Safe SpaceDSA
Diverse Skills Academy
An exclusive support service ofDIVERSE SKILLS ACADEMY

A safe place to be heard.A safe place to heal.A safe place to grow.

Safe Space is a warm, confidential and non-judgemental space where a learner can sit down one-on-one with a facilitator and simply be understood. Helping learners feel safe, confident and equipped for life.

Book a free sessionSee how it works
Confidential
100%
One-on-one sessions
30–45 min
Working with children & adults
14 years
Lerey O'Reilly, Safe Space facilitator
Your facilitatorLerey O'Reilly
Who it's for

Learners, parents or families seeking support with:

If your child is carrying something heavier than schoolwork, this is the room for it.

  • Anxiety, stress & overwhelm
  • Depression
  • Trauma
  • Low self-esteem
  • Confidence & self-worth
  • Grief & loss
  • Emotional regulation
  • Relationship & family challenges
What we offer

Practical, gentle support — session by session

Every session is shaped around the individual in the room. Nothing is prescribed, nothing is rushed.

  • Safe, confidential conversation

    A non-judgemental space to say the thing out loud, at whatever pace feels manageable.

  • Emotional regulation & grounding

    Tools a learner can actually use in class, at home and in the moments that overwhelm them.

  • Trauma-informed support

    Held with care and awareness of how trauma shows up in behaviour, learning and the body.

  • Healthy coping strategies

    Replacing what isn't working with habits and responses that hold up under pressure.

  • Self-awareness & personal growth

    Understanding temperament, personality and communication style — knowing yourself makes life easier to handle.

  • Confidence, resilience & hope

    Building the belief that things can get better — and that they are capable of getting there.

  • Parent & family sessions

    Support for the whole household — because a child's world doesn't end at the school gate.

  • Referral when more is needed

    Honest about scope. Where deeper care is needed, we connect you with the right professional.

  • Because when children feel emotionally safe, they are free to learn, grow and flourish.

How we work

Tailored to the individual, completely confidential

Sessions run 30 to 45 minutes, one-on-one, in a calm and informal setting. There is no script — the session follows the person in the room, at their pace.

Confidentiality

What is shared in Safe Space stays in Safe Space. The only exception is if there is a risk of harm to the learner or to someone else — a boundary we hold openly and explain to every learner and parent up front.

The grounds at Diverse Skills Academy
Where sessions happen

Hosted on the grounds of Diverse Skills Academy

Safe Space is an exclusive support service of the academy, and it happens here — on quiet grounds shaded by old trees, with gardens, open lawns and horses grazing nearby. The setting does some of the work: it is already calm before a session begins.

Lerey O'Reilly
Experience
Working with children and adults from many different backgrounds, challenges and life circumstances
14 years
Supporting individuals in a rehabilitation centre, including adult trauma and recovery
2 years
About your facilitator

Lerey O'Reilly

Lerey is the face of Safe Space and the person your child will sit with. Her work is trauma-informed and relational — built on the belief that a young person heals fastest when they feel genuinely safe, seen and taken seriously.

  • Certified
    Safeguarding Certificate
  • Certified
    ACCSA Level 1 Certification
  • Training
    Trauma Trilogy Course — Professional Minds
  • Mentorship
    6-month mentorship under a qualified trauma counsellor
Mentors & inspirational guides

My work and continued growth have been shaped by the teachings and wisdom of:

  • Dr Gabor Maté
  • Dr Brené Brown
  • David Le Croy — Biblical Counsellor

These mentors have influenced my approach through their books, teachings and content. They are not part of the referral network.

Referral network

Knowing when to hand over is part of the care

When a learner or family requires support beyond the scope of Safe Space, referrals are made to appropriately qualified professionals — always with the aim of ensuring the right level of care.

In our networkVanessa CeosseNarrative Therapist
Referrals may be made to:
  • Registered counsellors
  • Psychologists
  • Social workers
  • Trauma specialists
  • Addiction professionals
  • Pastoral counsellors
  • Other relevant specialists
Sessions & investment

Start free. Continue only if it's helping.

30 to 45 minute sessions, in person on the grounds of Diverse Skills Academy. Individual, parent or family sessions available.

Start here — no cost

A free first session for your child — and a free first session for you.

Your child meets Lerey one-on-one in a session of their own. As a parent you get your own first session too, separately, to ask questions and be heard. Only then do you decide whether to continue.

  • No payment details
  • No obligation to continue
  • Confidential from the first minute

R0for both first sessions

Claim your free session
Continuing on? Sessions are for

Session by session

One learner, one-on-one

R300per session

Come as often as it helps. Nothing to sign, nothing to cancel — book the next one only if you want it.

Most chosen

Term programme

One learner, weekly for the term

R3 800per term

A weekly slot held for your child across the whole term, with a plan for the term and a parent check-in along the way. Continuity is where the real change happens.

Payment plans available on request. A term programme can be paused if circumstances change — just talk to us.

Book a session or enquire

Let's start with a conversation.

Tell us a little about your child — or about yourself. Lerey replies personally, usually within a day.

Everything you share is treated confidentially.