Counsellor and Psychotherapist
Makakhiwe “Mak” (they/them) is a counsellor, facilitator, and advocate for healing. With several years of experience in the community sector providing trauma-informed and culturally responsive therapeutic care. They specialize in supporting individuals and families through anxiety, trauma, relationship breakdowns, and shifting family dynamics.
Blending their South African culture and somatic wisdom, psychodynamic insight, and evidence-based approaches like CBT, solution-focused therapy, family systems, and attachment theory. Mak helps clients rebuild, reconnect, and thrive.
As the founder of Growing Small Counselling, they are passionate about making therapy accessible, offering outreach and tele-based support to create spaces where resilience takes root and transformation flourishes.
At Growing Small Counselling, you’re invited to come as you are. Here, growth is tender, relational, and grounded in the wisdom of those who came before us. Together, we explore, not perform, what it means to feel whole.
Areas of Focus:
Attachment issues
Anxiety, Depression and Stress
Identity exploration
Racial Trauma
Isolation & Life transitions
Substance Misuse
Neurodiversity
Self-harm and Suicidal Ideation
Grief and Loss
Relationship challenges (include family violence)
Attachment and bond
Relational conflict management
Family violence recovery
Grief and Loss
Parental separation
Child-parent repair
Isolation and relocation
Belonging & Connection
Parenting Group: Tuning into Teens
Modalities:
Psychotherapy, Counselling, Couples Therapy, Arts Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Therapy, Trauma, Attachment, Psychodynamic, CBT
Fees:
Individual Counselling $160
Couples Therapy $190
Family Therapy $210
Group: Varied - Base $35
At Growing Small Counselling, we understand that financial barriers can make accessing support difficult. To ensure our services remain accessible, we offer a sliding scale fee for members of BIPOC community and First Nations People, international students, and LGBTQIAPSB+ communities.
Locations:
Practicing and offering sessions at 503 Sydney Road Brunswick and 8-10 Mansfield Street Thornbury
