Dr Barbara Louw is down-to-earth and easy to relate to because she approaches people in a compassionate and optimistic way. Nonetheless, she achieved multiple postgraduate qualifications and the articles in this section reflect her passion to demystify life issues in such a way that people can grow in wellness. The articles display the following:

• As an experienced counsellor, she explains to her clients how she can help by giving you a basic “road map” to her approach.
• She helps you to find hope and gently encourages you to grow towards healing and wholeness.
• As a consultant to your company, she offers ad hoc and retainer-based solutions-focused advice, training and trauma relief facilitation.
• Her approach in the corporate environment is based on timeous assistance and intervention, followed by appropriate professional intervention.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on households and communities. The way businesses, training institutions and ministries operated do not apply anymore.

Together we have to be creative and resilient to make every day count. In the past, people engaged others in specific styles of communication, for example, marketing-centred or promotional interactions. At this stage, the need for our clients is encouragement and healing-centred engagements.

Much of the cosmetic fluff has weathered and personal interaction and kindness are more important than ever. Customer loyalty is won by the way they are treated during these challenging times.

There are four lifestyle strengths you need to survive and build your business and practice that is relevant now. The priority strengths are consideration, reliability, flexibility and altruism.

Considerationrefers to being cooperative and willing to volunteer where you can make a difference. This is the time to be peacemakers, rather than to stir strife and unnecessary conflict. The greatest culprits in stirring discord are fake news and political rhetoric while people’s lives are at stake.

Reliability brings faithfulness to the foreground. We need the tenacity not to give up, to be persistent in doing what is necessary and the willingness to change. This is dependability with loyalty and predictability.

Flexibility links to the willingness to change because this allows personal growth and contentment. In other words, being diplomatic and happy to go along with change involving minimal stress.

Altruism is the generosity and self-motivation to make your community a better place. Helping others to feel loved and lovable. Motivating other people to learn and grow towards a better future.

The most important aspects for me to live a fulfilling life at this moment is holding on to the hope and staying rooted in my relationship with God. I am also grateful for my loved ones and friends.  (Dr Barbara Louw 2020)

Book your online or in-person appointment today

"Breakthrough Champions: Your Wellness, Your Victory, Our Commitment" encapsulates our dedication to aiding individuals in overcoming trauma and achieving personal growth. With over 30 years of devoted study and research, I am deeply passionate about delivering exceptional care to my clients while actively contributing to the community and my private practice.

Within my practice, I offer tailored services to address various needs, whether it's supporting individuals in navigating personal struggles or providing coaching for transformative well-being. Additionally, I provide specialized services for the corporate environment, assisting employers, business owners, and employees in trauma relief.

Within my clientele, there are typically three distinct groups seeking swift assistance in overcoming trauma. The first group need prompt assistance with a recent painful situation. The second group comprises individuals longing for breakthroughs following adverse life experiences, including trauma, dashed dreams, and untapped potential. Some may be grappling with spiritual anguish or navigating life-altering medical diagnoses and procedures. The third group seeks personalized yet structured programs to confront specific life challenges, equipping them with the necessary tools and skills to maintain their breakthroughs and embrace their victories along their journey.

My proven methods yield extraordinary results in a short time, fostering irreversible growth towards wellness. No matter the size of the challenge you face, I am here to provide solution-focused guidance, paying close attention to your unique story. Our therapeutic relationship unfolds in real-time conversations, allowing for immediate care when unhealed wounds surface.

Rest assured, your story is not burdensome to me. Throughout my career, I've guided individuals through trauma, historical pain, and challenging realities with utmost respect and dignity. Services offered encompass various levels of support, including counselling, therapy, coaching, and supervision.

To ensure a seamless experience, appointments are scheduled 24/7 through Aquilla Wellness Solutions, our secure electronic practice management system. You have the flexibility to choose an online or in-person appointment at a time convenient for you, and complete payment, and necessary forms before your session.

Before we embark on your journey, we establish a clear agreement to align with your needs, background, and desired outcomes. Transparency is paramount, as you receive comprehensive information regarding fees, session length, and my professional registrations. This commitment to clarity fosters a therapeutic relationship built on trust and professionalism.

The bouquet of services includes:

• • Face-to-Face Counselling
  • Online Counselling
  • 3 x English Counselling Series of 6 sessions in 6 weeks (online or in-person) 
    • Trauma Breakthrough
    • Trauma Recovery and Wellness
    • From Bitter-"stuckness" to Wisdom
    • 
  • 3 x Afrikaanse Beradingsreekse van 6 sessies in 6 week (aanlyn of persoonlik)
    • Trauma Agter die Rug
    • Tyd om Heel te Word
    • Skryf Jou Pad Na Heelwording
    • 
  • Bi-weekly Therapeutic Support Group (online)
  • A Self-Assessment Quizto assess whether you will benefit from participating in the Counselling I offer.

Training is categorized into two streams: personal development and growth through Aquilla Training, and more structured instruction via the Kalio Training Institute. Online workshops and counselling training offered through these platforms have been successfully met.

The formal training aims to equip individuals to support others within their respective spheres, be it the community, religious congregations, workplaces, or counselling settings, utilizing the models developed during my extensive studies. This encompasses comprehensive training in the Wholistic Wellness Coaching Model, Pastoral Victim Empowerment Model, and Christian Pastoral Counseling.

My husband and I are deeply committed to community engagement, demonstrated through our involvement with Inter Trauma Nexus and the Association for Christian Ministries. We provide victim empowerment, ministry support, and training opportunities. You're encouraged to subscribe to our complimentary electronic newsletters, available in  English as Friends of Inter Trauma Nexus and in Afrikaans as Vriende van Inter Trauma Nexus.

On our website, you'll find links to our social media platforms, where you can stay connected for regular updates on training programs, news, and words of encouragement. Feel free to join us in this online community.

Please note that I do not share my client's information with external researchers; students or any other third party.

There are fees payable for different services and training.

Self-Assessment Quiz for Counselling

Committing to participate in counselling is a major life discussion. You have preferences and expectations about getting assistance and making positive changes. You know it is good that you think about your well-being and the possibility to change and heal.

Dr Barbara Louw is a Christian Pastoral Counsellor, and she designed a quiz for you to decide whether you need counselling and for you to decide if you are comfortable with her therapeutic style. She has decades of experience and the academic background to guide you step-by-step through the therapeutic process when you are ready for action. Her three Personal Counselling Series are more than blueprints because they are tried and tested for life-changing applications with rapid, life-long benefits. The Counselling Series are based on her postdoctoral research and the Wholistic Wellness Model. The word “wholistic” is not a typo because it refers to being well, whole and healed.

She acknowledges that different people have diverse needs. Her Counselling Series will not be suitable for people who are looking for a medical or psychological diagnosis. She never claims to ‘fix’ people. She works at your pace to ensure that you don’t feel overwhelmed in your sessions together. Each session is informed by your unique story and situation. You will be able to experience rapid and measurable results during each session, as well as continuous change between sessions.

Sessions are confidential and there will be no group work.

The English self-assessing quiz consists of 12 questions with three possible answers and pop-up notes with more detail. In the end, you can contemplate the outcome and determine if you would like to participate in one of the Personal Counselling Series of 6 sessions in 6 weeks in English or Afrikaans.

These Personal Counselling Series are available for individual counselling online, in-person in Pretoria or a combination of the two interaction methods.

After completing the Quiz and selecting the best Personal Counselling Series for you, you can request a complimentary 15-minute initial telephonic conversation with Dr Louw to confirm whether you will be able to work together.

The three English Personal Counselling Series of 6 sessions in 6 weeks are:

·       Trauma Breakthrough

·       Trauma Recovery and Wellness

·       From Bitter-“stuckness” to Wisdom

Die drie Afrikaanse Persoonlike Beradingsreekse van 6 sessies in 6 weke is:

·       Trauma Agter die Rug

·       Tyd om Heel te Word

·       Skryf Jou Pad na Heelwording

The process to purchase your Counselling Series are:

1.     RegisteronAquilla Training’s website.

For security purposes, you are required to register and verify your email address before shopping.

2.     Log In

Follow the login directions carefully.

3.     Buy Your Series

Choose your series and follow the instructions to make the payment.

After the payment is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email with your six coupon codes and information on how to proceed.

The many faces of trauma

The popular opinion allows people to see ‘trauma’ as being synonymous with distress or discomfort. The other day I stood in a queue to pay for a pair of shoes when I overheard a lady telling her friend that she was so “traumatized” because another shopper “snatched a bargain from under her nose”.

The haphazard way people are using terms like ‘trauma’ and ‘stress’ gives the impression that they know what they are talking about. Our own biases allow us to assume that we know what they are talking about and we have the answers.

The problem is that as listeners we stop listening with the intent to hear and understand. We stop paying attention to what they are trying to share and why they need to tell that part of their story.

Trauma Recovery and Wellness Personal Counselling Series 2

Trauma Recovery and the possibility of healing go hand in hand. You are hardwired to be well and healthy.

The Trauma Recovery and Wisdom Personal Counselling Series by Dr Barbara Louw will help you to move beyond survival mode and feeling overwhelmed by breaking the cycle of dysfunctional thinking. We deal with the root of your suffering and painful memories to create your new life story. 

This series is particularly valuable for people suffering from workplace stress and compassion fatigue.

In this series, you deal with problems in the best way to be able to make better life choices to enjoy a balanced, fulfilled life. Every step enforces what is in your best interest so that you can be well and whole.

INITIAL PROCESS

All participants must have internet access for registration and access to the documents that will be provided every week.

Potential participants can complete an online self-assessment quiz to assess whether they like the underpinning principles of the counselling offered by Dr Barbara Louw. After completing the quiz and selecting the best Series for you, you can request a 15-minute initial telephone conversation with her to confirm whether you will be able to work together.

BENEFITS AND RESULTS

This series of personal counselling sessions is more than a blueprint because Dr Barbara Louw’s Wholistic Wellness Model has been tried and tested for over 20+ years. The model offers life-changing applications of lifelong benefits.

Each session is informed by your unique story and situation. You will be able to experience rapid and measurable results during each session, as well as continuous change between sessions.

Sessions are confidential and there will be no group work.

The Trauma Recover and Wellness Personal Counselling Series is structured in a way that you can feel safe because you know what to expect in each session. You will have enough time to choose what to share and how you would like to formulate your thoughts into words. Dr Barbara works at your pace to ensure that you don’t feel overwhelmed in your sessions together.

We do Christian Pastoral counselling focusing on solutions for your challenges and skills to empower you to allow healing to continue long after the sessions end. After completing the Trauma Recovery and Wellness Personal Counselling Series, you will receive a certificate to celebrate your journey.

TOPICS

The main headings for the series are:

1.     My Story and Time

2.     Time Stood Still

3.     The right Time and Wisdom

4.     In the Bigger Scheme of Things

5.     Time to be well

6.     Wellness, Wholeness and Wisdom

OUTCOMES

At the end of the Trauma Recovery and Wellness Personal Counselling Series:

·       You will see the impact of your pain and suffering in a clearer way causing you to have hope for healing.

·       Dr Barbara Louw’s Wholistic Wellness Model will aid you in experiencing daily balanced growth without endless task lists.

·       You will see how your story changes allowing rewiring thought patterns and releasing stored trauma.

·       You will feel a greater sense of support for your body as you step towards your resiliency.

·       You will experience more freedom to enjoy a fulfilled life as you expand your horizons.

·       You will feel to enjoy healthier relationships.

·       As you grow you will deepen your connection with God.

TOOLS AIDING THE COUNSELLING PROCESS

In the Trauma Recovery and Wellness Personal Counselling Series,you will receive the following:

·       An infographic when you have registered and submitted your payment.

·       Welcome letter with details of the sessions and your 6 coupon codes which will enable you to book your sessions.

·       Handouts, worksheets, self-assessment tools and notes to make your journey measurable and help you to make the most of every session.

FEES

The package fee is R 4200-

(Total value is R 6000-)

NOTES

We do not accept medical aids and do not make biomedical diagnoses. This means you can't claim refunds from medical aids or medical insurance.

Online registration via Aquilla Training’s platform.

Keep in mind when choosing a time to make an appointment Dr Louw is in South Africa and the time zone may differ from yours.

The Personal Counselling Series in English and ‘Persoonlike Beradingsreekse’ in Afrikaans are dissimilar. All series will be presented via Aquilla Training’s platform.

OTHER SERIES

The three English Personal Counselling Series of 6 sessions in 6 weeks are:

·       Trauma Breakthrough

·       Trauma Recovery and Wellness

·       From Bitter-“stuckness” to Wisdom

Die drie Afrikaanse Persoonlike Beradingsreekse van 6 sessies in 6 weke is:

·       Trauma Agter die Rug

·       Tyd om Heel te Word

·       Skryf Jou Pad na Heelwording

Going for counselling can be a daunting prospect, especially when you are sitting in a problem-saturated situation. My clients often start the conversation with stating that they “don’t even know where to start”.

The good news is that there is no correct or wrong place to start our conversation. The fact that you made your appointment is already a leap in the right direction. Coming to get the guidance, support or counselling takes courage and determination to become well.

All of a sudden many people find themselves in an unaccustomed and disconcerting workspace. Home!

Your new workspace can be filled with very busy “colleagues” and distractions. On the other side, you may be totally isolated and alone, which can be equally distracting. Working from home is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea.

The involuntary quarantine causes many mental health issues to the surface because we are social beings. This is even true of the self-proclaimed introverts because people need social interactions. We don’t realize the value of the interaction and exchanges between colleagues during the course of a normal working day.

The issues that can come to the foreground from being forced to work from home in the midst of a world-wide pandemic are:

• The change in your mindset from “living” to being in survival mode. This shift in mindset is the clearest in people binge shopping for so-called essential goods, leaving shop shelves empty. The empty shop shelves aggravate feelings of anxiety and despair. People who cannot afford to stockpile are even more anxious because their situation turns out to be more hopeless.

Book your online or in-person appointment today