Jessica Laubscher Clinical Psychologist

07/01/2026

I want to be ……………… (substitute strong)

Never going to be the strong woman again. I want to be the happy woman. The soft woman. The kind of woman who doesn’t always have to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. I want to laugh without holding back, to smile without forcing it, and to feel light again. I don’t want to always be the one who hides her pain just to look tough.

I want to feel safe enough to cry when I need to, and to ask for help when I can’t do it alone. Being strong all the time is exhausting, and I don’t want to keep proving myself anymore. I want to be free from always needing to show how strong I am. I don’t want strength to be the only thing people see in me.

I want to live with peace in my heart. I want to enjoy the little things again. I just want to be me. Not trying to be unbreakable, not hiding anymore, but free to live and to finally be the woman I couldn’t be when I was busy trying to stay strong..

22/11/2025

🖤💜GBV

HOW TO END GENDER BASED VIOLENCE? FOCUS ON THE BOYCHILD.

After nearly two decades of working in some of the most impoverished and violent communities in South Africa, we continue to see the same pattern repeating itself.

More than 60% of the children we work with come from homes where fathers are absent. Of the fathers who are present, many struggle with unemployment, trauma, or substance abuse.

Most Primary School teachers are female, and many of the few male teachers are authoritarian and punitive.

Most NGO staff and social workers are female.

THERE IS A DESPERATE ABSENCE OF POSITIVE MALE ROLE MODELS IN OUR COMMUNITIES!

Internationally, there is a strong focus on interventions working with girls and programmes supporting women and children.

THERE ARE VERY FEW PROGRAMMES AND SUPPORT FOCUSING ON BOYS AND YOUNG MEN!

The gangs start recruiting boys from as young as 10 years old!
With so few examples of what a strong, respectful, responsible & gentle man is - how do we expect them to choose a different path?
With so few people offering them time, guidance, support & love – how do we expect them to choose a different path?

HOW DO WE BREAK THIS CYCLE?

In the past few years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the gang violence on the Cape Flats.
In the past year alone, South Africa has continued to record some of the highest rates of violence against women and children in the world.

The response is often a call for more police presence, more imprisonment & harsher punishments.

But what are we doing to get to the root causes of these disturbing societal realities?
Yes, these problems are incredibly complex. However, if we do not start taking collective and conscious action focusing on boys and young men, how will this cycle ever be broken?

IT STARTS WITH OUR BOYS.

Our boys need to be loved, held and nurtured – not told to be tough, rough, and never cry.
Our young men need to be supported, listened to, and believed in – not harshly punished, put down, and neglected.

LET’S BE PART OF THE CHANGE.
Tag and support organisations working with boys and young men.
Let’s raise boys who are emotionally literate, compassionate, conscious, and accountable.
Let’s build communities where boys grow into men who heal, not harm.

This is how cycles break.
This is how a country changes.
This is how we end GBV.

07/11/2025

14/10/2025

The body keeps the score

“The Old Irish Healer to the Soul” It’s not your back that hurts, but the burden.
It’s not your eyes that hurt, but injustice.
It’s not your head that hurts, it’s your thoughts.
It’s not the throat, but what you don’t express or say with anger.
It’s not the stomach hurts, but what the soul does not digest.
It’s not the liver that hurts, it’s the anger.
It’s not your heart that hurts, but love.
And it is love itself that contains the most powerful medicine.
(Unknown Author)

13/10/2025

Monday inspo ✨

10/10/2025

Today is Mental Health Awareness Day
Let me introduce our inspiring multidisciplinary team in Kroonstad💚🤍

25/09/2025

Earth school is for the brave

10/09/2025

The privilege of a lifetime is to become
who you truly are.
- Carl Gistav Jung

19/08/2025

I picked up this book partly out of curiosity and partly out of a secret hope, it’s not every day you find a guide that promises to crack open the door to unconventional, passion-fueled careers. Jo Stewart delivers exactly that: a refreshing, fun, and surprisingly practical catalog of jobs that make you rethink the tired “safe” career advice we’ve been fed.

The tone is playful, but it’s not just fluff. Each career profile tells you what the job actually involves, the skills you’ll need, how to get started, and even what the lifestyle looks like. It’s a mix of eye-opening (“Wait, that’s a real job?”) and motivational (“Maybe I could do that”). From ethical hackers to ice cream flavor developers, travel Instagrammers to ethical fashion designers, Stewart proves that work doesn’t have to be soul-sucking to be sustainable.

This is the kind of book that sparks conversations, stirs dormant dreams, and reminds you there’s a whole world of possibilities outside the 9-to-5 cubicle box. It’s less about saying “quit your job tomorrow” and more about expanding your vision for what’s possible and then giving you a realistic picture of what it takes.

Lessons from the Book:

1. The World is Full of Jobs You’ve Never Heard Of
Your dream career might exist already, you just don’t know its name yet. Research, curiosity, and networking can uncover hidden opportunities.

2. Creativity Can Pay, If You Treat It Like a Business
Many “fun” careers still require discipline, planning, and marketing yourself effectively. Passion alone isn’t enough, you need strategy.

3. Lifestyle Fit Matters as Much as Job Fit
Stewart encourages you to think about what your days would actually look like in a given role, not just the exciting parts.

4. Unconventional Doesn’t Mean Unstable
Many niche careers are financially viable if you learn how to package your skills and find the right clients or employers.

5. Networking and Visibility Are Key
In creative and unusual fields, getting noticed can matter as much as the work itself, your brand, portfolio, and online presence open doors.

6. Skills Can Transfer Across Industries
You don’t always have to start from scratch, many people transition into unconventional careers using skills they already have, reframed in a new way.

7. Curiosity is a Career Superpower
Staying curious, experimenting, and exploring new skills will keep your options open and your work life vibrant.

BOOK: https://amzn.to/46Sgxzc

You can also get the Audio book for FREE using the same link. Use the link to register for the Audio book on Audible and start enjoying it.

06/05/2025

Meditative…