Laurian Ward Counselling Psychologist

26/08/2025

Why Are Kids Struggling Despite More Support?

Teens today have more therapists and school psychologists than previous generations, yet their coping capacity is lower. Access to help doesn’t replace emotional connection, parental presence, or meaningful offline identity. Many teens hide distress, smile through pain, and process grief in silence. Emotional literacy lags behind digital fluency.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/parents-suicide-and-the-internet/

20/08/2025

Sometimes, when life feels too heavy, your brain is not trying to betray you — it’s trying to protect you.

I’m a Counselling Psychologist in Pretoria East, and I often explain to clients that during extreme emotional pain, we slip into what’s called the primal brain. This is the survival part of our mind — the same system our ancestors used when running from predators. In this state, your logical, rational thinking goes offline. Your brain is focused only on escaping pain, and in that moment it can make the world feel empty, hopeless, and without meaning.

This isn’t weakness. It’s biology. But here’s the important truth: feelings in the primal brain can change when the storm passes, and there are ways back to safety. When you reach out — to a friend, a counsellor, a helpline — you activate the part of your brain that can see options again. You reconnect with the part of you that can still imagine tomorrow.

If you are in that dark space right now, please know: you are not broken, you are not alone, and you matter more than you can see in this moment. The pain is temporary — your life is not.

16/08/2025

Living with a personality disorder can feel like you're caught in a constant storm. Your thoughts, emotions, and relationships can seem unpredictable and overwhelming, leaving you feeling isolated and misunderstood. This isn't a flaw in your character; it's a condition that impacts how you see yourself and the world around you.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/borderline-personality-disorder/

15/08/2025

The most dangerous grief is often the invisible kind—the losses people carry in silence. If someone seems “fine,” check again. If you see someone pull away, lean in. If you notice someone laughing but not smiling with their eyes, pause and ask.

And if you are the one feeling this grief—please hear this: Your pain is real. You are not invisible. Help exists. And there are people who want you here—imperfect, hurting, real—you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply need a space to process life’s challenges — I’m here to help. As a registered Counselling Psychologist, I offer compassionate, evidence-based support to help you navigate your journey with clarity and resilience.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/what-is-suicide-grief/

11/08/2025

Losing someone to grief is an unbearable pain, a debt of despair that can feel impossible to overcome. When a loved one is gone, the world can seem to stop, leaving you trapped in a cycle of overwhelming sadness and loneliness.

But you are not alone in this. While everyone’s journey is unique, the need for connection and support is universal. Reaching out and sharing your story is a powerful step toward healing. It could be with a close friend, a family member, a therapist, or a support group—giving a voice to your pain is the first step toward lightening the load.

Let's build a community of compassion here. In the comments, please share a memory, a picture, or a song that honors your person and your pain, if you feel comfortable. Let's show e at we are not alone.

22/07/2025

Being mentally well at work means, employee wellness and being able to manage stress without being overwhelmed by it. It means engaging with your tasks, having healthy communication with colleagues, feeling a sense of purpose, and being able to set boundaries. It does not mean never having a bad day—but it does mean having the tools and support to bounce back.

On the other hand, not being mentally well in the workplace can show up in many ways: burnout, irritability, procrastination, withdrawal, absenteeism, presenteeism (being physically present but mentally checked out), and even conflict. The damage doesn’t stop with the individual—it often seeps into the team dynamic, the morale, and eventually, the performance of the entire department.

The truth is the productivity, performance, and sustainability of your business are directly tied to the employee wellness of an organisation of a company.

08/07/2025

Change of Season—Change of Heart?
If your partner’s energy drops, sleep increases, or emotional availability disappears just as the weather shifts, it might not be relationship trouble—it could be SAD.

SAD can strain relationships, especially when it’s misunderstood. A partner may misinterpret the symptoms as disinterest, detachment, or even rejection. That’s why recognizing the signs is essential. You’re not just dealing with mood swings; you may be witnessing a mental health disorder that needs compassionate attention.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/the-season-of-sadness-is-your-partner-sad/

01/07/2025

Yes, being single can be lonely at times. That’s a real and valid experience. But so can being in a relationship. Loneliness is a human condition, not a relationship status.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/being-single-between-reality-fear-and-the-fantasy-we-create/

17/06/2025

Understanding eating disorders through a sensory-emotional lens helps shift the focus from appearance to experience. It validates the distress many feel when eating becomes emotionally or physically intolerable—not out of choice, but because their system is overloaded.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/eating-disorder-misconceptions-the-sensory-and-emotional-roots/

10/06/2025

For some autistic individuals, food can become a way to exert control in an overwhelming world. Restricting or controlling food intake may serve as a coping mechanism for managing emotional challenges. This becomes concerning when it leads to undereating or unhealthy weight loss.

Research has highlighted the overlap between autism and eating disorders. For example, a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry found that women with anorexia nervosa showed significantly higher levels of autistic traits compared to non-clinical controls. This suggests that autistic traits may not only influence eating patterns but could also be a risk factor for developing an eating disorder.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/understanding-autistic-eating-habits/

06/06/2025

🌟 Employee wellness matters! 🌟

Mental health struggles like anxiety, stress, or depression can impact how we work—affecting focus, productivity, and team spirit. When we support mental wellbeing in the workplace, everyone benefits. Let’s create a culture where mental health is openly discussed and help is always available. Together, we can build stronger, healthier teams! 💙

03/06/2025

It’s like your nervous system is constantly bracing for abandonment—even in safe, healthy relationships. And when that fear flares up, it can show up as anger, withdrawal, anxiety, over-apologizing, or desperate efforts to gain reassurance.

Rejection is a universal experience. But rejection sensitivity is different. The hyper-reactivity to the possibility of rejection.