Hi! I'm Leila Bolland, a private social worker based in Cape Town, South Africa.

About

I'm a social worker with experience in counselling & group work

I am registered with the SACSSP (Reg no. 10-38093) and have been practicing since 2015.

I started out working in Child Protection as an early intervention social worker. I gained an in depth knowledge of the children's act, experience in children's court proceedings and the legal systems around temporary safe care and foster care.

After my first son was born I started working part time for a small NPO working with the homeless, that was recently registered and just getting off the ground. My role changed over the years as the organization grew, but gained experience as the operations manager, social worker and program coordinator over a 5 year period. As the social worker I ran groups and saw individuals for case work and counselling. Gaining experience with trauma counselling and in depth knowledge of substance use and mental health.

Since becoming a mom to two boys, and always having an interest in developmental psychology and attachment theory, have gained more knowledge and understanding around parenting styles, that are grounded in non punitive and responsive approaches.

My services

I treat every client with confidentiality and professionalism.

Approach

As a dedicated social worker, my services are rooted in empathy, compassion, and a commitment to supporting individuals through their challenges and hardships. I provide a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to express their thoughts and emotions, allowing them to explore their concerns and work towards meaningful solutions. Whether it's helping families navigate complex dynamics, assisting individuals in coping with mental health issues, or guiding individuals through difficult life transitions, my counseling services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. I firmly believe in the power of collaboration, working together with clients to build resilience and foster personal growth. With a client-centered approach, my goal is to empower and inspire positive change, fostering a sense of hope and well-being in those I serve. As part of my professional and ethical duty I attend regular supervision where I receive guidance and support. I also attend ongoing training to deepen my practice knowledge and expand my skills.

What I do

Whether you’re looking for a counsellor, support group facilitator or just a person to listen to you, I am here for you.

Individual Counselling

I provide individual counselling and debriefing for adults specifically involving the below areas:

Trauma | I have training and experience in trauma counselling, specifically the Traumatic Incident Reduction technique and Polyvagal theory which focuses on understanding the nervous system, how it responds to trauma and how to heal the nervous system.

Addiction | I have a trauma informed approach to addiction, working not only on coping mechanisms, and triggers but also looking at the underlying and root causes.

Early Parenthood | I focus on creating a supportive community around parents with young children, as well as helping them understand development and form health attachments with their children.

NPO work

I have extensive experience working in the NPO space, specifically in the homelessness sector. I have a special interest in substance use, trauma, mental health and homelessness and how the four are so intrinsically connected.

Please contact me should you be looking for a consultant or training in the above field.

Responsive Caregivers Course

Learn more about children’s emotional development, attachment theory, the nervous system and how to be a responsive caregiver who nurtures the child’s emotional and social wellbeing.

This course is for parents, grandparents, teachers or anyone working with children.

It is a 6 week course, 1.5 hour long sessions and facilitated in a group setting.

Contact me to find out more details or when the next course will be run.

Group Work

I love working with groups. Should you need someone to facilitate training or a group on any of the topics I have experience with, or just to create a safe space in the form of a support or debriefing group, feel free to contact me.