My Philosophy of Life
Inherent in most human beings is the strength to heal wounds and to transcend traumatic experiences. There is a natural striving towards self-actualization and growth, and by exercising self-compassion and self-forgiveness, the healing process can be encouraged.
There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.-Nelson Mandela
My Education and Work experience
- Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of the Free State (2002)
- Community Service at the South African National Defence Force (2003)
I worked for two years at the Child Guidance Clinic in Welkom, where I gained experience in working with children who were exposed to severe psychological trauma, for instance rape, physical and emotional abuse, suicide, abandonment and drug abuse. My duties also included the training of educators in basic counselling skills and the identification of child psychopathology.
For the next seven years I worked for the South African National Defence Force as a Clinical Psychologist. During this time I conducted child and adult psychotherapy, family therapy, marital and couple’s therapy and assessment of the psychological functioning of soldiers. I was also involved in the training and supervision of intern clinical psychology students at 1 Military Hospital, where I was staffed in a managerial position as the head of the psychological services in the medical wards. Currently I am in private pratice at the Nothmead Therapy Centre in Benoni.
My special interests are:
- Dealing with adult and childhood trauma
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bereavement and loss
- Divorce
- Childhood psychology
I have trained extensively in different treatments of trauma, including Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing (EMDR International Association), Brainspotting Level 2 (International), Somatic Experiencing (SE) and Soma Embodiment (International). Sandplay therapy has also been proven a treatment choice for dealing with trauma in adults and children. Over and above my interest in trauma work, I also have been trained in different play therapy modalities, including theraplay, child-centered play therapy and sandplay therapy. I am currently in the process of registering internationally as a sandplay therapist.
Registrations and memberships,
Registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (PS0080586)
Member of the Association of Play Therapy in the United States of America (APT)
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SETI USA)
