Tessa is a writer, philosopher, ex-trauma counsellor and human rights activist. Having witnessed many of her colleagues in the care-giving field becoming ill or burning out from doing “good work”, she turned her focus to training and encouraging self-care within the care-giving field.  Tessa was trained by Patricia Cane (founder and creator of Capacitar International) whose work she has incorporated into training programs for NGOs, hospitals, members of the justice system and the SAPS.  She has been facilitating retreats and workshops on self-care and mindfulness since 2004 as she believes self-care is essential to personal wellbeing and, to the service of others. Tessa lives among the treetops at Emoyeni with her dog Maggie.