Lushé Petzer's path to helping others

16 May 2025

 

Lushé Petzer, a 2020 graduate of Curro Langebaan, is now a registered Wellness Counsellor and the founder of Lush Wellness Counselling. Her journey from learner to practitioner began with a quiet desire to help others and took shape through study, self-reflection, and a pivotal moment during lockdown.

 

A shift in direction

Lushé spent most of her school years at Curro Durbanville, from Grade 4 to Grade 11. When her family moved to Langebaan ahead of her Matric year, she didn’t expect it to change much. But the arrival of lockdown in 2020 disrupted everything – cutting her off from both old and new friends and forcing an extended period of isolation.

That time brought unexpected clarity. When a new friend reached out for support during a difficult personal period and came to stay with her family, Lushé felt something shift. ‘That experience – being someone’s safe space during a time of crisis – sparked something in me,’ she says.

 

Turning point in studies

Lushé had volunteered at various organisations for years, but the suggestion to study psychology came from her mother. She enrolled in a BA in Humanities at Stellenbosch University, majoring in English and Psychology. Over time, her interest narrowed toward accessible mental health support, and she pursued an honours degree in Counselling Psychology through UNISA.

‘Clinical Psychology didn’t quite feel like the right fit for me,’ she says. ‘I wanted to focus on something grounded in everyday challenges – support that people can reach without barriers.’

 

 

Lush Wellness Counselling

After further training and registration, Lushé launched Lush Wellness Counselling – a practice centred on creating a welcoming space for clients to feel seen and supported. Her work now focuses on emotional health, self-awareness, and everyday resilience.

‘I didn’t leave high school knowing exactly what I wanted to do,’ she says. ‘But I had a heart for people, and over time, that turned into something real.’