A former police officer, who worked as a counsellor for more than a decade at local cop shops, has realised her dream by opening her own trauma centre.
Sergeant Cathy Meyer, 33, formerly of George, has dedicated 13 years of service to the South African Police Services.
Cathy worked day and night counselling victims of crimes like abuse, rape and hijackings.
But after more than a decade, Cathy, who was once the communications officer at Lentegeur Police Station in Mitchells Plain, decided to hang up her badge and start her own trauma centre, called “Angels in Pink” for the less fortunate.
Cathy is renting out space at a local furniture store in Brackenfell.
The trauma centre opened its doors on March 1.
“We had a project called 'Angels in Blue',” she says.
“I liked being part of this project because when a police officer dies, a person at the station looks after the deceased’s family.
“I decided to go with the name Angel in Pink, to help and look after those in need of counselling.”
SUPPORT: Cathy was part of SAPS' Angels in Blue project. CREDIT: Supplied
Cathy says normal trauma centres can charge anything between R750 and R1000 per session.
But she offers free sessions to destitute people and charges R250 an hour for those who can afford it.
“I saw there was a need for various types of counselling, be it for depression or abuse, even hijacking victims.
“I decided here is an opportunity and took a spot at the furniture store to run the centre,” she says.
All the funding needed to start the trauma centre came from Cathy’s pocket.
“I’ve worked in different communities across the city, so I know there is a great need for trauma counselling. That is why I am offering a portion of sessions monthly for free for the less fortunate,” she says.
* If you would like to
contact Cathy, call her on 076 265 1428.