ABOUT ME
My Training
I started my training with a General BA from Wits University, followed by an Honours in Psychology, focused on the psychodynamic school of psychology. From there, I received practical training in counselling skills through Lifeline Johannesburg, where I volunteered as a general counsellor. I then also received training in behavioural therapy when I worked with children on the Autism Spectrum.
After that, I spent four years working with people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, facilitating psychology discussion groups and doing counselling around their long-term needs and adjustment to living with chronic mental illness. In that time, I completed an academic Masters in Psychology at Wits, focused on critical psychology, which aims to reflect on how we know what we know in the field and what biases and political systems shape our practice. I was able to complete this degree with distinction.
After this academic training, I went back to a practical Honours programme at the South African College of Applied Psychology, where I completed the requirements to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. For this degree, I received the Dean's Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. To complete my practicum, I was placed at an NPO specialising in supporting survivors of brain injury and their family members. I progressed to manage their counselling and support programme, which included training of new counsellors, oversight of counselling cases, and supervision of the counselling team.
Since then, my training has led me into fields of neuroscience and trauma. My current continual professional development is understanding how subjective, relative trauma shapes our neurobiology and how powerful the scientific application of the mind-body connection can be. I am preparing for a PhD project aiming to integrate breath work into routine hypertension treatment.
My Services
I have had training and experience in most of the major schools of psychological practice - the classical psychodynamic approach, practical behavioural therapy, positive and strengths-based psychology which focuses on building wellbeing, neuropsychology, and the trauma-informed approach. This varied training and experience has given me a broad range of skills, tools, and techniques. I can draw from a wide knowledge base to tailor our process to your history, needs, preferences, and dreams.
I love working with clients to heal trauma, to adjust to chronic pain or chronic illness, building resilience and interpersonal skills, and working with clients to unlock their potential for joy, success, and peace.
Qualifications and Registrations
BA Honours in Psychology with Distinction (Wits, 2012)
Masters in Psychology with Distinction (Wits, 2016)
Bachelor of Psychology with Dean's Award (SACAP, 2018)
BBMF L1 Instructor
Completing a certificate in Complex Trauma Treatment
HPCSA Registration: PRC0038229
BHF Practice number: 0963828