Christel Maritz Clinical Psychologist

03/09/2026

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘

For some people, discovering that they may be neurodivergent can bring an unexpected sense of relief — but it can also bring grief, confusion and the painful question: “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞?”

When you have spent years wondering why certain sounds feel unbearable, why busy environments exhaust you, why you need more time alone, why emotions seem so intense, or why things that appear easy for others require enormous effort from you, it is understandable to have believed that you were simply 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭, 𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. If you have spent your life comparing your internal experience with what you see others doing, discovering that your brain processes information differently can make old experiences suddenly look very different.

But 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞. A different sensory experience is not a character flaw, and needing different ways of managing stimulation does not make you less capable. Understanding your neurodivergence can give you a framework for making sense of yourself rather than constantly trying to force yourself to function in ways that do not fit.

The goal is not to become “𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥.” It is to understand how your brain and nervous system work, recognise what you need, and build a life in which those needs can be accommodated.

Sometimes the most important part of that journey is replacing “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞?” with “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠?”

𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐳 | 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭
Somerset West, Western Cape
Specialising in neurodivergent individuals and trauma-informed care.

24/08/2026

When the World Feels “Too Much”

Have you ever wondered why some people seem unusually sensitive to noise, touch, clothing, smells, food textures or busy environments? Sensory processing difficulties occur when the brain has difficulty taking in and organising information from the senses. A person may become overwhelmed by sounds that others barely notice, dislike being touched or having their hair brushed, avoid certain foods, struggle to concentrate in a busy environment, or constantly seek movement and sensory stimulation. These reactions are not necessarily “bad behaviour” or being difficult—they may be signs that the nervous system is experiencing the world differently.

The important question is not simply, “Does this person have sensory issues?” but rather, “How is this affecting their everyday life?” Look for consistent patterns across home, school, work or social situations. If sensory difficulties are causing significant distress, avoidance, emotional outbursts, exhaustion or difficulties functioning, it may be worth seeking a professional assessment. Understanding the individual's sensory needs can lead to practical changes, such as reducing unnecessary stimulation, creating predictable routines, providing sensory breaks and developing strategies that help the person feel safe and regulated. Understanding comes before judgement.

If you recognise these patterns in yourself or someone you care about, you don't have to figure it out alone.

Christel Maritz | Clinical Psychologist
Specialising in neurodivergent individuals

18/08/2026

For someone who is neurodivergent, everyday self-care can be challenging because of executive functioning, sensory sensitivities and difficulty initiating tasks—not because they don't care.

🪥 Teeth: Keep your toothbrush visible and make the routine as easy as possible.
🚿 Hair: Break washing into smaller steps and reduce sensory discomfort.
🏃 Exercise: Choose movement you enjoy—even a short walk counts.
🥗 Eating: Keep simple, nutritious “go-to” foods available.

And perhaps most importantly:
Don't measure self-care against what appears effortless for someone else.

For a neurodivergent person, the challenge may not be knowing what needs to be done—it may be initiating the task, managing the sensory experience, sequencing the steps, remembering it, or finding enough executive energy to begin.

Self-care therefore needs to be accessible, flexible and compassionate rather than perfect.

17/08/2026

Trauma and the Loss of Self. Trauma does not necessarily destroy the self; it can bury the authentic self beneath the adaptations that were necessary for survival. We learn to protect ourselves by becoming hypervigilant, emotionally guarded, disconnected from our needs, or overly attuned to others. These adaptations may have once kept us safe, but over time they can make it difficult to know who we are beneath them.

Yet the authentic self often remains present. It can emerge through spontaneous creativity, play, dreams, moments of deep emotional truth and relationships where we finally feel safe enough to be ourselves.

Healing is therefore not simply about “fixing” what is wrong with us. It is about restoring contact with ourselves, becoming more aware of our bodies, learning to recognise and express emotions, integrating parts of our experience that have been disconnected, developing safer relationships and allowing aspects of ourselves that were suppressed to emerge.

Over time, healing can create a different message within the nervous system: “It is safe to exist as who I truly am.” Trauma may have taught the body how to survive. Healing creates the possibility of learning how to live.

12/08/2026

ROOM AVAILABLE | MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PRACTICE

A fully furnished consulting room is available in an established, supportive multi-disciplinary practice near Somerset Mall, Busamed Hospital and Strand.

The practice offers a professional, accessible environment with reception services and running costs included (accounts excluded).

Ideal for psychiatrists, psychologists and allied mental health professionals seeking a stable, established consulting environment.

I have worked from these premises for over 10 years and can personally recommend the professional environment and accessibility.

For enquiries or a viewing:
Christel Maritz | Clinical Psychologist
📞 +27 72 242 5857
📧 [email protected]

📍 View location: Google Maps

Christel Maritz is a qualified Clinical Psychologist based in Somerset West.

12/08/2026

For many women, life is lived across multiple roles at the same time. We may be mothers, daughters, wives, partners, professionals, caregivers, friends and the person everyone turns to when something needs to be held together. Each role carries its own expectations, responsibilities and emotional demands. Over time, it can become so normal to prioritise everyone else that we stop noticing how little space we are leaving for ourselves.

Many women have learned that being a “good” woman means being available, dependable and self-sacrificing. We serve our families, support our partners, care for our children, worry about our parents and continue performing at work - often while carrying an emotional load that nobody else can see. We may tell ourselves that we will rest when everything is done, but the truth is that there will always be something else that needs our attention.

This is where self-care becomes an important part of mental health. Self-care is not about putting yourself above the people you love; it is about recognising that you are also someone who needs care. You need time to think, to process what you are feeling, to rest, to recover and sometimes simply to be without having to meet someone else's needs.

As women, we can become so accustomed to “burning the candle at both ends” that exhaustion starts to feel normal. We may become irritable, emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected, resentful or physically depleted, yet continue telling ourselves that we simply need to cope a little better. In doing so, we can unintentionally sabotage our own wellbeing and, ultimately, our ability to be emotionally present for the people we love.

Being a serving vessel does not mean being an empty vessel.

There is nothing selfish about protecting time for yourself. There is wisdom in recognising when you need rest, support, boundaries or professional help. When you care for yourself, you are not taking something away from your family - you are investing in the woman who shows up for them.

08/08/2026

Today we celebrate women in every sphere of life — mothers, daughters, professionals, entrepreneurs, caregivers, leaders, creators and women quietly making a difference every day.

My wish for every woman:
May you know your worth.
May you trust your voice.
May you have the courage to grow.
And may you never forget the impact you have.

Empowered Women, Empower Nations.

Happy Women’s Day from Christel Maritz, Clinical Psychologist — Somerset West.

03/08/2026

As a Clinical Psychologist, I am deeply committed to advocating for neurodivergent individuals. Too often, behaviours such as shutdowns, withdrawal, or emotional overwhelm are misunderstood or judged instead of being recognised as neurological responses to stress and sensory overload.

My passion is to help create a world where neurodivergent individuals are not expected to fit into society's mould, but where society learns to understand, accommodate and celebrate neurological differences. When we replace judgment with curiosity and compassion, we create spaces where people feel safe enough to thrive.

Whether you are navigating anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, burnout, trauma, or the challenges of being neurodivergent, please know that you do not have to walk this journey alone. Healing begins when we feel seen, heard and understood.

This Su***de Awareness Month, let's choose compassion over criticism, understanding over assumptions, and connection over isolation.

Christel Maritz
Clinical Psychologist
Somerset West, Western Cape
📧 [email protected]

"A more inclusive world begins with understanding."

27/07/2026

Attachment Is Learned. So Is Healing. The way we attach to others is shaped by our earliest relationships and experiences. Over time, we learn what closeness, safety, rejection and conflict mean, and those patterns can quietly follow us into our adult relationships.

Sometimes what feels like an “overreaction” is actually an old attachment pattern being activated.

5 signs that attachment issues may be influencing your relationships:

Fear of abandonment, distance, silence or inconsistency quickly creates anxiety.
Fear of rejection, criticism or disapproval feels deeply personal.
Fear of losing control, uncertainty or mixed signals lead to overthinking or a need for reassurance.
Fear of conflict, you people-please, over-explain or suppress your needs to keep the peace.
Difficulty feeling secure in connection , you may become overly dependent, withdraw emotionally, or struggle to trust that relationships are safe.

These patterns are learned responses, not fixed identities. Therapy can help you understand where they come from, recognise your triggers and develop healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.

Attachment is learned. So is healing.

If you recognise yourself in these patterns and would like professional support, contact:

Christel Maritz
Clinical Psychologist
Somerset West, Western Cape
[email protected]