Step out to arise

Taking the first steps towards your healing and choosing a better life for yourself might seem like the biggest hill to cross. Louise Pietersen, a qualified trauma counselor, wants to ensure anybody in such a situation that they do not have to take the journey on alone.

- Chantelle Hartebeest

Pietersen recently launched a nonprofit company Let's Arise and she is dedicated to help everyone who comes knocking for help. The initiative came to her heart after she has also faced some of life's difficult battles such as gender-based violence, drug abuse and being molested as a child. She has turned her pain into her power and rose above everything that was meant to break her.

"Guided by the inspiring slogan, "Step Out to Step In," Let's Arise encourages individuals to step out of pain, fear, and limitation, and step into healing, purpose, and transformation," says Pietersen. "I had to step out to step in. Step out of pain, fear, and brokenness - to step into healing, purpose, and power. That's what Let's Arise NPC is about."

This year Pietersen also reached the milestone of being 10 years drug-free. She recalls the time in her life where she had to live in a shelter for abused women "I stayed at a shelter and I saw how women are with each other. It's not easy to share your story. I was privileged to go on a writing retreat where I learned to write my story. That was the first step towards my healing."