About Us

Thank you for your time. You are well received and appreciated. The First Steps Counselling & Wellness Practice was established by our Specialist Wellness Counsellor, Melisa Du Preez, dedicated to play a sacred role in people’s lives and provide a safe space to heal and find hope in a whole relationship with God. To explore the true heart of the Father, the sound mind of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Her focus is on restorative wholeness and wellness, which includes living a balanced life in body, soul and spirit.

We believe that every person is a unique and a beloved child of God, deserving of love and compassion.  That each person has a calling, purpose and a gift from Him and that can only be found in Him. That if you seek Him you WILL find Him. And when you find Him you will find your true self and be able to walk in His Will for your life.

As you navigate life’s many stages there are challenges and concerns, we offer an explorative and supportive space to talk on your journey. With Our Holistic Life Approach deeply rooted in biblical principles and making use of transformative conversations through child like play we serve to:

– Restore and secure your relationship with God for wellness
– Renew your mind of Christ for mental wellbeing
– Receive the heart of the Father for emotional wellbeing.
– Actively encourage you to be empowered by the Holy Spirit Himself for spiritual wellbeing

To be healed, restored and to enjoy the inner peace that comes when walking in the fullness of God’s will, timing, plan and purpose for your life – TO BE A WELL!

Remember, you are not alone. God is with you, and we are here to stand with you as a witness, encouraging you along your way to take the first step towards a deeper connection with Him in more fulfilling life.

Take your first step and connect with us to schedule the appropriate counselling sessions:

* Individual, Couples, Family, Community

* Play led interventions – children and adults with special needs

* Sensory and Well-being Kits

* Wellness Promotional Bags

* Women’s ministry wellness -educational workshops or retreats

* Community wellness mediation & engagement

* Wellbeing coaching & journalling

* Business visioneering and strategic planning

Warm regards

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Professional Credentials

BSc (UWC 1994)

BA Psychology & Social Work (NMU – 1998)

BA Hons. Psychology (NMU – 1999)

PGCE Pastoral Care (2019) – SACE registered

Commissioner of Oaths (2022)

Deliverance Ministry (FHC 2022)

Counselling Therapeutic Modalities (Strepco/Helios 2023)

Specialist Counsellor Registration no: SWC24/5079: 896*NQF* (2023)

ASCHP Supervisor of Counsellor (2026)

Psychology Today (Credentials verified 2024)

Reader & Scribe (2026)

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NOTICES

Confidentiality

1. All the private information shared and collected about you will be treated as highly confidential and will never be disclosed to any other party without your consent.
2. In certain exceptional situations legal or professional rules may force the therapist to disclose information about you. These exceptions include:

• Emergency situations                                                      In this regard I want you to know that should a situation develop where I believe that there is a real risk that you may harm yourself, another person, or me, I will be compelled to take necessary steps to prevent such harm, even if this may entail breaching my promise to you to keep information confidential. In cases of suspected child maltreatment, the counsellor is obliged to report the matter to the relevant authorities.
• Statutory duties

A provision in an Act may oblige me to disclose confidential information about you.

• Court orders

A court may order me to disclose private information. In terms of my professional rules I must, however, endeavour to do everything possible to prevent the disclosure of your private information.

•  When I ask my counsellor to disclose information to someone else (e.g. my parent, partner, etc.), or a third party requests information to be shared about me, the counsellor will only disclose what we have agreed upon.

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‘It is WELL with my soul’

The ASCHP (SAQA registration ID 984; NQF registered designation) – Association for Supportive Counsellors & Holistic Practitioners is a nationally recognised professional body that regulates the provision of consistent professional counselling to ensure greater accessibility to counsellors which practice within their scope, behave ethically, conform to standards and refer when required.  The HPCSA and the ASCHP operate in two very different fields; the HPCSA in the field of psychology and the ASCHP in the field of wellness. Continuous professional development is required annually to maintain credentials by both. Specialist Wellness Counsellors must maintain 18 CPD points annually.  The HPCSA is fully aware of the ASCHP.  Before the establishment of the ASCHP as a professional body, the CCSA (Counsel for Counsellors in South Africa; from which the ASCHP originated), consulted with the HPCSA , their scope of practice was submitted and the HPCSA was satisfied that the two bodies can co-exist harmoniously and that they complement one another.

If you would like to read more about the ASCHP, please visit their website: www.aschp.net, or the HPCSA www.hpcsa.co.za.