I am an Educational Psychologist with a passion for education, I love seeing people succeed and live out their dreams. I believe that everyone has unique gifts and strengths and I am passionate about helping people uncover and celebrate these.
My training took place at the University of the Witwatersrand, where I pursued psychology from an undergrad to a masters level. I was drawn to psychology because of the benefit I found it to have in the lives of individuals, families and communities. I discovered my interest for educational psychology, in particular, during my academic career. After been exposed to the field, I soon fell in love with the profession and the impact that work within this field can have on our youth in particular.
When and why should I see an Educational Psychologist?
Educational psychology is a category of psychology in South Africa that specializes in all things learning and development. This category of psychology was developed with the aim of addressing the educational psychological and related needs of the people in our country.
Educational psychologists focus on the optimal emotional, cognitive and educational development of the child in his or her environment. They seek to alleviate emotional, learning, academic, intellectual, behavioural, social and developmental difficulties in children and young people within the systems in which they function including families, schools and peers groups etc. The work of an educational psychologist therefore includes psychoeducational/neuro assessments and subsequent scholastic interventions, play therapy for kids and psychotherapy for pre-teens and teens, parent education and counselling as well as career assessment and guidance. Also, work with teachers, parents/caregivers and communities plays a very important role since all levels of the child’s environment are considered too.