Candice van der Merwe

About Candice

Candice is a registered counselling psychologist who works with adults facing trauma and PTSD, OCD, depression, anxiety, grief, emotional dysregulation and personality disorders, including complex histories that haven't responded to earlier attempts at therapy.

Candice is warm, empathetic, non-judgemental and collaborative. Every person's story is different, so she works with you to understand what is actually going on and to tailor an approach to your goals, your pace and your life.

Therapeutic approach

Candice works integratively, drawing on a range of evidence-based approaches and choosing what suits you and what you're working on. For trauma she uses Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Eye Movement Integration (EMI), BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT) and somatic-based work. For OCD and anxiety she often uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and for emotional regulation and personality-level difficulties, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Above all, Candice takes your story seriously and works with you on a plan that respects who you are and where you want to get to.

Areas of focus

• Trauma and PTSD
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Depression and mood disorders, including bipolar disorder
• Anxiety and stress
• Emotional dysregulation and personality disorders, including BPD
• Grief and life adjustment
• Chronic pain
• Self-esteem and coping skills

This isn't a complete list. If what you'd like help with isn't here, you're welcome to ask.

Therapies offered

• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Eye Movement Integration (EMI)
• BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD
• Somatic, person-centred and positive-psychology approaches