Paraklesis Counselling

Dr Mervin retired from private practice in 2020, but is still active as a counsellor educator.

Dr Mervin van der Spuy (BSc-Pharmacy, DTh-Counselling) is a psychopharmacologist, counselling therapist, couples counsellor, and counsellor-educator. He has extensive experience as a counsellor, psychotherapist, pastor, pharmacist, and lecturer. As professor of counselling psychology (2001-2010) he was actively involved in the training and supervision of masters level counsellors.

He was born and grew up in South Africa and immigrated to Canada in 2001.

After graduating as a pharmacist he completed his seminary training and entered the full-time (ordained) pastoral ministry and also served as liaison chaplain in the Defence Force. He pursued his studies in counselling psychology and is now a professional counsellor (psychotherapist) and counsellor-educator in private practice.

He was the founder-president of the Association of Christian Counsellors in South Africa and was an executive board member of the International Association of Christian Counsellors and vice-president of the International Network of Christian Counsellors. He was nominated by the minister of health to serve as a member of the SGB for Psychology of the South African Qualifications Authority. He is an adjunct professor at the South African Theological Seminary.

He furthered his studies in counselling psychology and his doctoral research focused on the work of the Holy Spirit in Counselling and the development of a Paraklesis Counselling Model. This model provides the theoretical basis to the Paraklesis Counselling Training Program.

Dr Mervin works and teaches from an integrated theology and psychology perspective - recognising the biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual aspects of counselling therapy. He specialises in clinical psychopharmacology, researches and writes about pharmacological informed psychotherapy, but teaches wide range of subjects as counsellor educator.

He is still actively involved with the training of Christian counsellors. Since retiring as Professor of Counselling Psychology (and full-time classroom teaching), Dr Mervin has shifted his focus to training training professional and para-professional  Christian counsellors online.  The Paraklesis Counselling Programs is fully accredited in South Africa and taught at the South African Theological Seminary as a Higher Certificate in Christian Counselling and a BTh and Honours with a Christian Counselling focus. Dr Mervin is serving as a Senior Lecturer and the Counselling Programs Coordinator at the South African Theological Seminary.

Dr Mervin is married to Hildegard (nee Fourie) and they live in Calgary AB, Canada. Their son, Mervin-Dave, is married to Tanya and also live in Calgary. Their daughter, Lindie, is a Therapeutic Family therapist/worker in Calgary and is married to Mijail. They have two grandchildren, Ch’aska and Cheche and they love to spend time with them.