Ayesha Abdullah – The Healing Journey
Specialist Wellness Counsellor
Johannesburg
Qualified Specialist Wellness counsellor, registered with the ASCHP
“My work, is love made visible” Gibran, K. (2020).
I am a compassionate and kind individual that finds no greater reward in watching people grow, mature and flourish. What makes me unique is that I, myself have suffered from mental illness. I know what a dark place it can be, I know and understand the often crippling anxieties that come with it. I get how hard it is to function as a person, a professional, a family member or any of the roles we play in society, under the pressures that mental illness creates. I am an advocate for blowing the whistle on the stigma attached to mental illness and the definitions that comes with it. I have done this through being as vocal about my journey with depression as I possibly can. Motivating that these real and often devastating illnesses are just that, an illness, just like any other, and by no means a definition of who you are.
My journey has changed me. My journey carved me into the person I am today: a servant of my fellow humans. I learnt hard and fast that we cannot do or be everything in the world or in isolation. We need people, we need support. Having said that, this has become my most important motivator to be the very best therapist I can – because I know that support (such as therapy) is always going to be one of the most important factors to get you through any form of illness; and if I can be that support for another human being, I will.
I could give you an account of all my education and experiences that have already passed, but if I have learnt anything from my journey with mental illness, is that a textbook version of an illness, is the furthest thing from the subjective experiences, it is black and white, clinical, and with all emotions removed. Sure, these clinical criteria have their place in the training that we as therapists need to go through. However, I know and understand that everyone experiencing any form of mental distress – doesn’t matter how small you may think it is- mental health is a uniquely subjective experience that differs from person to person.
I journey with the brave souls, (however daunting that may be) that want to know and want to discover what the best versions of themselves can look like.
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ASCHP: WCW/192
Specialist Wellness Counsellors serve to enhance the total wellbeing of their clients by making use of a systems approach to counselling – working towards achieving wholeness within the integrative unity of body, mind and spirit. The level of counselling is that of primary health care. The Specialist Wellness Counsellor is competent to lend comprehensive and specialized counselling support towards the improvement of the quality of life by assisting client’s in resolving conflicts, improving relationships, sorting out general problems, coping with life’s challenges and finding inner peace.