About Me – Henning Gericke | Beyond Borders Counselling
Hi, I’m Henning Gericke — a South African psychological counsellor with 24 years of experience supporting individuals through anxiety, burnout, trauma, chronic illness, grief, life transitions, and personal challenges.
After years of working in hospitals, schools, emergency settings, community projects, trauma response, private practice, and online counselling, I transitioned to an international online practice to offer accessible, confidential support to people wherever they are in the world.
Beyond professional experience, my approach is rooted in compassion, lived understanding, and a genuine commitment to helping people feel heard, understood, and supported.
Bridging Psychology & Medicine to Improve Lives
My career has unfolded at the intersection of psychology and medicine. Working alongside patients, doctors, nurses, and medical students has given me insight into:
• The exhausting cycle of tests, diagnoses, and treatment adjustments
• The emotional strain on patients who feel dismissed or unheard
• The pressure and burnout experienced by healthcare workers
• The communication gaps that affect treatment adherence and outcomes
Through years of counselling in medical settings — including general wards and emergency rooms — I developed a counselling-informed communication approach that helps:
• Patients advocate for themselves and feel more in control of their care
• Healthcare professionals strengthen doctor–patient relationships
• Medical students learn patient-centred communication skills
• Families navigate chronic or terminal illness with more confidence
My aim is simple:
To bring psychological insight into medical spaces and medical understanding into psychological spaces — so people feel supported, understood, and empowered on both fronts.
In 2025, I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Palliative Care through the University of Cape Town and became a member of the Association of Palliative Care Practitioners of South Africa (PALPRAC). This training deepened my ability to support individuals and families facing serious illness, end-of-life concerns, and the emotional transitions that accompany them.
A Personal Journey That Shaped My Approach
My therapeutic approach is deeply shaped by my own experiences.
Growing up around chronic medical conditions in my family taught me what it means to live in and around the healthcare system — the uncertainty, the frustration, the hope, and the emotional toll.
As a child and teenager, I struggled with anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic symptoms. Some healthcare professionals listened and helped; others dismissed my experiences. Those moments shaped my belief in client-centred therapy.
In my teenage years, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition I continue to manage. Living with an invisible illness taught me:
• the complexity of chronic pain
• the emotional weight of not being believed
• the importance of self-advocacy
• the need for a space where your experiences are validated
These personal and professional experiences shape my core belief:
Every person deserves a therapeutic space where they are truly heard — without judgment, minimisation, or assumptions.
Today, whether I’m supporting someone through anxiety, burnout, loss, chronic illness, trauma, or life transitions, my goal remains the same:
To help you feel safer, stronger, and more capable of navigating life — wherever you are in the world.
