EXPERIENCE

I am a Clinical Psychologist, in private practice since 2007. I entered private practice after several years of clinical work at 2 Military Hospital, after which I joined a multi-disciplinary team focusing on children and families called The Health Team in Sea Point. In 2010 I opened a practice in Bloemfontein, thereby joining the multi-disciplinary team at Optima psychiatric hospital for children, adolescents, and adults. Following some time spent abroad in Los Angeles (California, USA), I returned to South Africa in 2015. I continued in private practice in Stellenbosch, while also heading the Scholar Support Unit at Make A Difference Leadership Foundation, which offers scholarships to promising students and future leaders.

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INTERESTS

I’m touched by the journey of each person I work with. Therapeutically, I aim to create a mindful space for each person to find meaning, grow and succeed in personal transformation. I consider personal transformation a life task for all people and the foundation of the work that I share with each patient as we work together in therapy. When other people transform, I also grow and transform.

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As Carl Gustav Jung said: “The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.”

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Over the last 20years, I’ve specialised in depth psychology and long-term psychotherapeutic work (including play therapy and Jungian Sand tray therapy) with patients of all ages. My doctoral research focused on family resilience and coping in dealing with depression. I’m intrigued by reflecting on which therapeutic interventions really help patients resolve emotional suffering with lasting effect. I’ve continued my work in this regard by focusing on health and depth psychology and completed a two-year post-graduate qualification specialising in mindfulness at Stellenbosch University (2017-2018). I’ve also completed Level 1 of the newly developed therapeutic method called Brain Working Recursive Therapy.

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PERSONAL INFORMATION

I am married and have a 10-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter. I live in Stellenbosch and love spending time in nature with my family and friends.

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DEGREES

BA Social Work (University of Stellenbosch), Hons Psychology (University of Stellenbosch), MA Clinical Psychology (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) and DPhil Psychology (University of Stellenbosch).

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

082 440 6284 

therapy@optimarustenvrede.com​