Polokwane-born social worker opens her own practice

POLOKWANE – Thabitha Maphalle firmly believes that being a social worker is more than just a job.

The Polokwane-born social worker thrives in her role and is passionate about helping others.

“I assess the daily challenges of my clients and find ways to help them overcome these obstacles to live a better, healthier lifestyle. Serving as a full-time social worker can be a rewarding and fulfilling career that allows you to make a positive impact on the community,” she told Polokwane Observer.

Maphalle operates in Polokwane, Johannesburg, and Cape Town and has been a social worker since 2018 after graduating from the University of Johannesburg. This year, she opened her practice, Lotus Social Services.

Besides her social work, Maphalle is also a writer who enjoys planning book festivals and events.

“I recently had an article published in a magazine, and as much as I love writing, I don’t see myself publishing any books yet,” she shared.

Describing herself as a grounded individual, Maphalle finds balancing her work, practice, and writing quite easy.

“I love all three roles, and it always came naturally to me,” she said. Through her practice, she assists clients with employee wellness, marital and relationship issues, conflict resolution, mediation and coaching, and individual counselling, among other services. One of the biggest challenges in this industry is that people expect you to have answers to all their problems. I overcome that challenge by reminding clients that they are the masters of their lives, and I’m just there to remind them of their ability to thrive,” Maphalle explained.

She envisions her practice growing despite the difficulties of establishing it, as people often believe social issues can be solved internally.

“I’m all about raising awareness and educating people. I’m very passionate about providing assistance and ensuring that people are given the ability to excel in their everyday lives through shared tools,” she concluded.