Steven Rebello
I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Pretoria in 2007, and the following year, I pursued an Honours degree through the University of South Africa (UNISA). During this time, I gained valuable training and experience at Northfield Methodist’s Pastoral Care Centre, where I volunteered as a lay pastoral counsellor and non-directive play supporter.
In 2009, I worked as a Life Orientation teacher at Edenglen High School. I enjoyed interacting with young people through my roles as a teacher, coach, and lay counsellor.
In 2010, I began volunteering at Mighty Wings Life Centre, a public benefit organisation supporting families affected by drug addiction. I returned to Mighty Wings in 2012 after completing the first year of my full-time master’s degree in research psychology. During this time, I volunteered as a 12-step group facilitator, support group facilitator, researcher, and workshop facilitator.
I started my master’s degree in Community-Based Counselling Psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2013. While the year was academically demanding, it sparked my interest in critical and community psychology. I particularly valued the opportunity to participate in advocacy projects addressing torture and gender-based violence, led by a group of community activists in collaboration with the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR).
Having worked with children, adolescents, and families, I was grateful for the chance to complete my internship in Counselling Psychology at the Ububele Educational and Psychotherapy Trust in 2014. Building on my studies at WITS, Ububele strengthened my understanding of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and deepened my appreciation for community-based approaches in psychology.
I qualified as a Counselling Psychologist in 2015. Between 2015 and 2016, I worked as Research Manager at the Mass Media Company/Heartlines while also offering counselling at Benoni Therapy and Assessment Centre.
Over the next six years, I worked as a Senior Researcher at CSVR while running my part-time private practice in Edenvale. In my practice, I worked with children, adolescents, adults, and couples. While working with children was especially meaningful, it was also very demanding, and I decided to focus on adolescents and adults from 2022 onwards.
Currently, I work as a Psychologist at Affinity Health medical insurance and continue running my private practice online and after hours. I now have over ten years of counselling experience, predominantly helping clients with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, current and past trauma, relationship difficulties, and challenges adjusting to life changes.