Hi! I'm Leila Bolland, a private social worker based in Cape Town, South Africa.

About

Medical Aid Practice Number:
1256645

SACSSP Registration Number:
10-38093

I'm a social worker with experience in trauma, anxiety and addiction.

I’m a registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions and have been practicing since 2015.

My career began in child protection, where I worked as an early intervention social worker. That period shaped my foundational understanding of the Children’s Act, children’s court proceedings, and the legal systems surrounding temporary safe care and foster care. It also taught me that supporting families means navigating complexity with care.

After the birth of my first son, I transitioned into part-time work with New Hope SA supporting people experiencing homelessness. Over five years, I took on multiple roles as the organisation grew, from operations manager to program coordinator to social worker. I facilitated group work and provided individual counselling and case management, gaining valuable experience in trauma counselling as well as a deeper understanding of substance use and mental health challenges.

Becoming a mother to two boys deepened my interest in developmental psychology and attachment theory. It’s shaped how I support parents, drawing from non-punitive, responsive approaches that focus on connection, regulation, and resilience.

My services

I treat every client with confidentiality and professionalism.

Approach

As a dedicated social worker, my services are rooted in empathy, compassion, and a commitment to supporting individuals through their challenges and hardships. I provide a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to express their thoughts and emotions, allowing them to explore their concerns and work towards meaningful solutions. Whether it's helping families navigate complex dynamics, assisting individuals in coping with mental health issues, or guiding individuals through difficult life transitions, my counseling services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. I firmly believe in the power of collaboration, working together with clients to build resilience and foster personal growth. With a client-centered approach, my goal is to empower and inspire positive change, fostering a sense of hope and well-being in those I serve. As part of my professional and ethical duty I attend regular supervision where I receive guidance and support. I also attend ongoing training to deepen my practice knowledge and expand my skills.

What I do

Whether you’re looking for a counsellor, support group facilitator or just a person to listen to you, I am here for you.

Individual Counselling

I provide individual counselling and debriefing for adults specifically involving the below areas:

Trauma | I have training and experience in trauma counselling, specifically the Polyvagal theory which focuses on understanding the nervous system, how it responds to trauma and how to heal the nervous system.

Addiction | I have a trauma informed approach to addiction, working not only on coping mechanisms, and triggers but also looking at the underlying and root causes.

Early Parenthood | I focus on creating a supportive community around parents with young children, as well as helping them understand development and form health attachments with their children

NPO work

I have extensive experience working in the NPO space, specifically in the homelessness sector. I have a special interest in substance use, trauma, mental health and homelessness and how the four are so intrinsically connected.

Please contact me should you be looking for a consultant or training in the above field.

Responsive Caregivers Course

Learn more about children’s emotional development, attachment theory, the nervous system and how to be a responsive caregiver who nurtures the child’s emotional and social wellbeing.

This course is for parents, grandparents, teachers or anyone working with children.

It is a 6 week course, 1.5 hour long sessions and facilitated in a group setting.

Contact me to find out more details or when the next course will be run.

Group Work

I love working with groups. Should you need someone to facilitate training or a group on any of the topics I have experience with, or just to create a safe space in the form of a support or debriefing group, feel free to contact me.