She also teaches the only professional diploma in Integrative Sound Therapy in South Africa. The information below is an excerpt from the Kormorant newspaper printed on 26 August 2010. Meerhof, at Hartbeespoort Dam, is home to the most fascinating venue: the South African Centre for Sound Therapy. You just have to walk through the doors of the Centre to feel immediately nurtured by the most soothing and nurturing sounds you have ever heard and to detach yourself from your stressful, fast-paced life. Founded in 2007 by Dr Wilna Dirkse van Schalkwyk (BMus, MSc, PhD, Dip.S.T.(BAST)), the Centre offers specialized individual sound- and music-based therapies and programs to improve people's health and quality of life, to overcome emotional and learning challenges, and for the achievement of one's own maximum potential for self-development, in both adults and children. The Centre also offers the only professional training course in sound therapy in South Africa and clients as far afield as Alberton and Bronkhorstpruit travel to the Centre to receive its sonic prescriptions. She offers the perfect combination of knowledge and expertise in the use of sound and music in therapy. Upon earning her first degree in music from the University of Pretoria, she spent nine years in England where she gained an MSc in the Psychology of Music (Keele University) followed by a PhD on Holistic Approaches to Healing with particular reference to stroke patients (Liverpool John Moores University). While completing her doctorate, she also qualified as sound therapy practitioner through the British Academy of Sound Therapy and ran a successful sound therapy practice in Birmingham (England). She is also an ABT (Advanced Brain Technologies, USA) Certified Provider of The Listening Program (TLP). This program is a music-based auditory stimulation method that is an effective method for the improvement of academic, emotional, cognitive and social challenges, including problems with attention and concentration, listening, speech and language, memory, communication, social skills, reading, sensory integration, physical balance and coordination, and vocal performance and music ability.
