Someone to Talk To

Subsidised individual counselling for people living with MND, and for the people who care for them.

Living with MND or caring for someone who does, can bring fear, grief, uncertainty and changes that are difficult to put into words. Counselling offers a private space to talk, be heard and receive support from someone who understands.

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Counselling at a glance

For

For People living with MND & caregivers

Format

Online

Sessions

Approximately 50 minutes

Programme

Usually 6–8 sessions

Cost

Subsidised by MNDA SA
Your contribution is based on what you can realistically afford.
Request counselling

What counselling can help with

When life changes, it can help to have somewhere to put it.

Living with MND can affect much more than your physical health. It can change how you see yourself, your relationships, your independence, your future and the life you had imagined.

For caregivers, the journey can bring its own emotional weight, including grief, uncertainty, exhaustion, fear and the pressure of trying to stay strong for someone you love.

You might be adjusting to a diagnosis, struggling with uncertainty, grieving changes that are already happening or worried about what lies ahead. You might be feeling overwhelmed, angry, frightened, numb or simply tired.

Counselling can offer a private, confidential space to work through what you’re experiencing, at your own pace and in a way that is specific to you.

Adjustment

Coming to terms with diagnosis and changes in life.

Grief & loss

Including anticipatory grief and grieving changes that haven’t fully happened yet.

Anxiety & uncertainty

Managing fear, difficult thoughts and an uncertain future.

Relationships

Navigating changes in family, partnerships and communication.

Caregiver wellbeing

Making space for your own needs while caring for someone else.

Identity & independence

Processing changes to who you are, what you can do and how you see yourself.

Making counselling more accessible

We know that accessing professional psychological support can be difficult, particularly when MND is already placing physical, emotional and financial demands on individuals and families.

Through this programme, MNDA SA contributes towards the cost of individual counselling, making support more accessible to people living with MND and their caregivers.

MNDA contributes

A portion of every counselling session is subsidised by MNDA SA.

You contribute

Your contribution is determined on a sliding scale according to what you can realistically afford.

You choose

Before beginning counselling, your contribution will be discussed with you privately so that you understand the arrangement and there are no unexpected costs.

Medical aid: Dharma is registered with the relevant professional regulatory bodies and can provide documentation for clients who wish to submit claims to their medical aid. Reimbursement is dependent on your individual medical aid plan, available benefits and scheme rules.

Meet your counsellor

Our counsellors are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and have experience supporting people through serious illness, grief and loss.

Dharma Bredell

HPCSA Registered Counsellor

Focus on: grief, trauma, anxiety, stress, adjustment, relationship dynamics, and supporting individuals living with chronic or terminal illness and disability.

Dharma is a HPCSA Registered Counsellor with a particular focus on grief, trauma, anxiety, adjustment, and supporting individuals living with chronic or terminal illness and disability.

Through her work with NGOs and community mental health services, Dharma has supported individuals and families navigating some of life’s most difficult transitions.

Her approach is warm, compassionate and client-centred. She understands that the experience of MND can involve much more than physical changes, it can affect identity, independence, relationships, hopes for the future and our sense of who we are.

Dharma offers a safe, non-judgemental space where people can speak openly, process what they’re experiencing and work towards finding ways of coping that feel meaningful and manageable.

“My intention is to offer a space where you don’t have to carry this alone; where you feel understood, where your experience is honoured, and where healing can unfold in its own time, at your pace.”

How it works

.01

Get in touch

Complete the short enquiry form below. You don’t need to write a long explanation, just tell us a little about yourself and how we can reach you.

.02

Have a conversation

Dharma will contact you confidentially to explain the counselling programme, answer your questions and talk through what you’re looking for.

.03

Begin your first session

Your first session is an opportunity to get to know each other and understand what support would be most helpful for you. There is no expectation that you arrive knowing exactly what you need.

.04

Work at your own pace

Sessions are generally weekly or fortnightly and usually continue for 6–8 sessions. Your counselling will be guided by your individual needs and goals.

Sessions take place online via WhatsApp video, Microsoft Teams or Zoom. You can choose whichever platform is easiest for you.

Enquire About Counselling

Taking the first step is often the hardest part, especially when you’re already carrying a lot.

Reaching out doesn’t commit you to counselling. It’s simply a way to start a conversation.

Counselling Enquiry
Name
Name
First Name
Last Name
Preferred contact method:
Are you:
A few words are enough. You don't need to tell us your whole story
Preferred counselling platform:

Your enquiry is confidential and will be sent directly to the counselling team. We will contact you to discuss the next steps.

They will not be added to any mailing list.

Questions people often ask

Is it confidential?

Yes. What you say in your sessions stays between you and your counsellor. MNDA SA is told only that a session took place — never what was discussed. The only exceptions are the ones every registered counsellor in South Africa works under: if there is a serious risk to your life or someone else’s, or a court requires it.

What if my speech is affected?

Please still get in touch. Our counsellors are used to working at a slower pace, with communication devices, or with a caregiver present to help. [If a text-based or email option is available, say so here — this matters a great deal to people with bulbar symptoms.]

What if I'm not good with technology?

That’s fine. Tell us on the form and someone will help you get set up before your first session. A family member can help you join.

Can my partner or family member also get counselling?

Yes. Caregivers and close family can access counselling in their own right, with their own separate, confidential sessions.

Can I claim from my medical aid?

Counsellors registered with medical aid schemes and can provide the necessary documentation for you to submit a claim to your medical aid, where your specific medical aid plan provides a counselling benefit. Reimbursement is subject to your medical aid’s rules and available benefits and cannot be guaranteed.

MNDA’s subsidy is separate from any medical aid reimbursement you may receive.

How long will I wait?

We’ll get back to you within 2 Working Days. If there’s a wait for sessions, we’ll tell you honestly how long it is.

Is there a cost to enquire?

No. Contacting us costs nothing and commits you to nothing.