Belinda Munro

Counselling Psychologist and Mindfulness Practitioner

Areas of Interest

I am a Counselling Psychologist and Mindfulness Practitioner based in Tokai. I offer assistance to children, adolescents, and adults who are experiencing an array of psychological challenges, as well as a compassionate mindfulness-based focus assisting individuals to befriend the authentic self, thrive, and live at ease.

My particular areas of interest, however not limited to, the trauma of everyday life to more severe trauma responses such as PTSD, complex and attachment trauma; riding the waves of life’s difficulties such as bereavement, loss, separation and divorce; eating-related difficulties and disorders; emotional dysregulation and overwhelm; anxiety and depression; somatic related difficulties such as chronic pain, fatigue and burnout; co-dependency and the growth of the authentic self; development of healthy self-esteem, resilience, and psychological wellbeing.

I have a passion and compassion for working with children. I offer play therapy from the age of 5-12 years. The goal is to promote the emotional and psychological development of the child, as well as treatment of child-related psychological disorders.

As a certified Mindfulness practitioner, I guide and facilitate Mindfulness-based interventions such as the evidence-based Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR), Mindfulness-based Teen, and Mindfulness-based Movement classes.

Work experience

Qualifying as a Psychologist has been a 22-year journey. As life goes, this has not been a straight path. I completed a psychology undergraduate and honours degree in my early twenites and then went on and worked in the health and fitness industry for many years. As a trained Pilates teacher and being curious about the mind-body link, I enrolled as a participant in a Mindfulness-based programme in 2007. An appreciation for the practice of Mindfulness as an evidence-based intervention was born, both in my personal and professional life. Since then I have facilitated numerous Mindfulness-based interventions and completed a research treatise exploring the perceived wellbeing of adolescents participating in a mindfulness-based programme.

I incorporated a mindfulness-based approach into my work as a Pilates teacher, focusing on a restorative style of pilates. A compassion-based approach to the body. I then enrolled in a two-year Post-Graduate training in Mindfulness-based Interventions through Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Family medicine. Coupled with a year of training at UCT Graduate School of Business, Center for Coaching as an Integral Coach. I founded Urban Wellness, a mindfulness-based Pilates and Coaching practice in Westlake, Cape Town which I managed for many years before returning to University as a mature student in my forties, to embark on the two-year process to train as a Counselling Psychologist at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

During the year of internship training, I worked at Grey Boys Junior School in Port Elizabeth as the School Psychologist, offering the services of psychological assessments and play therapy. I also worked at Emthonjeni, Fountain of Student Wellness at Nelson Mandela University working with young adult students, offering Psychotherapy, Career Counselling, Trauma debriefing, and Psychoeducation.

Approach to Psychotherapy

I have an integrated Psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy, whilst incorporating a mindfulness-based trauma-sensitive and somatic grounding to the practice of psychology. An integrated approach allows me to draw on a range of modalities that best fit the individual. Drawing on the following approaches: Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, Attachment-based Therapy, Interpersonal and Somatic Therapy.

I am interested in the link between the body and brain, emotional regulation, and trauma. Acknowledging and addressing the “survival brain’s” need for safety, soothing, and regulation for the “thinking brain” to switch on and be in a position to see the big picture, reason, solve problems, make wise decisions, and explore healthy ways of coping. I have found Dialectic behavioural therapy (DBT), which is grounded in utilizing a mindfulness way of being to be helpful in the work of emotional development, regulation, healing, and growth.

Ultimately I believe in the individual’s ability and capacity to heal and grow. I approach Psychotherapy through this growth-based lens, with a focus on identifying strengths, resources and uncovering the innate potential of the individual. The goal is to develop resilience and empower a person towards an integrated way of being, which invites healing and ease.

Life is both beautiful and challenging. I offer a safe therapeutic space to hold it all, with compassion. “We can’t control the waves, yet we can learn to surf (Jon Kabat-Zinn).”

I offer both longer in-depth to short-term treatment, taking into account the individual’s goals, personal circumstances, and resources. Together, collaborating on a way forward that best fits the person.

Tariffs

Sessions are charged at medical aid rates.

I am currently at  full capacity, and unable to take on new clients.  I will update you here when that changes.

HPCSA number: PS0148849
Practice number: 9339226