Revive – Empowering Emotional Change

About Revive

Revive – Empowering Emotional Change is a registered NPO based in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape. Originally founded in 1977 as LifeLine Port Elizabeth, the organisation has more than four decades of experience providing crisis counselling and trauma support to individuals and communities across the region. In 2013 the organisation de-affiliated from LifeLine Southern Africa and was officially renamed Revive in 2014, continuing its mission under an independent identity.

Revive is staffed by 7 permanent staff members, 2 contract staff, and approximately 35 trained lay counsellors, trauma supporters, and personal growth facilitators — all supervised by a professional board. Their auditors are Grant Thornton.

Services

Revive's core offering is free, confidential counselling delivered by trained lay counsellors. These services are not intended to replace long-term psychological treatment, but to help people deal with immediate emotional crises and mobilise both their internal and external resources to cope more effectively going forward. Counselling is available face-to-face or by telephone, and covers grief and loss, depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, gender-based violence, and trauma.

Their Trauma Support Services help survivors deal with the immediate aftermath of traumatic events, work to prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, and can serve as a foundation for personal growth and stronger long-term coping. Trauma support is available to both individuals and organisations through a corporate Employee Wellness Programme.

Community-based programmes are delivered across the Eastern Cape and include gender interventions, HIV/AIDS peer education, and youth development initiatives like the Vutha Ignite the Fire youth programme.

Training

Revive also runs a range of accredited training programmes open to community members, volunteers, and professionals. These include Basic Counselling Skills, Trauma Support Training, an Anger Management Workshop, and a Personal Growth Course — all grounded in participatory, experiential learning methodologies.

Hours and Access

Revive operates Monday to Thursday 8am–4pm and Friday 9am–2pm. WhatsApp contact (081 710 1741) is available during office hours. Walk-in and telephonic counselling can be arranged by calling 041 373 8882.