About Amanda
Dr Amanda Van Der Westhuizen is a counsellor with 17 years of experience who works in the United Kingdom. She welcomes people from diverse backgrounds and pays attention to each person’s identity and circumstances. She supports those facing trauma, mood difficulties and challenges with self-worth, and she also helps people managing life transitions and stresses.
She often works with complex presentations, including neurodiversity and co-occurring mental health concerns. Her approach is collaborative: she listens first, then adapts conversations and plans to suit each person’s pace and needs.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on clear, practical steps alongside space to make sense of difficult feelings. Dr Van Der Westhuizen uses a blend of client-centred ways of working and trauma-informed methods. She may use eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing as part of trauma work where appropriate.
These methods aim to reduce the impact of past distress and build more helpful coping over time. People come to her for a wide range of issues, including relationship difficulties, grief, addictions, ADHD, and LGBT-related concerns. She also supports those dealing with chronic illness, attachment wounds, and compassion fatigue from demanding roles.
Her style is respectful and warm. She will help set goals, test what works, and adjust plans as needed. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to the timing that suits them.
What Amanda works with
Everything Amanda lists, in their own terms. LGBT is the reason Amanda is listed here; the rest shows what else Amanda works with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Dissociation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Infidelity
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Visually impaired
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Amanda lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Dr Amanda Van Der Westhuizen commonly draws on client-centred therapy and trauma-focused methods in her practice. Client-centred therapy focuses on listening closely and shaping sessions around what the client needs, helping people clarify goals and try small changes. Trauma-focused therapy works directly with the effects of past traumatic events to reduce their ongoing impact and restore daily functioning.She also uses eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, often called EMDR, as a technique when trauma memories are causing ongoing distress. EMDR involves guided attention while talking through memories to lessen their emotional charge and to support adaptive processing.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss different methods and help decide which to try based on a person’s goals, symptoms and preferences. Plans are reviewed and adjusted as progress is made so the work stays relevant.
If you are considering online therapy, check the session options when booking to confirm how this therapist offers appointments. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or remove travel time. Registered or accredited professionals can deliver effective therapy remotely, while shaping sessions to fit everyday life and practical constraints.
Questions people ask about Amanda
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression and trauma, plus relationship and self-esteem concerns. Her work also covers addictions, grief, ADHD and LGBT-related issues.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centred style that adapts to each person. The aim is practical conversation, pacing the work to what feels manageable for the client.
What experience does she bring?
She has 17 years of professional experience working with a wide range of difficulties, including complex and co-occurring mental health issues.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is registered with the HCPC and practices in the United Kingdom.
Which languages can sessions be held in?
Sessions are offered in English and Afrikaans.
Can I attend sessions from outside the UK?
She accepts international clients. Check the scheduling options when booking to confirm session times that suit your time zone.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. After that you can schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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