SERVICES PROVIDED:
I do neuropsychological assessments and provide psychotherapy from an integrative framework for:
·         Children and Adolescents
·         Adults  (including the elderly).

Depending on the need of the client, I provide:
·        Individual Psychotherapy;
·        Family Therapy;
·        Couples Therapy (gay and straight); and
·         Group Therapy.

I work with all psychiatric diagnoses and have a particular interest in working with adolescents and adults who are striving to work through childhood wounds in order to lead a more fulfilling life. I also have a special interest in working with individuals with low self-esteem and issues with guilt and shame.


BACKGROUND:
I worked as an Occupational Therapist for 10 years from 2000-2010. I worked at Denmar Psychiatric Clinic providing individual and group therapy. I also worked in private practice with children and at a school for children with emotional and learning problems. I worked mainly on improving the quality of life of people struggling with psychological discomfort.

In 2008 I obtained my Honours degree in Psychology, cum laude, through UNISA; and in 2013 I obtained my Masters degree in Clinical Psychology, summa cum laude, through UNISA. I completed my internship at Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital in 2013 and my year of Community Service at the community clinics in Bronkhorstspruit and Dark City in 2014.

WORK EXPERIENCE:
COMMUNITY SERVICE AT TSHWANE DISTRICT, REGION C: Bronkhorstspruit Clinic and Dark City Clinic

Neuropsychological assessments and psychotherapy with individuals, families, and couples of all ages and diagnoses but particularly:
·         Sexual abuse of woman and children;
·         Severe, acute trauma;
·         Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; and
·         Complicated Bereavement.

I designed, implemented and evaluated a programme which addressed adolescent school girls with the aim of empowerment of the community by encouraging survivors of sexual assault to speak out without shame and fear and with the necessary support.

INTERNSHIP AT STERKFONTEIN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL:
I worked in the Forensic Unit of Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital for eight months where I did:

·         Psycho-legal work, including high profile neuro-psychological assessments and report writing for the court;
·         Psychotherapy with state patients in the form of individual-, group- and family therapy with patients of ages ranging from 18 to 65 and all diagnoses including state patients suffering from severe psychopathology and higher functioning state patients waiting for re-classification and placement.

I designed, implemented and evaluated a programme designed for state patients diagnosed with severe mental illnesses which is currently being written up for publication.

I worked for four months in the Dual Diagnosis Unit designed for patients suffering from a substance abuse disorder and a concurrent mental disorder where I provided individual-, group-, and family therapy for patients of ages raging from 20-60. I also did psychological assessments.

For 12 months on a weekly basis I did neuropsychological assessments and provided psychotherapeutic input at community clinics for individuals, families and couples of all ages and all diagnoses but in particular:
·         Complicated Bereavement;
·         Personality Disorders;  and
·         Mood- and Anxiety disorders.
 

TRAINING:
I obtained theoretical training in the following subjects:
·         African Epistemology; Basic Therapeutic Skills; Community Psychology; Ecosystemic Psychology; Marriage and Family Therapy; Neuropsychology; Psychological Assessment;  and Psychopathology

I obtained practical experience in the following:

• Personality- and Neuropsycholgical Assessment in different populations including at Weskoppies Hospital; 
• Assessments around child custody cases at the Office of the Family Advocate;
• Working in the city community with the terminally ill;
• Programme design and group psychotherapy in a sheltered workshop in the community of Soshanguve for adults suffering from Mental Retardation with concurrent psychiatric diagnoses
• Individual-, Child- and Family psychotherapy

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS:
- Investigating the effects of a group therapy programme designed for a ward with in-patients in a forensic setting diagnosed with severe mental illnesses (co-authors: Dr. DCJ Hoffman & Prof. U. Subramaney) .
o    In process for publication
o    Presented at the South African Psychology Congress (PsySSA) (2013&2015)and at the African Regional Conference of the International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Process (IAGP) (2015).

- The Importance of differentiation of the self of the psychotherapy trainee.
o   In process for publication
o   Presented at the International Congress of Psychology (ICP)( 2012); at the Southern African Students' Psychology Conference ( 2013) and at the European Congress of Psychology (ECP) ( 2013)  in Stockholm, Sweden

- Ensuring viable structural coupling with a community by gaining entry from a respectful position of informed not-knowing.
o   In process for publication
o   Presented at the Southern African Students' Psychology Conference ( 2013) and at the European Congress of Psychology (ECP) July 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden.

- DVD review: Virginia Satir: The use of self in therapy (co-authored with Niel Victor), published in:
o   New Voices in Psychology Vol 8 (1) 2012, pp.129-131; and

- Congress report: Honey and Saffron: The 13th European Psychology Congress, Stockholm, Sweden 9-12 July; published in:
o   New Voices in Psychology Vol 9 (1&2) 2013, pp. 130-133


Credentials
B.PSYCH HONS (UNISA); MA. CLIN PSYCH (UNISA)
Address: 13 Hazelwood Street, Pretoria (Menlo Park area)
Telephone: 071 152 5443
E-mail: [email protected]
HPCSA: 0122874;  
PRACTICE NUMBER: 0600334

Reference:

1. adolescentgrowth.com/treatment-programs/substance-abuse/warning-signs-that-yout-child-is-using-drugs/

SHIP® AS A THERAPEUTIC MODALITY IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
THE SHIP® FOUNDATION was established as a training school for Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychologists registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in September 2001. The HPCSA accredited THE SHIP® FOUNDATION with CPD status in 2002.

Human beings have been endowed with spontaneous healing processes in the bodily system, but have been mistakenly taught to deny the spontaneous rebalancing mechanism. In the same way as sutures keep the lips of a wound together, the SHIP® facilitator creates an environment within which the internal spontaneous healing process of the client may follow its natural self-normalizing sequence and in this manner allow the emotional wound to heal itself. SHIP® focuses on the activation of, and spontaneous release of the repressed information.

Ultimately it is the connection of the client with his or her repressed material (the two sides of the wound) that brings about healing. The facilitator continually guides (facilitates) the client to remain in this healing space of self-normalising activity of the system and to reclaim these past filed trauma experiences. The spontaneous healing process within the client is therefore allowed the opportunity to express (release) repressed information, to release trauma experiences and to move towards rebalance.

The practical benefits of SHIP® as psychotherapy model in everyday practice are the following:

SHIP® is applicable to the treatment of a variety of psychological symptoms, problems and DSM-5 disorders. It is a practical form of psychotherapy that does not focus on pathology but on healing and growth.

SHIP® provides structure for the psychologist and client. It creates feelings of security with clients. SHIP® creates a space for individual differences and the client’s own pace. It is non-judgemental and follows the client’s own rhythm and tempo and respects the client’s feelings throughout.

It provides a focus on cognitive, behavioural, emotional and bodily experiences and is therefore an integrated and holistic approach It activates a spontaneous healing process in each individual and does not only offer temporary solutions in the form of short lived coping techniques and dissociation. It focuses on psychological integration and freedom from painful and hurtful experiences.

SHIP® unlocks and provides access to the power of the unconscious (disconnected) functioning of clients. This contributes to permanent healing. This is one of a few psychotherapy perspectives that can claim this.

It is culture free and therefore appropriate for use across all culture groups in South Africa and respects the client’s own frame of reference. SHIP® can be used with all age groups and has different categories that specialise in age appropriate psychotherapy.

It helps to heal the past that contaminated and dictated a person’s life. It helps a client not to be a victim and slave of his circumstances and provides him with control over his life. SHIP® releases a great deal of positive energy within the self. It unlocks wisdom and the client experiences freedom that will allow him to accept the self and others. SHIP® improves self-validation and the client’s emotions are less fluctuating.

Freedom from chronic physical and psychological symptoms takes place as well as freedom from projections. Chronic life crises disappear and creativity in personal lives and careers are unlocked.

It helps the client feel comfortable with the self and being more assertive to the degree that one no longer feels threatened by other people. The client becomes more spontaneous and the constant sense that something inside of him is holding him back all the time disappears.

SHIP® breaks the destructive and negative patterns and themes in a client’s psychological functioning and behaviour.

Applications of ship®

A huge asset of SHIP® is its broad spectrum of application possibilities. One of the big contributing factors is that symptoms are not only regarded as pathology but signs of healing, integration and spontaneous healing reactions. SHIP® does not claim to be everything to everyone but it has proven over many thousands of psychotherapy sessions to be helpful in the following application scenarios, problems and symptoms that clients present with and seek help for.

1.       Irritable bowel syndrome
2.       Headaches: Migraines (vascular); Tension (muscle contraction)
3.       Self image and assertiveness
4.       DSM-5 Disorders, e.g.
               1.       Post traumatic stress disorders
               2.       Anxiety disorders and problems
               3.       Mood disorders
               4.       Somatoform disorders
               5.       Sexual dysfunctions and problems
               6.       Sleeping problems and disorder
               7.       Personality problems and disorders
               8.       Panic disorders and panic attacks
               9.       Eating disorders
              10.     Phobia
              11.     Impulse control problems
              12.     Identity problems and disorders
5.       Impacts positively on intimate and marriage relationships
6.       Psychological burnout
7.       Rehabilitation and adjustment e.g. the consequences of accidents, operations,                    injuries, etc.
8.       Life crises and adjustment e.g. divorce, death of loved one, family murder,                              terminal illness, loss of job, financial crisis, etc.
9.       Aggression problems
10.   Destructive behavioural patterns and habits
11.   Stress problems
12.   Bronchial asthma
13.   Peptic ulcers
14.   Irritable bowel syndrome
15.   Headaches: Migraines (vascular); Tension (muscle contraction)
16.   Self image and assertiveness
17.   Psychological burnout
18.   Rehabilitation and adjustment e.g. the consequences of accidents, operations,                    injuries, etc.
19.    Life crises and adjustment e.g. divorce, death of loved one, family murder,                              terminal illness, loss of job, financial crisis, etc.
20.   Aggression problems
21.   Destructive behavioural patterns and habits
22.   Stress problems
23.   Bronchial asthma
24.   Peptic ulcers
25.   Eating problems / weight problems / obesity
26.   Acute trauma
27.   Chronic pain e.g. low back pain
28.   Low energy levels
29.   Bereavement
30.   Personal growth
31.   Healing of painful and hurtful experiences that happened in the past
32.   Interpersonal problems.

It is important to understand the limitations and consequent contra indicators for SHIP®. Screening and assessing of clients is just as an important factor of effective treatment as the psychotherapy itself. The following are contra indicators:

1. Organic mental problems and disorders
2. Lack of motivation and focus on psychotherapy
3. No need for long term psychotherapy

 

References:

1. Dr. JOS. (2002). SHIP® : The age-old art of facilitating healing. Pretoria: JOS Publications.

2. JOS (2004). Workshop 1: SHIP® Back to basics; Introductory Lectures – Continued.

3. SHIP® website: www.ship.org.za

Anxiety – what is it and how to deal with it!

Anxiety can present itself in many forms. Most people can identify a feeling of anxiousness by an increased heart rate of “butterflies in the stomach.” You often experience these feelings of anxiousness when you have to address a group of people, or before you compete in an event. This is quite normal and actually needed as this feeling helps the body getting “ready” for a big event.

But then one day, while walking from your office to your car, you experience a feeling of awful dread. So much so that you are convinced that something bad is going to happen to you, or worse, you are going to die. Your heart starts to beat so fast, you are convinced you are having a heart attack, your breathing becomes shallow, your palms sweaty. This is classified as an anxiety disorder, such as a panic attack. This feeling is not normal and can actually have life altering effects.

Panic attacks are normally caused by a traumatic event which was not dealt with properly. For instance, being in a vehicle accident where you were injured, or being hijacked. People suffering from an anxiety disorder tend to start avoiding certain situations, people and places as they start fearing that they might suffer another panic attack. They start to alter their daily pattern, avoid certain areas or situations, normally the same situation that brought on a previous panic attack. 

However, some people might experience a panic attack “out of the blue” with no trigger. In such instances, the person can exclude himself totally from society, withdrawing from even the closest family and friends.

To see if you might be suffering from anxiety, answer the following questions:

• Are you constantly tense, worried, or on edge?
•  Does your anxiety interfere with your work, school, or family responsibilities
• Are you plagued by fears that you know are irrational, but can’t shake?
• Do you believe that something bad will happen if certain things aren’t done a certain way?
• Do you avoid everyday situations or activities because they cause you anxiety?
• Do you experience sudden, unexpected attacks of heart-pounding panic?
• Do you feel like danger and catastrophe are around every corner?

If you have answered yes to several of the above questions, you may be suffering from anxiety.

The good news is that there is help available. For more serious cases or if you feel that you have been experiencing panic attacks more frequently, it might be a good idea to see a professional such as a Clinical Psychologist. 

Read other articles in our stress series:
Happiness with Homeopathy
Why exercise makes you happier
Mindfullness as a stress reduction practise
Common complications in men due to stress
​Stress and weight gain

Stress can be described as a circumstance that disturbs, or is likely to disturb, the normal physiological or psychological functioning of a person. The body react to stress – which can be defined as anything (real, symbolic, or imagined) that threatens an individual’s survival. The body puts into motion a set of responses that seeks to diminish the impact of the stressor and restore homeostasis. Many stressors occur over a prolonged period of time or have long-lasting  repercussions, for example the loss of a loved one or divorce or struggling with finances etc. A stressor can also be the anticipation of something happening.

The body has stress-responses to a broad array of stressors. If you repeatedly turn on the stress-response, or if you cannot turn of the stress response at the end of a stressful event, the stress-response can eventually become damaging. Stress increase your risk of getting diseases that make you sick, or if you have such a disease, stress increases the risk of your defences being overwhelmed by the disease.

From a psychological point of view stress can thus eventually lead to depression, anxiety, panic attacks, relationship problems, problems at work, sleep problems, eating problems, aggression, etc. From a physiological point of view, stress can lead to a wide array of physical problems. Thus stress influences the individual’s functioning (emotions, cognitions, behaviour, perceptions and personality) and is also responsible for the beginning of psychological and physical symptoms.

Due to the complexity of the human being, the most effective way to deal with stress is with a multi-disciplinary approach. Thus combining the physiological part (ex. homeopathy) with the psychological part (psychotherapy). Psychotherapy is therefore a key component in the treatment of stress. A major goal in the treatment of stress is to mobilize the client to change behaviour in ways that optimize the process of healing. It is consequently very important to work with the “barriers” or “reasons” why the client finds it difficult to deal with their stress/ disturbed rhythm or why the client cannot find balance in their life and bodily system.

SHIP® (Spontaneous Healing Intrasystemic Process) is an experienced psychotherapeutic process that focusses on the concept that chronic, physical and emotional dis-eases are spontaneous healing messages from the individual’s system indicating internal imbalance. Knowing the cause of the dis-ease is not enough and lead to a short-term solution. SHIP® is a practical form of psychotherapy that does not focus on pathology, but on healing and growth. It is an integrated and holistic approach by focussing on the cognitive, behavioural, emotional and bodily experiences of the client.

Information throughout the person’s life that is too threatening (stressors) may become disconnected, with this information migrating from the emotional to the physical. This information lodges itself in the bodily system. In response to current everyday stressors, this information may be re-activated and represented in the form of bodily dis-eases and emotional dis-eases.

SHIP® creates an environment where the client can connect with repressed information/stressors to assist the client to achieve balance on a physiological and psychological level.

References:

1.          JOS. 1998. SHIP® Overview.

2.         JOS. (2002). SHIP®, The Age-Old Art of Facilitating Healing. Pretoria: A JOS                      Publication.

3.         Sadock, B.J. & Sadock, V.A. (2007). Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry:                    Behavioral

4.         Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry (10th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins:                                  Philadelphia.

5.        Sapolsky, R.M. (2004). Why Zebra’s don’t get Ulcers. New York: St. Martin’s                      Griffin.