My role is to facilitate working through the stuck and painful places in your life and to help you cope with crises, relationship difficulties or emotional struggles, within a safe therapeutic relationship. I work with individuals (adults only) and groups in both English and Afrikaans. Whether for the treatment of serious psychological conditions or life problems in general, I understand psychotherapy as a journey toward healing and wholeness.  However, it is a journey that requires energy, emotional investment and commitment from both client and therapist and should not be undertaken lightly.  I take the unconscious seriously; believe that the past influences the present and that we can all benefit from a deeper understanding of what makes us tick and who we are in the world. Not everyone who consults a psychologist has specific problems, though. Some people enter therapy to grow as individuals and, ultimately, to live more fulfilling lives.

My qualifications, experience and therapeutic approach: As a clinical psychologist, my training and experience covers the treatment of a range of psychological problems both on an inpatient (in a hospital) and outpatient basis. These include serious mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression as well as ordinary life problems such as relationship, emotional or spiritual/existential difficulties. I think and work psychodynamically. My approach is strongly collaborative where the client and I work together as partners on the journey toward wellbeing. I work with individual adults and have experience with brief, focused therapy as well as longer-term processes. I consult with other health care professionals, where necessary, to ensure the best possible service. I am registered with the Board of Healthcare Funders, so clients can claim from medical aid where they have benefits for psychology. I feel an ethical responsibility to reserve a portion of my billable hours for probono work. This I do primarily through volunteer work for LifeLine Western Cape, a non-profit organization I have been privileged to work with over many years. I am actively involved in furthering the profession of psychology, in service of all South Africans, through my chosen professional body (see below). As someone in the helping professions, I believe that we have an ethical responsibility to also take care of ourselves. Accordingly, I pay attention to my own personal and professional development on an on-going basis. I obtained a first-class Masters degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Stellenbosch and completed my internship at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital. I am in private practice in Stellenbosch.