The practice has been registered since 1999 while I lived in the Free State. Being in private practice in a remote area of the south-western side of the province (Zastron) had its challenges as it required proper planning and effort to attend i.e. continuous development training – as required by our professional body. Learning through experience has been valuable, despite everything else. When we moved to Kathu in the Northern Cape, I was employed with FAMSA for 10 years and in private practice for almost 6 years before relocating to the Western Cape.
As Educational Psychologist my work has always included children of all ages. To me the privilege of working with children is to discover the beauty of their minds, even the ones that are sometimes perceived in a negative way. Collaborating with parents and caregivers is a given while having children as clients. Sometimes Play Therapy with a child leads to something else, such as couple’s counselling or formal assessments for different purposes.
My initial studies in music lead me to focus my postgraduate studies on the therapeutic use of music, i.e., different ways how to apply music during a therapeutic session. I find it fascinating to explore thought processes, suppressed emotions, etc. of clients that emerge from their response to music. I also love to combine it with other art techniques according to the nature and needs of the client.
The added value of Continuous Professional Development allows the professional to add on knowledge and expertise and it has been enriching to my training. Today, after 26 years in practising psychology I can positively confirm that it not only expanded knowledge in the broader field of psychology, but also stimulated and increased my interest in specific topics for further study and training. Neuropsychology (neuro diversity) became a field of interest to me that I am currently studying through different ways. I am also very concerned about the high incidence of socio-emotional issues, such as bullying and all levels of abuse.
My motto in life is not to aim at me changing the whole world, but to bring change, hope, and light into the life of the one person I am in contact with now. By doing that to one person at a time can contribute to spreading hope and light to a household, a community, and eventually the world.
Name of Entrepreneur: Therina van Schalkwyk
Name of Business: Catharina van Schalkwyk Educational Psychologist in Private Practice
Area: Durbanville, Western Cape
Email Address: therinavans@gmail.com
Website: therinavanschalkwyk.co.za
Phone Number: (+27)646800844
Cell number: (+27)646800844