Mandy Johnson

Over the past 20 years of recovery, I have had the privilege to be a witness to many human beings courageously grappling with life challenges, loss and grief. Their stories stayed with me and offered me insights into what it means to be a truly ‘whole’ human. What interests me is exploring the value of stopping; and that it’s never too late to have a life that is not fuelled by so much compulsive and sometimes destructive doing, that you forget how to be kind and tender with yourself. I support those recovering, whether from an addiction or from life, to become more able to drop external personas and instead begin living with brave honesty and through truly experiencing who they are. Have you noticed how the first question you get asked is usually – “So, what do you do?”. I am far more interested in discovering, “who you are apart from what you do in the world?”. For me personally, that question supported me in Becoming Myself. My work has evolved over the years as I “shifted” through all the many and varied frameworks that had in some cases been imposed into my mind and being. As I became clearer and more honest, I kept what felt most resonant and let go of the rest. Through my work now, I highlight the importance of understanding how early developmental trauma leaves profound impacts and may cause vulnerable individuals to be more prone to behaviours that are maladaptive; resulting in some sort of self-medicating with addictions and compulsions of various sorts. In 2024 I published my first book, A Recovery Story, Inner Intimacy. My approach is trauma-informed, and deeply compassionate. I work from a place of my own recovery and support you in finding new ways to move forward when life knocks you down. I look forward to being of support.

• B.Social Science 1991 UCT (Industrial Psychology & Sociology)
• Post Graduate Diploma Counselling and Coaching (SACAP)
• Post Graduate Diploma Mindfulness Based Interventions (Stellenbosch University)
• First Do No Harm Training (Cheetah House
• Peer Supporter Meditators in Distress)
• Enneagram accredited.