Michael’s Blog
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Managing relationships for couples and individuals
Getting vaccinated: A therapists account
Early last month (FEB) I registered with the Department of Health on their EVDS portal in advance of the Covid-19 vaccine arriving in South Africa. At the time, I had no idea which manufacturer would be acceptable to the South African authorities. However, just last...
Covid puts relationships in a pressure cooker. Here’s how to relieve the stress
We create our conflicts - and we can resolve them tooLife is like a pressure cooker, but there are ways to relieve the stress, writes Michael Kallenbach Most relationships, whether with the person you live with, your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend, will have...
How to survive in January
“Everyone seems to know someone who is either ill at the moment, recovering from Covid-19 or has recently died. “No one wants to see a family member or friend die or get ill, so this is the cloud that’s hanging over all of us at the moment.” Kallenbach said that...
Counselling in the time of Covid
“I’ve been consulting virtually for awhile now, even prior to lockdown, and use an online platform called Vectera.It has proved invaluable, with the onscreen clarity being superb” says couples’counsellor Dr Michael Kallenbach.S Write down issues or pressure points...
Couples refuse to listen until it’s too late
I was most interested to read Howard Feldman’s insightful thoughts after the passing of his father in last week’s SA Jewish Report (23 October 2020), titled “That damn kittel”. As a couples therapist, I’m often left wondering why those in a relationship so often...
Why the Covid-19 pandemic has made people look and feel older
“The Covid-19 pandemic has affected everyone – young or old, wherever they live in the world,” Parktown North therapist Michael Kallenbach says. “Any time there is additional or unexpected stress put on someone’s life, this can have an impact on the ageing process....
Unprecedented spike in divorce applications during lockdown
“The lockdown had an unusual impact – for good and bad – on people’s relationships and they were faced with problems and situations they never faced before,” Parktown North couples and relationship counsellor Michael Kallenbach explained. “Suddenly you notice that the...
Playing at dating – What’s appropriate for kids and what isn’t?
Johannesburg-based relationships counsellor Michael Kallenbach says although it is important for parents to set boundaries, children playing at relationships is usually just another game of pretend. “Just as children play pretend-nurse and doctor, or patient and...
Mental health in relationships: How you and your partner can cope with a crisis
What can you do if you suspect your partner may be suffering from a mental health issue? “One has to tread gently and carefully with this,” says Michael Kallenbach a couples therapist with consulting rooms in Parkhurst, Johannesburg. “Perhaps enlist another member of...