ABOUT
Meet Brenda
COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGIST
Brenda Gakii Riungu
COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY · REGISTERED & CERTIFIED BY COUNSELLORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS BOARD (MOH)
My name is Brenda Gakii Riungu, founder of The Healing Garden Counselling and Psychological Support Services, a therapeutic space created from a deep passion for emotional healing, psychological wellbeing, and compassionate mental health care.
I believe that healing is not linear, and no one should have to navigate emotional pain or life’s challenges alone. Through a warm, client-centred, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approach, I strive to create a safe, non-judgmental, and emotionally supportive environment where individuals can feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood.
The Healing Garden was founded with the vision of becoming more than just a counselling practice. It is a space for restoration, self-discovery, emotional safety, resilience, and growth, where individuals are given room to heal at their own pace while developing healthier ways of understanding themselves and relating to others.
My work is deeply rooted in empathy, authenticity, psychological insight, and respect for every individual’s unique lived experience. I am particularly passionate about supporting clients navigating self-esteem challenges, emotional regulation difficulties, trauma, anxiety, relational difficulties, childhood emotional wounds, attachment-related concerns, and life transitions.
Outside the therapy room, I am also passionate about mental health literacy, psychoeducation, and community mental wellness. I engage in psychoeducational initiatives and mental health awareness workshops aimed at increasing emotional awareness, reducing stigma surrounding mental health, and promoting accessible psychological wellbeing within communities.
As a mental health professional, I value continuous learning, ethical practice, reflective practice, and evidence-based psychological care. I remain committed to providing compassionate and professional support that empowers individuals toward healthier coping, emotional growth, self-awareness, and more fulfilling lives.
At The Healing Garden, healing is approached with gentleness, intentionality, professionalism, and hope.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE OFTEN ASK
Before we begin
- I have never been to therapy before. What is it actually like?
- We sit and talk. You share as much or as little as you want. I listen carefully, ask questions, and over time we notice patterns together and try things between sessions. Most people feel a little nervous at first, that is normal and we go gently.
- Will what I say stay private?
- Yes. Sessions are confidential. The only exceptions, which I will explain on our first call, are situations where there is a serious risk to your safety or someone else's.
- How many sessions will I need?
- It depends on what you are working through. Some people come for 6–8 sessions on a specific issue. Others stay for longer-term work. We review together every few weeks.
- Do you offer online sessions?
- Yes, via secure video. Online works well for many people and lets us continue if you travel or move.