Healing that starts in the body.
A gentle, body-based approach to trauma for when talking alone hasn’t been enough.
Written by Elza Berk, Founder & registered counsellor · ASCHP WCW/271 · 20+ years’ clinical experience · Updated 28 September 2026
Trauma isn’t only stored as a memory — it lives in the nervous system. You might understand exactly what happened and why, yet still feel your chest tighten, your stomach drop or your body freeze.
Somatic Experiencing works with those body sensations directly. Rather than retelling the story, it helps you notice what is happening inside, build a sense of safety, and allow stuck survival energy to settle, a little at a time.
Hèlet Boustred was part of the team that brought Somatic Experiencing training to South Africa, and combines it with CBT and DBT. Sessions work well online.
It can help with
- Trauma that talking hasn’t shifted
- Chronic anxiety or being constantly on edge
- Feeling frozen, shut down or numb
- Physical tension linked to stress
- Panic or overwhelm that comes out of nowhere
- Feeling disconnected from your body
You don’t need a diagnosis to reach out.
Safety first. Your pace, always.
Noticing
Learning to track sensations in the body with curiosity rather than fear.
Pacing
Touching difficult material in small, manageable doses — never flooding.
Settling
Helping the nervous system complete survival responses and return to calm.
Choose who feels right.
Janika Cumpsty
Head of Supervision
“You don’t have to do your inner work alone. I help clients identify their inherent strength and take action toward the change they truly want to see.”
- Childhood trauma
- PTSD / CPTSD
- Sexual trauma
English · Afrikaans · Dutch (reading)
Hèlet Boustred
Registered Psychological Counsellor
“I have a strong passion for trauma work using Somatic Experiencing — a gentle, body-oriented approach that helps release stress and restore balance from within.”
- Trauma (Somatic Experiencing)
- Anxiety & depression
- Grief & loss
Afrikaans · English
Talita Kondlo
Registered Wellness Counsellor
“I take a compassionate, client-centred approach — creating a safe space to explore emotions, heal from the past, and build healthier ways of coping going forward.”
- Trauma
- Couples
- Anger management
English · isiXhosa · isiZulu
Jamie-Leigh Brickles
Registered Specialist Wellness Counsellor
“Counselling is collaborative, and at its core it’s about your heart. I believe we all have the answers deeply rooted within us; sometimes we just need the courage to reach for them.”
- Anxiety
- Grief & loss
- Trauma
English
Elza Berk
Founder & CEO · Registered Counsellor
“I built MyTruth because I needed it then and it didn’t exist. Every counsellor here has been chosen for their capacity to sit with what is real.”
- Addiction (harm reduction)
- Trauma
- Eating disorders
English · Afrikaans
Common questions
Can Somatic Experiencing work online?
Yes. Your counsellor guides your attention to what you notice in your body; no touch is involved.
Do I have to talk about my trauma?
Very little. The focus is on present-moment sensations rather than the full story.
Is it available in Afrikaans?
Yes. Hèlet offers sessions in Afrikaans and English.
Your truth deserves to be heard.
Choose a counsellor who speaks your language and understands your world. Sessions are online, private and booked in minutes.