Taking the first step towards counselling is rarely easy. If you are here, something in your life is hard enough that you are looking for help — and that already takes courage. My name is Storme Brand. I am a registered counsellor with over ten years of experience, and I work with people in person at my practice in Jeffreys Bay, and online with clients across South Africa and internationally.
There is no single kind of person who needs counselling. There is no situation too small or too large to bring. What I offer is a space where you can be honest, without judgement — and a process that helps you move through whatever you are carrying.
People come to counselling for many different reasons. My work centres on trauma — not only the kind that follows a single dramatic event, but the kind that builds quietly over time through difficult relationships, prolonged stress, loss, or experiences that were never properly processed.
Common reasons people reach out include:
Trauma — including the effects of crime, abuse, or experiences that are hard to name
Anxiety and the way it affects sleep, work, relationships and everyday decisions
Depression — including the high-functioning kind that others around you might not notice.
Grief and loss — the death of someone close, the end of a relationship, or any significant loss
Relationship difficulties — with a partner, family members, or in a work context
Life transitions — moving, changing careers, becoming a parent, or a persistent sense that something needs to change
Workplace trauma and staff wellbeing — for individuals and organisations dealing with the aftermath of a difficult incident
If you are not sure whether what you are experiencing falls into any of these, please reach out. The most useful first step is often just a conversation.
Experiences which have a traumatic effect like being a victim of a crime like hijackings, rape and abuse (physical or verbal)
Feeling sad or depressed, to the point where you believe your life is negatively affected. If you're feeling down or just overwhelmed, counselling can help.
Sick or lost a loved one? Dealing with any loss or grieving process?
Should you have a different concern, please reach out to me to check if counselling may be effective for your particular situation.
Counselling is a facilitated process — a structured space in which to understand a challenge more fully, and to find ways to move through it. It is not simply a conversation. A session requires you to engage honestly with what is difficult, often from angles you might not have considered before.
It also requires work outside the session. We will identify tools and approaches that are relevant to your specific situation, and these need to be practised and integrated into daily life. I will be alongside you through the process, but the change comes from the work you put in.
I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches depending on what a client needs. One of these is narrative therapy, which I am registered to practise through Signo Pro. Narrative therapy helps people re-examine the stories they hold about themselves and their lives — separating the person from the problem, and creating space for a different kind of understanding. It is non-blaming, respectful, and treats you as the expert in your own life.
I work with clients online across South Africa and with South Africans living abroad. Online counselling is conducted via Zoom, though I am happy to discuss other secure video platforms if you have a specific preference or requirement. Sessions remove the barriers of distance and travel time while remaining private, confidential and effective. Online counselling is available to clients across all South African provinces, as well as to South Africans living in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE and elsewhere.
My practice is based in Jeffreys Bay. I see clients in person from Jeffreys Bay, St Francis Bay, Humansdorp, Hankey and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). In-person sessions are always my preference when circumstances allow — building a therapeutic relationship is meaningfully easier face to face.
I also work with organisations that need professional support for their teams. This includes trauma debriefing after a difficult incident, ongoing staff wellbeing support, and counselling for individuals navigating workplace challenges. Sessions can be conducted in person in the Kouga and Gqeberha area, or online for teams elsewhere in South Africa.
If you are an employer or HR professional looking for trusted, confidential support for your staff, please get in touch to discuss what is needed.
I have been a practising registered counsellor for over ten years. I completed my honours degree in Psychological Counselling in 2012, followed by the supervised practical work required for HPCSA registration (Registration no. PRC0023531). As part of maintaining this registration, I am required to undertake ongoing professional development — which means my clients benefit from an approach that continues to grow.
I am also a registered narrative counsellor with Signo Pro (Registration no. P23082201).
My sessions are recognised by most major South African medical aids. Clients receive an invoice with the necessary codes to submit a claim directly to their fund.
Before moving to Jeffreys Bay, I lived and worked in Gauteng — in Edenvale and Bedfordview — and completed my community service through Lifeline in Benoni. That background shapes how I work, particularly with clients navigating the pressures of city and urban life.
Outside of work, I am most likely to be found outdoors with my family. I value the kind of relationships that are honest and unconditional — which is, I think, not unrelated to why I do this work.
You are welcome to book a session directly through the website, or to send a WhatsApp message if you would like to ask something first. There is no obligation in reaching out — sometimes a first conversation is all it takes to know whether this is the right fit.
If you are unsure whether online or in-person counselling suits your situation, or whether counselling is the right support for what you are going through, please ask. A good decision made slowly is worth more than a rushed one.
A registered counsellor is a mental health professional registered with the HPCSA who works with people experiencing psychological distress, trauma, grief and life challenges. A psychologist is registered at a higher clinical level and can diagnose and treat more complex conditions. Both are regulated by the HPCSA. Counselling is often the appropriate and more accessible first step for many people.
Sessions with an HPCSA-registered counsellor are recognised by most major South African medical aids. Clients pay per session and receive an invoice with the necessary codes to submit a claim to their fund. Cover depends on your specific plan — check with your medical aid provider regarding your benefit options.
There is no particular state of readiness required. Most people arrive uncertain. What is needed is a willingness to engage honestly with what is difficult — that is enough to begin. The first session is largely about getting to know each other and understanding what you would like to work on.
Relationship difficulties are something I work with regularly. Please reach out directly to discuss your specific situation — the approach depends on what you are navigating and who is involved.
Yes. I work with organisations on trauma debriefing, staff wellbeing support and individual counselling for employees dealing with workplace challenges. Sessions can be arranged in person in the Eastern Cape or online for teams elsewhere. Please get in touch directly to discuss requirements.
