Mental health counsellor, Cledal Chinnasamy who is a Neuro-linguistic Programmer and Life Coach, is working towards healing the community of Phoenix by forming support group for residents in need of her service.
Chinnasamy, who has worked as a trauma counsellor at SAPS, said mental instability is the root cause of many problems such as ill health, staying longer in a toxic relationship, making bad decisions and bad career choices.
The Phoenix resident said she is hoping to create support groups that will meet on Wednesdays, from 7pm to 8pm, and is looking for assistance with a venue to start her journey of bringing light to mental illness issues.
She said: “We are living in a society where abuse is normal, having to constantly deal with gender-based violence (GBV), people living in fear of their partners and being unable to leave due to death threats from their partners. Addressing these issues will help break the silence and allow survivors to talk through their pain, suffering and experience.”
“I am looking for a venue to host these workshops and support groups, however it has been extremely difficult as everyone whom I have approached wants something in return. Therefore my current dilemma is that I am unable to source out a venue to start this awareness programme,” added Chinnasamy.
The life coach said she chose her career path because of her own childhood trauma.
“I found myself in dark places and made choices that almost cost me my life. This is why I chose this career path to help those unhealthy minds. An unhealthy mind is a dark and scary place to be. Educating, empowering and encouraging the community, most importantly the younger generation, will help to stabilise society,” said Chinnasamy.
She added: “With the way the world has transitioned, I feel social media plays a vital role in how kids are misled. I will be running a support group that will be opened to the community at no charge, to strengthen unhealthy minds. The workshops I run will give the community the right tools to use to help them make the right decisions.”
Chinnasamy said that at the moment she is using her Facebook page,Taboo with Cloe, where people can message her for a counselling session.
“Identifying your issues is the most important thing that one can do, sometimes people don’t want to acknowledge their problems but taking advise from people who have journeyed this road is very helpful,” said Chinnasamy.
She added: “We need to believe that we are important, we are alive in this world, and we can say no, we can say enough is enough, we don’t need to drown in our pain and misery, and help is here. Together we can achieve mental stability”
For more information on the support groups, contact Cledal Chinsamy, via her Facebook account called Taboo with Cloe.
