Relationally attuned
Therapy considers the relationships, histories and patterns that shape how a person experiences the self, others and the world. The therapeutic relationship is collaborative, respectful and part of the work itself.
Desert PsychologyMarleen Laubscher · Clinical PsychologistMake an enquiryTherapy & approach
Therapy that makes room for the whole person.
Marleen offers individual therapy to adolescents aged 12 and older and to adults, in person in Swakopmund and online where appropriate.
What working relationally means
Distress does not develop in isolation.
Relational therapy looks beyond a diagnosis or a list of symptoms. It considers how a person’s early experiences, important relationships, sense of safety and learned ways of coping may shape what is happening in the present.
Patterns such as withdrawing, over-functioning, pleasing, controlling, disconnecting or becoming highly self-critical often developed for understandable reasons. Therapy offers a space to notice these patterns without judgement, understand what they have protected and explore whether they are still serving the person now.
The relationship between therapist and client matters too. It provides a steady, collaborative space in which experiences can be named, held and approached differently over time.
How the work is held
Curiosity before judgement. Understanding before change.
Nervous-system informed
Stress responses are approached as meaningful adaptations rather than personal failures. Work may include recognising activation, shutdown and overwhelm, and developing a broader capacity for regulation.
Parts-informed
Different protective, critical, striving, avoiding or vulnerable parts are met with curiosity. The aim is not to eliminate parts of the self, but to understand what they have been trying to do and why.
Reflective and practical
Insight is paired with psychoeducation and usable regulation strategies, helping understanding become something that can gradually be lived, not only discussed.
Common areas of focus
The starting point is always the person, not the category.
People may arrive with one clear concern or with the sense that something is not working anymore. Themes often overlap and may shift as the work develops.
01
Anxiety, overwhelm and nervous-system dysregulation
02
Burnout, boundaries and depleted capacity
03
Trauma and stressor-related difficulties
04
Mood difficulties and emotional patterns
05
Identity, belonging and significant life transitions
06
Relational patterns and interpersonal difficulties
07
Personality difficulties, including a special interest in BPD
Finding the right fit
An enquiry is a beginning, not an automatic booking.
An initial enquiry helps clarify what support is being sought, whether Marleen’s approach is likely to be helpful and what availability may look like. When another practitioner or service would be more appropriate, referral guidance may be offered.
Make an enquiry
Begin with a conversation.
A brief enquiry is enough. Marleen will consider what is being sought, current capacity, fit and the most appropriate next step.