Collins Clinical Psychology

I am a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist registered as an independent psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

My academic background includes an LLB, honours degree in criminology and master’s degree in clinical psychology. This rare three-prong skills set spanning law, criminology and psychology has provided me with the opportunity to have first-hand experience with the offender and victim (survivor) population, the criminal legal landscape and court proceedings. I conduct psycho-legal (forensic) assessments, risk assessments as well as providing expert psychological opinions and reports in the legal context. In addition to my forensic and psycho-legal exposure, I have extensive experience in conducting individual and group psychotherapy. I specialise in disorders related to anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, difficulties adjusting to life-stage transitions, trauma as well as anger and aggression.

The psychological services that I offer include individual psychotherapy for both adults and adolescents, couples psychotherapy, supervision of peers and psychologists in training. My private practice is located in Pretoria East. I also offer online or remote services.

Psychological and psycho-legal services

Psychotherapy

I see psychotherapy as a collaborative process between both psychotherapist and client. I use a variety of treatment modalities that are directed towards assisting the client to identify and overcome difficult emotions, cognitions and behavioural patterns. I believe that an individual should be able to live his/her life with purpose and meaning, which is ultimately different for each person. I strive to meet clients where they are at and aim to assist the client to carve out a life that is meaningful for them.

I offer individual psychotherapy, couples psychotherapy and adolescent/teens psychotherapy.

Psychological assessments

Psychological Assessment is the systematic process whereby the client’s psychological functioning is evaluated with the use of standardised tests, tools, observations and other processes. Psychological assessments assist in understanding intellectual abilities and other cognitive skills, emotional and personality styles.

Forensic and risk assessments

Psycho-legal assessment/forensic evaluations are psychological assessments aimed at providing a clinical psychological understanding and opinion on a particular legal question to assist the court in making a finding of law.

Risk assessment is used at various stages of the legal process to assess an individual’s risk for re-offending or non-compliance with justice requirements as well as to identity treatment and intervention strategies to reduce the chance of the individual re-offending

I offer psycho-legal assessments and reports, risk assessments and evaluation of both victims (survivors) of violence or traumatic experiences and accused/offenders/perpetrators.

All psycho-legal assessment referrals should be made by the legal representative or the third party that is assisting in the matter.

Supervision and academic presentations

I have experience in lecturing and supervising independent clinical psychologists, intern clinical psychologists as well community psychologists as they navigate the exciting and often overwhelming world of psychology and forensic psychology.

Areas of focus would be to promote growth, learning and professional development, report writing review, preventing burn out and promoting adaptive working relations within the internship/community services environment.

I also offer supervision of psychotherapy cases and psychological and psycho-legal/risk assessments.

Service Description

Individual, Couples and Adolescent Psychotherapy

Individual Psychotherapy

I am trained from a systemic perspective but incorporate other modalities into my practice such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Treatment areas include the following:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Relationship difficulties

• Life stage transitional difficulties

• Adjustment disorders

• Trauma

• Psychological trauma

• Relationship abuse

• Domestic violence

• Grief or loss of a loved one

• Substance difficulties

• Anger management

Couples/Relationship Psychotherapy

In couples/relationship psychotherapy I focus on the relationship between you and your partner in order to improve the relationship. The aim of couples/relationship psychotherapy is to improve the communication and resolve the conflict or difficulty in relationships.

This type of psychotherapy is useful at any stage in a relationship, including both normal life stage transitions as well as adverse life events.

Treatment areas include the following: changes in relationship status such as marriage, separation and divorce, immigrations, birth or death of a child as well as various other losses and traumas.

Adolescent (Teens) Psychotherapy

I offer psychotherapy for adolescents (between the ages of 13 to 19 years old). Adolescent psychotherapy is aimed at assisting young adults and their families overcome psychological and emotional difficulties. Adolescent time is a time where young adults are transforming, differentiating and growing which may result in a number of physical, emotional and psychological challenges.

Treatment areas include emotional dysregulation, adjustment disorders, coping styles and strategies, difficulties with identity, bullying behaviour or being bullied at school or in another context, trauma. Other problematic areas include oppositional behaviour, acting out, self-harming or aggression.

Psychological, Forensic and Risk Assessment

I offer both psychological assessment as well as psycho-legal/forensic assessment. The distinction between the two are as follows:

Psychological Assessment

Psychological assessments and tools or instruments can be used as part of the psychotherapeutic process in order to assist in planning and/or refining treatment goals or psychological assessments can be done on their own.

Types of psychological assessments include the following:

• Cognitive Assessments

• Personality Assessments

• Psychological Assessment

• Emotional Assessment

• Neuropsychological Assessment

Psycho-legal Assessment/Forensic Evaluations

Psycho-legal assessment/forensic evaluations are psychological assessment which are aimed to provide a clinical psychological understanding and opinion on a particular legal question to assist the court in making a finding of law.

Assessment areas include the following:

• Psycho-legal assessment

• Psycho-legal reports

• Psychological damages

• Criminal capacity and fitness to stand trial

• Pre-sentencing reports

• Wrongful arrest

• Criminal risk assessment

• Peer review of psychological reports prior to court submission

All psycho-legal assessment referrals should be made by the legal representative or the third party that is assisting in the matter.

Risk Assessments

Risk assessment involves the systematic process of identifying and analysing risk factors that could potential contribute towards a person committing an offence/reoffending or being a victim of a crime or being re-victimised.

Areas of focus are as follows:

• Risk for violence

• Risk for sexual violence

• Risk for intimate partner violence/domestic abuse

All risk assessment referrals should be made by the legal representative or the third party that is assisting in the matter.

Contact

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