Frequently asked questions

Counselling is provided in accordance with applicable professional and ethical confidentiality requirements. The nature and limits of confidentiality, including any applicable exceptions, will be explained as part of the counselling process.

Where an assessment requires individual responses, each partner completes their responses privately and separately. This helps protect the integrity of the assessment and allows each person to provide their own perspective.

PREPARE/ENRICH is a structured relationship assessment designed for dating, engaged, married, and other couples. It helps identify relationship strengths, areas for growth, and topics that may benefit from further discussion.

SYMBIS is a structured relationship assessment designed to provide couples with personalised insights into their relationship and identify areas for further development and discussion.

Yes. Counselling may support couples navigating the impact of infidelity, including trust, communication, emotional responses, boundaries, relationship repair, and decisions about the future of the relationship.

Yes. Premarital counselling can provide an opportunity for couples to explore important areas of married life, including communication, conflict, finances, intimacy, faith and values, family relationships, parenting, expectations, and shared goals.

Yes. Family counselling may address communication, conflict, parenting, boundaries, family transitions, relationship patterns, and other concerns affecting family wellbeing.

Online counselling may be available to clients in Southern Africa and internationally, subject to the professional, regulatory, and legal requirements applicable to counselling services in the client’s location.

Yes. Faith, spirituality, and personal values may be incorporated into counselling when relevant to the client’s preferences and circumstances. Any faith-sensitive approach remains respectful, collaborative, and non-imposing.

Yes. Counselling may take into consideration cultural background, family structures, traditions, values, communication styles, community expectations, and other aspects of a client’s social and cultural context.

Standard individual and couple counselling sessions are approximately 60 minutes, unless a particular programme or service specifies a different duration.

Begin with a free 20-minute consultation. This provides an opportunity to briefly discuss your needs, ask questions, and determine whether counselling is appropriate and what the most suitable next step may be.

Not necessarily. Assessment is selected according to the needs, circumstances, and goals of the individual, couple, or family. Where appropriate, structured assessment tools may be used to support understanding, goal setting, and the counselling process. Assessment is not a substitute for professional clinical judgement or counselling.

The first 20-minute consultation is free. Fees and session arrangements depend on the service and are provided during booking or in the quotation issued for the selected service. Payment is due 72 hours before each session.

Counselling is provided by Dr. Emídio Dimande, a relationship and family counsellor with a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Community Care and Counselling from Liberty University, more than a decade in marriage counselling, and membership of the AAMFT and AACC. Deborah Dimande offers mental health and life coaching.

Counselling with Dr. Emídio Dimande explores personal, relationship and family concerns through a structured, assessment-informed therapeutic process. Coaching with Deborah Dimande focuses on personal growth, emotional wellbeing, goal setting and life transitions through mentorship and encouragement.

Yes. Individual counselling and relationship guidance offers a confidential space to explore relationship difficulties, patterns and decisions on your own.

Sessions are available in English and Portuguese.

The first session is a chance to talk about what brings you to counselling, what you hope to achieve and what support may suit your circumstances. Where appropriate, screening or assessment may form part of the initial process; for couples this may be completed separately and privately first.

A computer, tablet or other device with a camera and microphone, a reliable internet connection, Zoom installed, an active email address, and a private space where you can speak freely without interruption.

No. Counselling is not an emergency or crisis-response service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact your local emergency services.