Danielle Govender

I identify myself as being highly passionate about helping people conquer their life situations and, assisting others in seeking a realistic solution, in order for individuals to accomplish living an optimal lifestyle. Furthermore, I am always willing to help, guide, provide support or assist others (where need be) to achieve their goals. My values which I live by and stand for are faith, purpose, my loved ones (family & friends), empathy, communication, peace, respect, loyalty, honesty, forgiveness and grace. With such a passion for helping others, I pursued the field of Psychology, studying my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Pretoria over a period of 3 years, thereafter, obtaining my Bachelor of Honours degree in Psychology for 2 years at the University of South Africa. During my honours years, I had further involved myself in community projects within the corporate environment, to not only give back to our South African communities, but to also continue engaging in helping and guiding others from poverty stricken communities. Currently, I am part of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) as a volunteer lay counsellor, and through my volunteer work, I have assisted a number of patients and callers throughout South Africa with mental health queries and/or provided guidance in seeking practical solutions applicable to their life stressors; provided psychoeducation for South Africans and; support South Africans who live with mental health problems, which as a result, has given me a thorough insight into the various issues South Africans currently face. Since becoming a volunteer lay counsellor through SADAG, I sought to further enhance my skills through Humanitas. In addition to being a lay counsellor at SADAG, I am now a student wellness counsellor with Humanitas, which has provided me with the opportunity to additionally use my natural ability to empathise with and guide others into making sense of life situations. I wish to empower and encourage individuals to overcome their challenges and improve their overall self-esteem and coping mechanisms.