About Amanda
Dr. Amanda Van Der Westhuizen is a counsellor with 17 years of clinical experience. She is registered with the HCPC and practises in the United Kingdom.
Amanda aims to make the first steps into therapy feel manageable and respectful for people who are worried or overwhelmed. Amanda works with people facing a wide range of concerns, from anxiety and depression to trauma and relationship strain. She also supports those dealing with addiction, grief, career stress, compassion fatigue and issues around identity and self‑esteem.
How Amanda works
She has particular experience with more complex presentations, including neurodiversity and co‑occurring difficulties. Her clinical approach is flexible and person-focused. Amanda uses client-centred methods and trauma-focused work, including EMDR where appropriate, to help people process difficult memories and rebuild coping.
Sessions are paced to fit each person’s needs and preferences. Amanda aims for clear, respectful conversation in sessions. She listens first, then agrees goals and steps together.
Practical tools and reflective discussion are combined so people can try things between sessions and notice change. She offers therapy in English and Afrikaans and accepts international clients. Sessions can be arranged by completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a time.
Amanda’s style is warm but direct, and she encourages honest conversation about what will help most.
Amanda lists 3 ways of working on the entry:
What Amanda works with
The areas below are the ones Amanda selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Dissociation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- 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 esteem
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Visually impaired
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Register | HCPC |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 17 |
| Languages | English, Afrikaans |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How Amanda’s approaches translate to online therapy
Client‑centred therapy is about building a trusting conversation. Online sessions focus on the person’s priorities and use gentle questioning and reflection to reach agreed goals. This approach suits people wanting a steady, collaborative pace.EMDR is a trauma‑focused method that helps people process distressing memories. In online work it involves guided attention and structured phases to reduce the emotional charge of past events and improve coping with triggers.
Trauma‑focused therapy addresses the impact of traumatic experiences on day‑to‑day life. It combines careful narrative work and practical coping skills to reduce symptoms and restore a sense of safety and control.
Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will discuss history, current needs and preferences, then try methods together to see what fits best. This collaborative planning helps keep work relevant and manageable.
Online formats offer flexibility for different needs. Video calls allow face‑to‑face conversation and non‑verbal cues. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can be easier during short breaks. Live chat and text messaging suit check‑ins, brief coaching or when someone prefers writing to speaking. Together these options make it simpler to fit therapy into everyday life and to continue work across distances.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Book with AmandaWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What concerns does she work with?
What is her therapeutic style?
How much experience does she have?
What credentials and location apply to her practice?
Which languages are available for sessions?
In what formats are sessions offered?
How are sessions priced?
How do I begin working with her?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions