Mariska Pienaar

I am a registered Counselling Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) with over 20 years of experience in psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and mental health support. I hold a PhD in Psychology (University of the Western Cape) and an MA in Counselling Psychology (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and have maintained a private psychotherapy practice since 2005, working with adolescents and adults across a broad range of psychological concerns including anxiety, trauma, mood disorders, and life transitions. My work integrates evidence-based therapeutic approaches and emphasizes collaborative treatment planning, ethical practice, and culturally responsive care. In addition to my clinical practice, I served as a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of the Western Cape (2012–2024) and Cornerstone Institute (2024-2025), where I taught psychopathology and therapeutic interventions and supervised trainee psychologists. This combination of extensive clinical experience, academic expertise, professional registration, and supervision experience equips me well to deliver high-quality, ethical, and confidential psychotherapy through secure digital platforms. I am comfortable working independently in remote environments, maintaining accurate clinical documentation, and building strong therapeutic relationships with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds—making me well suited to a freelance online therapist role.