you.

Shelley

08/04/2026

Reflections in the mirror may be distorted by socially constructed ideas of beauty. You are good enough. Total self-acceptance means self-forgiveness. When you forgive yourself and stop judging yourself, then you won't judge others, and there will be less conflict in this world. Brené Brown says that owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing a person will ever do.

29/03/2026

It only takes one negative thought and you are one your way to a bad day.

24/03/2026

Taking daily inventory of yourself is a good practice to have.

Not to make you feel bad about yourself, but to assist you in seeing how you are progressing in managing your emotions.

It will help you to take accountability for yourself and it will also help you to recognize over reactions. It will also help you to recognize when you can simply just move forward with no action needed.

20/03/2026

20/03/2026

Communication is the heartbeat of every relationship. Yet, small habits in how we talk can quietly erode connection. Let’s explore some common communication mistakes that, when avoided, can deepen understanding and connection."

Kommunikasie is die hartklop van elke verhouding. Tog kan klein gewoontes in hoe ons praat, stilweg die band verswak. Kom ons kyk na algemene kommunikasie-foute wat, as ons dit vermy, begrip en verbintenis kan verdiep."

17/03/2026

Most people who have been in recovery circles will know the acronym for "I'm FINE"
🤭
Please excuse the Language
F *****d up
Insecure
Neurotic
&
Emotional 😢

Be kind. you never know what someone is going through.

17/03/2026

Sometimes people arrive in therapy with quite a case.

Not to build a case against their family of origin…but to unpack the suitcase of experiences they’ve been carrying around.

Some things we keep.
Some things we finally put down.

Party mense kom na terapie met nogal ’n vol sak.

Nie om ’n saak teen hulle familie van oorsprong te maak nie…maar om die tas vol ervarings wat hulle al lank saam met hulle dra, uit te pak.

Party dinge hou ons.Party dinge is ons uiteindelik reg om neer te sit.

04/03/2026

There is no need to be perfect. We assume a lot of the time that people have got it all together.

Have you ever considered that they may just be wearing the mask of perfectionism?

Nobody is perfect and a lot of the time, people pretend.

I say, just be honest. If you are struggling, SPEAK UP!

You will probably be surprised at the amount of people that may just be able to relate and understand.

www.shelleyvermaak.co.za

03/03/2026

Grief does not arrive gently.
It does not wait until you are prepared.
It does not check your calendar.
It does not ask whether your heart feels strong enough.
It simply comes.

Sometimes grief is loud — tears that will not stop, a wave that crashes without warning.

Sometimes it is quiet — a heaviness in the chest, a silence at the dinner table, an ache where someone used to be.

Grief changes the temperature of everything.
Ordinary moments can suddenly feel fragile.
Memories can feel both comforting and unbearable at the same time.

There is no correct way to grieve.
There is no timeline you must follow.
There is no standard you must meet.
Grief is not a problem to solve.
It is an experience to move through.

And slowly — often more slowly than we would like — something shifts.
You do not “get over” grief.
You grow around it.
You learn how to carry it.
You learn when to rest.
You learn that love and pain can exist in the same space.

If you are grieving, be gentle with yourself.
Healing does not mean forgetting.
It means learning to breathe again — even with the weight.

And you do not have to do that alone.
— Shelley Vermaak
Open Sky Counselling
www.shelleyvermaak.co.za⁠

26/02/2026

Remember that resentment isn’t static; it’s a growing force, much like weeds that can suffocate your beliefs about yourself and your identity. Speak up! Sometimes, it only takes one final word or action to end a relationship.