SERVICES I OFFER

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY

I offer individual therapy for teenagers and adults.  

Therapy assists an individual to gain greater understanding of themselves – including issues that they struggle with and why they behave as they do in certain situations.  With this greater insight, an individual can deal with past issues that are affecting current functioning and develop appropriate coping skills that they can apply throughout life.

ONLINE THERAPY SESSIONS

Individual therapy sessions via Zoom are offered to individuals who are unable to attend sessions at the office. This aims to make therapy more accessible to those wanting to engage in the process but who may live out of the area, or for those who have entered therapy and then moved away, for example students attending university in another province. Online therapy also caters for international clients.

MODALITIES OF THERAPY OFFERED

I see each client that enters therapy as an individual.  In this way my therapeutic approach is flexible in order to adapt to a client’s presenting concerns, preferences, personality and budget.  I practise a client-centred approach that provides clients with an opportunity to be heard and valued in a non-judgmental environment.

My therapeutic approach is largely influenced by schema therapy. Schema therapy is an integrative approach that combines elements of cognitive behavioural therapy, psychoanalytic therapy, emotion-focused therapy, gestalt therapy and attachment theory. Schema therapy helps one identify dysfunctional belief systems that develop from unmet needs in childhood. One develops maladaptive coping mechanisms to cope with these dysfunctional beliefs and associated distressing feelings. The aim of schema therapy is to heal these beliefs and address the maladaptive coping so that one’s emotional needs can be met in healthy, adaptive ways.

Schema therapy is a long term therapeutic approach. However, the theories and techniques that contribute to schema therapy can be used for more short term work. As I believe that the relationship between a therapist and a client has the greatest impact on the outcome of therapy, it is important to create an environment that communicates respect, care and a genuine interest.

I work with individuals experiencing a variety of issues including;

•     Mood Disorders – including Depression and Bipolar Mood Disorder
•     Anxiety
•     Eating Disorders
•     Grief
•     Trauma
•     Relationship issues
•     Addiction

Supervision for psychologists

As qualified practitioners, it is good practice to continuously develop and improve our skills. Supervision is a good way to achieve this. The International Society for Schema Therapy (ISST) accredits schema therapy supervisors and trainers and sets out the principles and standards for supervision. I am accredited by the ISST as a supervisor and offer supervision in schema therapy individually or in groups for those learning schema therapy, as well as for certified practitioners who want to develop their practice further.

I also offer individual supervision for practitioners working with other therapeutic modalities.

Rating of sessions for ISST accreditation 

As a certified supervisor and trainer with the ISST, I am able to rate sessions for those individuals looking to become certified in schema therapy.

WORKSHOPS

At present I assist Professor David Edwards, the founder of the Schema Therapy Institute of South Africa (STISA), with the training required for the South African Diploma in Schema Therapy. This course, open to all psychologists and clinical social workers in southern Africa, covers the basic experiential and didactic training required by the ISST.

EDUCATIONAL DVD

I contributed to a SANCA endorsed DVD focusing on the impact of substance abuse. The dvd, produced by Darkroom Productions, was titled Confessions of an Addict.