Life stressors, grief and loss, depression and anxiety, marriage, divorce and career guidance are some personal issues that tend to overwhelm people’s thoughts to a point where therapy is needed and the environment for it is vital.
NeuroBloom, a psychology practice by Diemut Amushila, aims to do that to enhance the mind so that you can flourish and bloom, and be sparked to live your best potential life.
“We would like that when people come out of NeuroBloom, they come out changed and hopeful about life. It’s mind over matter. NeuroBloom is about serving my purpose to the community; it’s about ensuring the community lives better,” she said during the official opening of the practice in Windhoek.
The black, female-owned psychology practice aims to provide actual and result-oriented treatment to clients and raise awareness on the importance of mental wellbeing.
With over 10 years of experience in the mental health industry, working in both private and public sectors, Amushila’s therapeutic experience includes counselling children, adults, the elderly and war veterans suffering from post-war effects.
The mental health advocate is also knowledgeable and skilful in doing psychological assessments and palliative care counselling for patients and their caregivers.
The experienced psychological counsellor told Vital Signs creating a conducive environment for the client and making them comfortable should take precedence.
The colour theme in her office is deliberate, as she wants clients to feel calm, peaceful and relaxed. The green colour, according to her, is to make one feel at home, as everyone likes the feeling of being in nature – and that is how this setup is envisioned, and it is always therapeutic to be in nature.
“The moment a person feels uncomfortable, the body becomes tensed; one’s mind freezes, and the feeling of being in a hostile environment starts creeping in or they won’t even open up,” said Amushile as she gives Vital Signs a tour of the practice.
She said the set of the office is also wheelchair-friendly, as she often does palliative care counselling for those diagnosed with terminal illnesses.
Amushila holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine from the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, and a Masters in Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences from the Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom.
She recalled that a client who valued and appreciated her counselling motivated her to write down her goals, which included setting up a private psychology practice after gaining 10 years of experience as a therapist.
For almost a year, she applied for the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) loan when it called young Namibians to submit their business proposals for funding, which is collateral-free.
Her journey to getting funded was very difficult, as her submission was rejected countless times, with the bank saying the business idea is saturated, since there are plenty of psychological practices.
Without hesitating, she continued and appealed the disapproval until it was approved after eight months of submission, and making her property collateral for the bank to instil some sense of seriousness and trust in her.
That is how NeuroBloom Psychology Practice was birthed.
- psiririka@nepc.com.na