I am Eastern Cape born and bred, having grown up in Uitenhage and matriculating at the Brandwag Hoërskool in 1969. I completed a BA degree majoring in Psychology and Philosophy, and a Higher Education Diploma at the University of Port Elizabeth, in 1973 and 1974 respectively, followed by a BA Hons degree in Psychology through UNISA in 1978. I also completed a 5 year practical supervised training c
ourse in Narrative Therapy through the Institute for Ther**eutic development at UNISA. I am fortunate to have gained teaching experience over 4 years, as well as having worked with children and parents as a school counsellor from 1974 to 1986. An 11 year stint as School Psychologist and eventually Senior School Psychologist at Cape Receife School followed. I ventured into private psychological practice in 1988. I have been attached to a Psychiatric Practice for more than 20 years, dealing with general psychiatric difficulties such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, substance use disorders, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, both in assessment and psychotherapy. I was responsible for inpatient group psychotherapy at Hunterscraig Psychiatric Hospital for six years. I have extensive experience of neuropsychological functioning in children, including assessment of brain-behaviour-scholastic functioning, learning disorders such as dyslexia, educational and vocational guidance, general psychological and emotional development and learning. I have worked with children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, psychoses, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophies. This work included psychometric assessment, drawing up reports, parental guidance, individual and family psychotherapy, teacher training, as well as teaching. I supervised the departments of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy and Remedial Tuition. I have supervised several Intern psychologists in all categories of registration. I have been performing child custody assessments for the Office of the Family Advocate since 1993, and have conducted several hundred enquiries. I have extensive experience of court testifying, performing custody assessments, assessment of parenting ability and capacity, and drawing up parenting plans. Divorce can be destructive to parents and children, so I try to assist with divorce recovery for adults and children. I am also a registered family and Divorce Mediator. Mediation is often a less destructive, more child-friendly and less expensive route than legal proceedings. I regularly perform assessments and draw up reports for the Road Accident Fund (RAF) and victims of motor vehicle accidents. I have assisted the National Prosecuting Authority and individuals in assessing, reporting on and testifying in serious criminal cases such as r**e, murder and child sexual abuse.
