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Online Addiction Counselling
Specialist Care Programme
“Unlock Your Path to Healing and Personal Empowerment Today With Vaughan Pankhurst”
At Trauma Treatment, we are dedicated to helping you overcome addiction and mental health challenges through personalised, evidence-based counseling. We focus on addressing the root causes, including underlying traumas, to empower you to reclaim your life and build a fulfilling future. Your recovery journey is unique and unfolds through conversations that reformat your mind. Take the first step towards healing with us today.
MY APPROACH
Take the first step on your path to recovery and I will safely guide you the rest of your way.RECOVERY RESOURCES
Learn More About Complex Trauma in Your LifeGET IN TOUCH
Consultations can be arranged across a variety of video and voice online platforms.-
Online Addictions Counsellor in South Africa
Private practice counselling for depression, anxiety, addictions and burnout stress issues Online via Whatsapp.
For over four decades, I’ve helped people overcome addiction and past trauma. I started as a crisis intervention and addictions counselor, specialising in trauma therapy. The Trauma Treatment program originated from non-therapy conversations with former rehab patients, leading me to embrace online therapy. Rehab is effective but costly; I now offer support online to people across South-Africa.
Why online trauma therapy? Trauma underlies many mental health issues, and traditional structures are costly and stigmatised. Sometimes, a simple chat, even via WhatsApp, can help realign and maintain progress.
Throughout my career, I’ve played key roles in Cape Town’s leading addiction treatment centers, but my true passion lies in being a personal change catalyst through talk therapy, helping individuals like you meaningfully resolve past trauma and lead a recovery-focused life.


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Why Addiction Counselling Works?
Counselors play a crucial role in supporting individuals recovering from various behavioral issues, such as eating disorders, substance abuse, gambling, and more. They build trust-based relationships, providing resources and non-judgmental guidance for personalised recovery.
Why counseling over anonymous programs like AA or NA? Many addictions stem from past trauma and complex psychological issues that require delicate, in-person handling. Anonymous groups may help some, but they can’t replace professional support.
Patients often hesitate to share deeply personal issues publicly. Counseling focuses on individual circumstances within a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship. Trauma treatment doesn’t label people but explores underlying causes beyond addiction.
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The Link Between Trauma & Addiction
There are two main types of trauma linked to addiction, depression, anxiety, and chronic stress:
- Simplex Trauma (PTSD): This stems from a single traumatic event, like accidents, robberies, or sexual assault.
- Complex Trauma (CPTSD): Also known as developmental trauma, it results from exposure to multiple invasive, interpersonal traumatic events. These experiences can have lasting effects, often leading to disruptive behaviors.
Our online counseling services focus on behavior modification techniques to help individuals recover from trauma underlying their addictions. Our counselors provide support until clients feel confident to continue their journey independently.
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Is Past Trauma Still Holding You Back?
Many South Africans grow up in homes marked by addiction, depression, anxiety, abuse, or other traumatic experiences, which can leave lasting emotional scars. personalised therapy offers a safe and supportive way to address these root causes.
My online addiction counseling practice in Cape Town has shown that trauma survivors can regain emotional stability with proper guidance. Past events, though seemingly forgotten, often replay in their minds, affecting their present actions and sense of control.
As an online trauma counselor, I help individuals break destructive cycles and rediscover inner peace, fostering self-awareness and healing through talk therapy. Understanding and addressing these repeating patterns allows for growth and a renewed sense of purpose.
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All cases are different. You may benefit from rehabilitation more than online therapy.
Online therapy may not be the perfect fit for everyone. Sometimes, people need to step away from their current living situation and get away from all the influences like alcohol, drugs, or whatever they’re dealing with.
Also, you may not be aware that medical aids actually cover the cost of rehab – a huge deal considering how expensive it can be. In a case where an individual does not have medical aid and can’t afford private treatment, I also help them find trusted government-funded rehabs as an alternative.
For more information about my Rehabilitation network, please contact 082 263 4051
What happens in Online Addiction Counselling?
Our teletherapy program offers accessible and affordable online addiction treatment worldwide. Using a trauma-informed approach, we provide compassionate and effective care for those facing alcohol and drug addiction, who may not afford traditional rehab.
Our secure and private sessions prioritise confidentiality. My role is to listen without judgment, help you set goals, and guide you toward the life you want.
Rehabs break the cycle of addiction, but ongoing support for underlying issues is often lacking. Online counseling provides personalised support for this aspect of recovery.
The key advantage of online counseling is its accessibility, whether in South Africa or abroad. You can schedule sessions at your convenience, allowing you to work on recovery while maintaining your daily life, without needing a dedicated rehab facility.
How Complex Trauma May Feature in Your Life
Complex trauma often leads to a persistent sense of impending danger. Counseling and therapy aim to reconnect you with your emotions and teach healthier ways to cope with distressing events.
Addiction disorders frequently stem from an inability to manage deep-seated emotional turmoil and a sense of loss, driving individuals to seek temporary relief through substances.
Research reveals that Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) symptoms include stress, low self-esteem, co-dependent behaviors, relationship problems, depression, ADHD, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders, often accompanied by substance use disorders.
If your life feels out of control due to excessive alcohol, drug, sex, gambling, or shopping use, you may be dealing with complex trauma. My private counseling practice in Cape Town focuses on individual care and serves both heterosexual and gay individuals. I also offer couples, family, and group therapy as needed.
What is counselling for addiction?
Addiction counseling is evidence-based treatment that helps you recognise and change negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It’s especially effective for substance abuse, using therapies like cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapy. Counseling improves communication and stress management in a supportive environment.
It helps you set goals, like for your career or education, and develop healthy coping mechanisms to prevent relapse, as stressors can increase the risk. Addiction counseling complements other therapies, including medication management and holistic approaches, with minimal side effects.
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There is no magic formula to trauma recovery or addiction recovery – personal therapy simply helps you find your path to recovery faster.
How we each deal with, adapt and heal our lives from emotional trauma is as absolutely unique as each person who walks this earth. Yet when you start working on and solving your trauma, the rest of life’s puzzle pieces will start to fall back into place.
Each year, over 10% of South Africans face substance use disorders, affecting people of all backgrounds. Addiction has no known cause, making anyone who uses drugs or alcohol susceptible. To combat addiction, our online addiction treatment service employs evidence-based and holistic methods, often combined. Our skilled counselors use online addiction counseling to enhance recovery outcomes.
Addiction therapy varies because it affects individuals differently. We tailor treatment plans to meet each client’s specific needs and goals, offering comprehensive aftercare to support sobriety post-treatment.