What to expect.
Qualifications.
I obtained my B.A. and B.A. (Honours) degrees in Psychology at the University of Pretoria and was later awarded my M.A. (Clinical Psychology) degree at RAU (University of Johannesburg) in 1988.
I have been registered with the HPCSA (Health Professions Council of South Africa) as a Clinical Psychologist in 1989. I have been in private practice since 1990.
The information on my website shows that I am a professionally qualified, and registered, clinical psychologist with years of experience as a therapist. However, you may still wonder about what to expect when you come see me.
At first, I will ask you to tell me about yourself and what brought you here – not unlike your doctor asks you about what seems to be the problem. Secondly, we will explore together what prompted you to come see me. The latter is sometimes clear, and other times muddled. Either way, through our discussions this will become clearer.
Through the process of exploration, we will also discover how you typically go about navigating your life, so to speak. We will learn which obstacles you have overcome in the past, and how. We will start to understand the methods, tools, and skills that you are familiar and comfortable with, and what your ‘go-to’ remedies are. We will start to recognize which routes and turns you tend to take, as well as when and how they are effective (and when they are not).
We will work through the process thoroughly and methodically (systematically), which will enable us to form a clear picture of the obstacles and difficulties you are currently facing. We will also start to see clearly the typical ways in which you have navigated life in the past are now no longer effective.
We will explore appropriate, alternative options available to you, whether it be taking a different turn or perhaps carving a new route. Under my guidance we will work towards equipping you with the necessary, and effective tools and skills with which you can proceed your navigation.
Invariably you might be called on to adapt and change ‘your ways’, to some or other extent. In all likelihood, this will make you experience discomfort. It may leave you feeling vulnerable, doubtful or overwhelmed. However, I will be there throughout your journey, to both support and encourage you.
It is also important to me that, once you have achieved the set goals, we have a plan to ensure that you are able to maintain your ‘newly acquired’ behaviours. By doing this, we strive to equip you to be able to meet the requirements of new, unfamiliar situations and to continue your successful navigation, even in the face of potential future stressors and challenges.
Lastly, I specialise (but not confined to) in the following areas that cause people difficulties:
- Relationship difficulties, whether couples of families
- Separation and/ or divorce
- Stepfamily adjustment
- Emotional and/ or physical abuse
- Life transitions and adjustment
- Terminal illness and support
- Bereavement and loss
- Crisis support
- Post traumatic stress
Although I mainly work with adults, where children form part of the presenting difficulties, they are included. The latter is often the case in for example in a newly formed, blended family, or in divorce.
Which Psychologist ?
This is indeed a very valid, appropriate, and important question that you are asking yourself. In my experience, it is worth exploring.
Different things are important to different people. You may have a preference about say, the gender, experience, location, etc. of a psychologist.
In addition, you will be your spending time, thoughts, and feelings with your therapist. Therefore, it is important that you find and choose a psychologist that instils trust in you and that you feel comfortable with.