My journey to becoming a Clinical psychologist began when I volunteered at children’s homes and psychosocial rehabilitation centres. Throughout this time, I was exposed to many individuals that needed another person to believe in their ability to transform themselves and in doing so, making meaning of their lives, despite their circumstances.
My belief is that any individual can make meaning out of their circumstances if given the right support and guidance. Therapy can be seen as a embarking on a journey of self discovery, growth and empowerment. It is not just an avenue in which to create an absence of negative feelings or, conversely, creating happy feelings, instead it is about learning of ways to live a productive life and in turn, sustaining meaningful relationships.
I graduated with a Masters degree in Clinical psychology from the University of Johannesburg and I have had a diverse exposure in the field of clinical psychology in well known psychiatric and primary hospitals in Johannesburg. Within the hospital settings I worked closely with individuals with acute psychiatric illnesses and utilized short term based therapy. My experience has also included conducting outpatient therapy within community clinics, working with children, adolescents and adults with diverse backgrounds and presenting issues.
Furthering my interest in the psychology field, I went on to complete an internship in Practical Psychometry and the Centre for Psychological Services and Career Development (PsyCAD), at University of Johannesburg, which has allowed me to magnify my interest in psychological assessments and career counselling. My interest in the human brain stemmed from this experience and I went on to work at Headway Gauteng where I had the opportunity to work with individuals with traumatic brain injury. I held individual and group therapy sessions, with a goal of assisting in rehabilitation and facilitating the development of coping mechanisms for their physical and psychological adjustments.
My passion in neuropsychology, lead me to focusing on medico-legal assessments with individuals who have sustained traumatic brain injury. I utilize an integrative approach in order to tailor an individualized intervention according to the client’s therapeutic needs.