Laurian Ward Counselling Psychologist

13/10/2026

If you find yourself wondering whether you might have ADHD, it’s best to seek a professional assessment rather than rely on social media checklists or self-diagnosis. A qualified psychologist can help determine whether your difficulties fit the diagnostic criteria or whether they stem from stress, sleep problems, or emotional overload.

As we honour World Mental Health Month, let’s move beyond labels and trends. ADHD is real, complex, and manageable with the right understanding and support. Awareness should open doors to compassion and accurate diagnosis, not close them through overgeneralization.

When ADHD is misunderstood as a “trend” or personality quirk, people who genuinely need help may feel dismissed or doubted.

09/10/2026

ADHD in Adults: A Different Brain, Real Potential

Adult ADHD is often misunderstood as a lack of focus, discipline or organisation. In reality, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder can affect executive functioning, including planning, time management, prioritising tasks, remembering details and following through on commitments. Some adults are only diagnosed later in life, after years of wondering why they struggle with tasks that seem easy for others. In a demanding profession such as property, where deadlines, client relationships, negotiations and multiple projects compete for attention, these challenges can become particularly noticeable.

A late diagnosis can bring relief, but it can also raise difficult questions about years of missed opportunities, inconsistent performance, exhaustion and self-doubt. Adults with ADHD may find themselves putting off administrative work, underestimating how long tasks will take, becoming overwhelmed by competing priorities or relying on last-minute pressure to get things done. Yet ADHD does not define a person's ability or potential. Creativity, innovative thinking, adaptability and problem-solving can also be strengths, although these differ from person to person. Understanding individual patterns is the first step towards finding strategies that work.

If these difficulties are persistent, affect more than one area of life and can be traced back to childhood, a professional assessment may help clarify whether ADHD is contributing to the problem. Treatment may include practical adjustments, psychological support and, where appropriate, medication prescribed and monitored by a qualified medical professional. The goal is not to change who you are, but to understand how you function and give yourself the right tools to succeed. If you recognise these patterns in yourself, consider speaking to a qualified professional. Understanding your mind can be the beginning of a different way forward.

06/10/2026

Supporting Mental Health in the East of Pretoria.

Mental health is an important part of living a healthy, balanced life. As a Counselling Psychologist based in the East of Pretoria, I provide a safe and confidential space where adolescents, adults, couples and families can talk through what they are experiencing and find meaningful ways forward.

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, stress, difficult emotions, trauma, relationships or a major life transition, you do not have to navigate it alone. Therapy can help you gain insight, build resilience and develop healthier ways of coping.

If something in your life feels difficult to manage, reach out. Contact me to arrange a confidential conversation and take the first step towards getting the support you need. Email me at [email protected].

01/10/2026

October is Mental Health Awareness Month in South Africa, and it is an important time to talk about maternal mental health.

Pregnancy, childbirth and the first year of motherhood can bring enormous emotional changes. A mother can feel deep love and joy while also experiencing exhaustion, anxiety, overwhelm, uncertainty or a loss of identity. Around one in five women experience a mental health condition during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth, according to the World Health Organization.

Maternal mental health matters too. Depression and anxiety during this time are common and treatable, and seeking support is not a sign of failure.

This October, let’s remember to ask how the mother is doing, not only how the baby is doing.

October is Mental Health Awareness Month in South Africa, making it an important time to talk about an area that is often overlooked: maternal mental health. Much of the attention surrounding pregnancy and childbirth naturally focuses on the physical health of the mother and the wellbeing of the bab...

21/09/2026

To keep teenagers from falling victim to peer pressure, teach them skills to make healthier choices and resist peer pressure. Talk to teens about what to do if they make a mistake. Sometimes, they do make poor choices and may be too afraid to seek help. Demonstrate that you can listen without judging or overreacting and instead find healthy ways for them to make amends and move on.

A constructive way to initiate a conversation regarding uncomfortable topics with teenagers are to ask a question like, "Do you think this is a big issue at your school?" Listen to what your teen has to say. Try not to be judgmental, but allow your expectations and opinions to be clear.

14/09/2026

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮?

Life can become overwhelming, whether you are dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief, stress or simply feeling stuck. Having a professional, confidential space to talk can help you make sense of what you are experiencing and find a way forward.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮, 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Take the first step towards better emotional wellbeing and get in touch with Laurian Ward, Counselling Psychologist.

14/09/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿?

Panic disorder is more than simply feeling anxious or having the occasional panic attack. It involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort that can bring physical symptoms such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling or chest discomfort. Because the experience can feel so frightening, a person may begin worrying about having another attack or avoiding situations where they fear one might occur.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. Psychological therapy can help you understand the cycle of panic, recognise what is happening in your body and gradually reduce the fear surrounding the symptoms. If panic is beginning to control where you go, what you do or how you live, it may be time to seek professional support.

10/09/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲.

A 2025 systematic review of 376 studies involving more than 347,000 adults living with chronic pain found that 39.3% experienced clinically significant symptoms of depression, while 40.2% experienced clinically significant symptoms of anxiety. In other words, approximately 4 in 10 people living with chronic pain may also be experiencing significant symptoms of depression or anxiety.

These statistics highlight why pain should never be viewed as purely physical. Chronic pain and mental health are closely connected, with pain affecting sleep, daily functioning, relationships, mood and quality of life. If you are living with persistent pain and finding that it is affecting your emotional wellbeing, seeking psychological support can be an important part of your overall care.

07/09/2026

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇: 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐘

Neuropathy literally means nerve disease or nerve suffering. It occurs when nerves are damaged or don't function properly, and can cause 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧. Because nerve pain is often invisible, it is easy to dismiss it as “just getting older” or poor circulation, which can mean people live with symptoms for far too long before seeking help.

But 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧. It is also about understanding how our daily choices, health and lifestyle can influence our wellbeing. Some forms of neuropathy are associated with conditions such as diabetes, alcohol use and nutritional deficiencies, although there are many other possible causes and not all neuropathy can be prevented.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬. Understanding what is happening and seeking appropriate medical and psychological support can help you manage not only the physical experience of pain, but also the 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐭.

There is also another kind of pain — the pain of realising that we have not always been responsible with our bodies. As a Counselling Psychologist in East Pretoria, I often see how guilt, regret, and even denial about our health can weigh as heavily as the physical pain itself. But here lies an op...