RCP Webinar: What Makes A Good Assessment

RCP Webinar: What Makes A Good Assessment

RCP Webinar: What makes a good assessment

You’re invited! Join us on 1 July 2025 for a free RCP Webinar: “What Makes a Good Assessment?” — a practical, ethics-focused session for psychology and HR professionals.

  • 01 July 2025
  • 18:00 – 20:00
  • Venue: Zoom
  • Guest Speaker: Dr Pakeezah Rajab
Abstract

Not all assessments are created equal — and as registered HPCSA professionals, it’s our responsibility to know the difference. Join us for a practical webinar exploring what makes an assessment scientifically sound and ethically usable. We’ll cover key criteria like theoretical grounding, reliability, validity, and fairness — plus discuss the role of independent review models like those from ASSA and EFPA. Perfect for psychology and HR professionals who want to make informed, responsible choices in test use.

About the Presenter
Dr Pakeezah Rajab

Dr Pakeezah Rajab

PsySSA & RCP Executive Member

Pakeezah Rajab is a HPCSA-registered Research Psychologist and Psychometrist, employed as the Senior Researcher at JVR Psychometrics. Her PhD topic (University of Pretoria) was non-intellectual factors that influence mathematics performance in South Africa. She has experience applying psychometric results to a variety of contexts, including schools, private practice, higher education, and corporate environments. Pakeezah has worked on numerous projects that developed, validated and/or standardised assessments for use by the South African population – including aptitude, personality, values, career guidance and emotional intelligence. Her research interests include cognitive functioning, student performance and assessment development.

The Importance of Peer Support Amongst Psychology Professionals

The Importance of Peer Support Amongst Psychology Professionals

The Importance of Peer Support Amongst Psychology Professionals

Authors: Shaazia Patel (Additional member; The Division of Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists)
Editor: Zakiyah Hoosen (Vice chairperson; The Division of Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists)

Peer support has become an essential component in health and social care, particularly within the mental health sector (Kalina Mikolajczak-Degrauwe et al., 2023). It serves as a non-hierarchal support system in which individuals with similar experiences provide informative, empathetic, emotional and evaluative support to other professionals facing similar challenges (Kalina Mikolajczak-Degrauwe et al., 2023). This provides a space to construct a community based on the connections shared between mental health professionals navigating similar circumstances (Joo et al., 2022). In this article, we will explore the significance of peer support programmes for psychological professionals, their role in addressing mental health challenges in various contexts, and the implications for mental health care globally.

The Role of Peer Support programmes for Mental Health Professionals

As mental health professionals, establishing a sense of connection and comfort in challenging times can be difficult, particularly when managing intense emotions and life-changing circumstances (Distress Centre, 2024). Joining a peer support group can be valuable as it offers a safe environment to explore your thoughts and feelings openly without judgment (Distress Centre, 2024). Therefore, these peer support programmes tailored for psychological professionals can serve as invaluable contributors to the mental health field (Joo et al., 2022). These initiatives create a supportive network where mental health workers can share their experiences, challenges, and coping strategies associated with their roles (Joo et al., 2022). By connecting with peers who understand the unique pressures of the same profession, these programmes can alleviate feelings of isolation and stress that often accompany mental health work (Joo et al., 2022; Grouport, 2025). Moreover, this can promote a sense of belonging among professionals, by enhancing job satisfaction and resilience (Joo et al., 2022). However, these programmes are not without their challenges (Kalina Mikolajczak-Degrauwe et al., 2023). The success of peer support initiatives largely depends on ensuring a good fit between peers, as well as maintaining appropriate boundaries to safeguard the profession to which practitioners belong (Joo et al., 2022). However, there are several peer support programmes which have implemented strategies to navigate and address these hurdles, ultimately improving the quality of support provided within these spaces (Kalina Mikolajczak-Degrauwe et al., 2023).

Peer Support in Community Mental Health Services

Peer support plays an important role in low to middle-income countries’ (LMICs) mental health services, such as South Africa, where there is a significant treatment gap in the mental health sector (Sorsdahl et al., 2023). Peer support can create an understanding and empower those in need, enhancing the overall effectiveness of community-based mental health initiatives (Joo et al., 2022). Reflecting on one’s experiences to improve support strategies has emerged as a key facilitator in managing life stressors within peer support frameworks (Poremski et al., 2022). To further enhance these programmes, a support group entitled #SpacesforListening is put forth as a peer-support network for mental health professionals. The #SpacesforListening initiative was developed in 2020 by two psychologists based in the United Kingdom, Brigid Russell and Charlie Jones (Russell, 2024). The initiative offers a confidential structured process where mental health professionals are equally encouraged to share thoughts and feelings, and “to experience an equality of listening” (Russell & Jones, 2022). This approach could further enrich the peer support landscape within the South African context (Poremski et al., 2022). Peer support represents an effective form of assistance in the mental health sector, addressing both the emotional needs of individuals and the professional challenges faced by mental health professionals (Post Eye, 2024). The executive members of PsySSA’s Division for  Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists will be participating in a #SpacesforListening and aim to implement this initiative for RCP members in the second half of 2025. As we continue to strengthen peer support frameworks, it is essential to navigate the associated challenges to enhance their effectiveness and impact on mental health care systems in the South African context.

References

Embracing Uncertainty with DBT Skills: A Guide to Navigating Life’s Challenges | Grouport Journal. (2025). Grouporttherapy.com. https://www.grouporttherapy.com/blog/dialectical-behavior-therapy-uncertainty

Joo, Y., Kwon, J., & Lee, H. (2022). The effectiveness of peer support programs for mental health professionals: A review. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 234-247.

Kalina Mikolajczak-Degrauwe, A., Goffin, K., & Martin, A. (2023). Support through peer engagement: A comprehensive overview of peer support in health and social care. Health Engagement Review, 15(1), 45-62.

Poremski, D., O’Neil, M., & D’Arcy, C. (2022). Reflexivity as a facilitator in peer support programs: Enhancing the effectiveness of mental health support. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 16(1), 12-25.

Sorsdahl, K., Lund, C., & Stein, D. J. (2023). Bridging the treatment gap: The role of peer support in mental health services in South Africa. African Journal of Psychiatry, 26(1), 54-66.

Russell, B. (2024, November). Spaces for listening. Resurgence.org. https://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article6397-spaces-for-listening.html

Tips for Handling Stress and Mental Health in Today’s Busy World (2024). Post Eye. https://posteyes.com/tips-for-handling-stress-and-mental-health-in-todays-busy-world-2024/

 

PsySSA Commemorates Hospice Week 2025

PsySSA Commemorates Hospice Week 2025

PsySSA Commemorates Hospice Week 2025

4 – 10 May 2025

Passion for Compassion: Psychological Insights into Palliative Care in South Africa

By: PsySSA’s Division of Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists.

Hospice Week 2025, observed from May 5–11, underscores the vital role of compassionate care in palliative services. In South Africa, where palliative care is predominantly provided by non-governmental organizations, understanding the psychological dimensions of caregiving is essential. This article explores evidence-based psychological research to illuminate palliative care professionals’ challenges and coping mechanisms, aligning with this year’s theme, “Passion for Compassion”, a call to recognize the deep emotional investment and resilience required to care for the terminally ill.

Psychological Challenges in Palliative Care

Palliative care professionals in South Africa face multifaceted stressors that impact their psychological well-being. A qualitative study by Smith et al. (2020) identified key stress domains: Professionals may experience compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, or burnout due to ongoing emotional demands.

  • Nature of Work: Regular exposure to death and dying can lead to emotional exhaustion and existential distress (Smith et al. 2020). Caregivers operating in under-resourced townships often confront high rates of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and cancer, increasing both caseloads and emotional burden.
  • Community Engagement: Working in diverse communities presents challenges, including safety concerns and resource limitations.
  • Patient and Family Interactions: Managing complex family dynamics and patient expectations requires emotional resilience. The cultural diversity of South Africa also necessitates sensitivity to varied beliefs around death, dying, and caregiving.
  • Organisational Factors: Limited resources, staff shortages, and administrative burdens contribute to work-related stress (Smith et al. 2020). Public-sector underfunding and dependency on donor funding often lead to job insecurity and limited professional development. The psychological impact is compounded in rural areas, where access to mental health support is particularly scarce (Skeen et al., 2019).

These stressors are exacerbated by broader socio-economic factors, such as poverty and healthcare disparities, intensifying the emotional labour required in palliative care settings.

Coping Mechanisms and Resilience

Despite these challenges, palliative care professionals employ various coping strategies to maintain their psychological health (Smith et al., 2020):

  • Social Support: Engaging with colleagues, friends, and family provides emotional sustenance. Peer debriefing and team cohesion have been shown to buffer against burnout.
  • Self-Care Practices: Activities like exercise, meditation, and hobbies help reduce stress. Mindfulness-based interventions have effectively reduced emotional fatigue among healthcare workers (Irving et al., 2009).
  • Professional Boundaries: Setting clear work-life boundaries prevents burnout and promotes well-being. Encouraging work-life balance is particularly crucial in hospices where 24-hour on-call duties are common.
  • Positive Reframing: Focusing on the meaningful aspects of caregiving enhances job satisfaction. Many staff report a sense of purpose and spiritual fulfilment through their work, which helps counterbalance the emotional demands (Meier et al., 2016).

These strategies underscore the importance of organizational support systems that foster a culture of compassion and resilience among healthcare workers.

Integrating Spiritual Care

Spiritual care is a critical component of holistic palliative services. A study conducted in Soweto found that patients receiving spiritual support experienced less pain and were more likely to die in their preferred setting, often at home (Ratshikana-Moloko et al., 2020). However, a national survey revealed significant gaps in spiritual care training among hospice staff, highlighting the need for standardised curricula and resources (Mahilall & Swartz, 2021). This is particularly relevant in a culturally diverse nation like South Africa, where spiritual beliefs significantly shape end-of-life decisions.

Integrating spiritual care into routine practice requires collaboration with chaplains, traditional healers, and community leaders. Formal guidelines by the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA) recommend such inclusive approaches, yet implementation remains inconsistent.

Educational Imperatives

Education and training are pivotal in equipping healthcare professionals with the skills necessary for effective palliative care. Despite including palliative care in undergraduate programs across South African universities, the depth and consistency of training vary. Only one university met the recommended 40-hour training benchmark set by the European Association of Palliative Care (McMillan et al., 2024). Enhancing educational frameworks is essential to prepare practitioners for the complexities of palliative care delivery.

The theme “Passion for Compassion” encapsulates the dedication of palliative care professionals who navigate psychological challenges with resilience and empathy. Addressing systemic issues, enhancing training, and fostering supportive work environments are crucial to sustaining compassionate care in South Africa’s palliative services. By investing in caregivers’ psychological well-being, we uphold the dignity of those they serve.

Authors: Ms Genevieve Burrow and Ms Rekha Rao Kangokar

Beyond the Textbook: Empathy, Palliative Care, and Digital Support

By: PsySSA’s Student Division

Palliative care is often treated as a niche topic in psychology — something reserved for specialists, quietly acknowledged but rarely explored. It’s not often considered by students,
perhaps because it isn’t a core focus in most training programmes, or because it seems distant from the kinds of roles we imagine ourselves stepping into. But by not engaging with it, we risk narrowing our understanding of what psychological support can involve — particularly in contexts where the focus shifts from treatment to comfort, and from fixing to accompanying.

This is part of what makes the work of Azizoddin and Thomas (2022) so compelling. In their article “Game Changer: Is Palliative Care Ready for Games?”, they explore how palliative
support can be reimagined through digital tools — specifically “serious games” designed with clinical intent. These games are not created for entertainment, but rather as structured interventions that help patients with advanced illness manage pain, navigate emotional challenges, and feel a greater sense of agency in their experience.

What makes this especially relevant for students is that it challenges how we tend to think about psychological practice. Serious games in palliative care show that support doesn’t have to follow the traditional model of therapy. Instead, care can be reframed as something flexible, creative, and responsive to the needs of people in profoundly vulnerable situations. Engaging with these kinds of tools invites us to reflect not only on what we do as psychologists, but on how we relate to people who are facing uncertainty, loss, and transition — even if we never work directly in that space.

As students, we might never specialise in palliative care. But that doesn’t mean we should disengage. Reflecting on interventions like these pushes us to question the assumptions we
carry about psychological support:

● Must care be face-to-face to be meaningful?
● Can technology offer more than convenience — perhaps even comfort?
● What other areas of psychology have we overlooked because they feel too far removed?

This Hospice Week, we encourage students not just to learn about palliative care, but to engage with what it represents. Even if this isn’t your field, it’s still part of the broader landscape of human experience we all study. And in exploring unconventional tools like serious games, we might find unexpected ways to grow our empathy, our understanding, and our sense of what it means to care.

Board Exam Preparation Workshop – 21 May 2025

Board Exam Preparation Workshop – 21 May 2025

Board Exam Preparation Workshop – 21 May 2025

About this workshop

Join us on Zoom as we unpack the Board Exam!

The journey to becoming an HPCSA-registered psychologist entails navigating through rigorous academic training and practical experiences. However, one pivotal milestone stands between aspiring professionals and their goals: the HPCSA board exam. This exam serves as a comprehensive evaluation of theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and ethical understanding essential for competent practice in the field. For those on the brink of undertaking this examination, the stakes are high, and the need for thorough preparation is paramount.

This underscores the necessity of a specialized board exam workshop tailored to the unique needs of prospective exam takers. Recognizing the complexities and challenges inherent in preparing for such a pivotal assessment, this workshop aims to provide invaluable clarity and guidance to participants.

The workshop will encompass multifaceted approaches to bolstering exam readiness for students in psychometry, counselling, research, educational and clinical psychology. Through interactive sessions, participants will delve into the intricacies of the exam format, content domains, and requisite competencies.

In essence, this workshop serves as a pivotal resource in equipping student and exam candidates with the tools, knowledge, and support necessary to navigate the challenges of the board exam successfully. By fostering clarity, confidence, and competence, the workshop endeavours to empower individuals to embark on their professional journeys with assurance and readiness to make meaningful contributions to the field of psychology.

Join the workshop at no cost!

Meet The Facilitators
Dr Pakeezah Rajab

Dr Pakeezah Rajab

Presenter

Bio

Dr Pakeezah Rajab is the Senior Researcher at JVR Psychometrics and a PsySSA 2024-25 Additional Executive Member. Her PhD topic was “Non-intellectual factors that influence mathematics performance in South Africa.” She has experience applying psychometric results to a variety of contexts, including schools, private practice, higher education, and corporate environments. Pakeezah has worked on numerous projects that developed, validated and/or standardised assessments for use by the South African population – including aptitude, personality, values, career guidance and emotional intelligence. Her research interests include cognitive functioning, student performance and assessment development.

Ms Genevieve Burrow

Ms Genevieve Burrow

Presenter

Bio

Genevieve Burrow is a registered counsellor and chairperson of the PsySSA Division of Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists. Genevieve is the manager of The Youth Hub, based at Groote Schuur Hospital Adolescent Centre of Excellence, where she counsels, and manages students and the counselling centre. She has hosted several board exam workshops previously, and enjoys working with students to enlighten them about the upcoming HPCSA board exam. Genevieve Burrow is committed to driving excellence and innovation in the practice of counselling, and promoting the visibility and importance of this field. Genevieve is passionate about youth upliftment and collaborates with a medically-informed multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive and holistic care to adolescents facing diverse challenges in under-provided areas.

Dr Kemoneilwe Momi Metsing

Dr Kemoneilwe Momi Metsing

Presenter

Bio

Dr. Kemoneilwe Momi Metsing is a registered Educational Psychologist with a PhD in Psychology. She is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology of Education at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Chairperson of the Society for Educational Psychology of South Africa (SEPSA). Dr. Metsing has a private practice and consults for government and private companies on relational and organizational transformation. She is an expert witness and member of the South African Medico-Legal Association (SAMLA). Dr. Metsing has held various leadership positions, including Chief Education Specialist in the Department of Education and board member of the South African Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (SAPSAC). She is an External examiner and clinical supervisor for MEd Educational Psychology at UJ. She serves on the Executive Committee of Decolonising Psychology at the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) and is a Critical Reader for UNISA’s Department of Adult Community and Continuing Education. With expertise in developing community-based programs, Dr. Metsing has successfully brought together individuals and organizations to address social issues, fostering partnerships and sustainable solutions. She is committed to inspiring and educating the next generation of leaders and change-makers, and her appointment at UNISA marks an exciting new chapter in her journey.

Dr Matome Jack Mashiapata

Dr Matome Jack Mashiapata

Presenter

Bio

Dr Mashiapata is a registered Educational Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of SA with over three decades of experience as a lecturer college for teacher training, high school teacher, a school psychologist in the department of basic education, manager of services for students with disabilities as well as student counselling. Currently working as the Director for Counselling and Career Development at UNISA, he has presented papers and workshops locally and internationally in the areas of career counselling, pastoral counselling, mentorship, career development, ethics, students with disabilities, etc. He holds active membership and leadership roles the Psychological Society of SA (PSYSSA), Society for Education Psychology of SA (SEPSA), South African Federation of Student Affairs (SAFSAS), International Association of Student Affairs and Services (IASAS) serving as the Africa regional director, deputy chairperson of Council for Pastoral and Spiritual Counsellors (CPSC), and Higher and Further Education Disability Services Association (HEDSA). He is the past president of the Southern African Association of Counselling and Development in Higher Education (SAACDHE). Dr Mashiapata has authored a chapter on Trauma Debriefing in a book titled “Life skills – my journey, my destiny”. He presents accredited CPD workshops on ethics in counselling services.

 

Deneo Sekese

Deneo Sekese

Presenter

Bio

Deneo Sekese started her career in Human Resources specifically training and development and organisational development. Her passion for people and therapy led to a midlife career change into psychology. Deneo completed her masters in Counselling Psychology at Rhodes University and internship at the student counselling centre at the Durban University of Technology. She has had the privilege of presenting her masters research at the 27th Annual South African Psychology Congress. Deneo’s areas of interest are African Psychology, Wellbeing and Salutogenesis and Community psychology. She recently registered with the Board of Psychology HPCSA and is in the process of setting up a private practice.

Arianna Fadda

Arianna Fadda

Presenter

Bio

My name is Arianna Fadda. I hold a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology both from the University of Pretoria as well as a professional master’s degree (by coursework and research report) in Social and Psychological Research from the University of the Witwatersrand. My research report focused on the perceptions of health professionals regarding an online depression screening tool adapted for South Africans. Following my master’s, I completed a year-long Research Psychology internship at the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) at the North-West University, during which I worked on various qualitative and quantitative research projects. I subsequently wrote and passed the Research Psychology Board Examination with the Health Professions Council of South Africa earlier this year and I am now a registered Research Psychologist. I am currently working as a research assistant for AUTHeR and planning further studies towards a PhD.

 

Rekha Kangokar

Rekha Kangokar

Presenter

Bio

Mrs Rekha Kangokar Rama Rao is a Registered Counsellor and has completed Masters in Community-Based Counselling Psychology. Working with a person centered approach she is passionate about fostering mental well-being. She integrates evidence-based practices with a holistic approach to nurture growth and healing within both individuals and communities. She has been associated with various NGOs and has supported them closely, Rekha has served a Secretary and Treasurer before and currently serves as an additional member in the RCP division.

Zakiyah Hoosen

Zakiyah Hoosen

Presenter

Bio

Zakiyah Hoosen is a dynamic individual with a deep love for Psychology. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Pretoria majoring in Psychology and Languages; later obtaining her Honor’s degree from SACAP and went on to become a qualified registered counsellor. She is active in the field and works across multiple organizations, working within a trauma-informed focus to facilitate counselling and psychoeducation to children, adolescents, and adults. Zakiyah is currently advancing her knowledge and training on her journey of master’s in Clinical Psychology, and she aspires to foster psychosocial wellbeing across all spheres of life through meaningful and efficient psychological services for all.

RCP Workshop: Opening Private Practice for Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists

RCP Workshop: Opening Private Practice for Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists

RCP Division Workshop

Opening Private Practice for Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists

Are you ready to embark on an incredible journey of independence? If you’ve just aced your board exams or are contemplating the thrilling leap from employment to launching your own private practice, this workshop is tailor-made for you! Join Shaazia, an inspiring psychometrist, and Chantel, a passionate Registered Counsellor, as they guide you through the exhilarating steps to kickstart your own practice. From navigating the registration maze with entities like HPCSA and BHF to ensuring you are connected with the right medical aids, we have got you covered! Plus, discover how to create eye-catching stationery and ignite your advertising strategy to make your practice shine. Don’t miss out on this opportunity — register for this workshop today!

  • Date and Time: 27 March 2025, 16:00 -17:30 SAT
  • Online Via Microsoft Teams (link will be shared with registered participants by 26th March)
  • Speakers/Hosts: Shaazia Patel (Psychometrist) and Chantel Retter (Registered Counsellor)
  • Cost: Free for members and non-members
  • RSVP Requirements: Interested parties are to RSVP by 25 March 2025 at 10h00. Here is the RSVP link: https://forms.gle/QuNDGksnjHmRpRUd7

 

For further information, feel free to reach out to us at: rcp@psyssa.co.za

Eating Disorder Awareness Week: 24 February – 2 March 2025

Eating Disorder Awareness Week: 24 February – 2 March 2025

Eating Disorder Awareness Week: 24 February – 2 March 2025

Reader’s Digest: An insight into eating disorders

Authors: Z. Hoosen, G. Burrow, R. Kangokar Rama Rao (The Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists’ Executive Committee)

The frequency of eating disorders has almost doubled globally in less than 20 years and continues to rise (Center for Women’s Health, N.D.). The American Psychological Association defines an eating disorder (ED) as “any disorder characterized primarily by a pathological disturbance or attitude and behaviours related to food” (APA, 2018). The ICD-10 classifies eating disorders into two principal syndromes: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Furthermore, binge eating disorder is also classified with this spectrum of disorders.

The Eating Disorders South Africa organisation briefly describes that anorexia and bulimia nervosa are commonly associated with the following behaviours: adherence to strict diets despite weight gain/loss, compulsive exercising for weight loss, binge eating large quantities of food, consuming laxatives or diuretics aimed at purging or expelling food intake, abuse of stimulants or similar substances such as appetite suppressants etc. More definitively, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) indicates that anorexia nervosa is characterised by a significant and persistent reduction in food intake resulting in low body weight in the context of age, sex, and physical health; an unrelenting pursuit of thinness; distorted body image and intense fear of weight gain, and severely disturbed eating behaviour (NIMH). Then, bulimia nervosa is characterised by bingeing (eating large amounts of food in a short period, often accompanied by a loss of control) followed by behaviour that compensates for the binge, such as purging (e.g. vomiting, excessive use of laxatives, or diuretics), fasting, and/or exercise. A common distinctive feature between anorexia and bulimia is that individuals suffering with bulimia can fall within the normal range for their weight. However, individuals suffering from anorexia often display a deep fear of gaining weight, desperately want to lose weight and experience persistent dissatisfaction with their body size and shape (NIMH).

The global burden of disease study found a significant burden of eating disorders (EDs), specifically among young women living in high-income countries (Williams et al., 2020). Correspondingly, Markino et al. (2004) had previously found that more females suffered from EDs and displayed abnormal eating attitudes than males in at least 11 countries. In contrast, Novotney (2024) argue that boys and men are increasingly becoming affected by mental health conditions such as body dysmorphia and subclinical disordered eating behaviours. It is reported that males now constitute approximately a third of those diagnosed with an eating disorder (Mitchison, 2019), highlighting a growing concern around this clinical concern.

Further, it was found that the prevalence of EDs in non-Western countries was lower than Western countries, although this has since gradually increased (Markino et al., 2020). Evidence suggests that gender and sociocultural influences play a role in this increase (Hoek, 2016; Markino et al., 2020). Commonly, the attitudes, social influences, and media depictions of physical features of ‘perfection’ such as ideal thinness or ideal muscularity are strongly cited as risk factors for both males and females. Unfortunately, the median onset of EDs is in the late teens to early 20s (Kessler et al., 2013; Glazer et al., 2021).

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that often manifest during adolescence, typically between the ages of 12 and 25. Common types include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. A combination of genetic, psychological, and sociocultural factors influences the onset of these disorders. Early intervention is crucial, as timely treatment can significantly improve recovery outcomes. Parents, educators, and healthcare professionals should be vigilant for warning signs, such as drastic weight changes, preoccupation with food or body image, and avoidance of meals. Promoting a healthy relationship with food and body image during these formative years is essential for prevention and early detection (Tan et al., 2022).

Treatment and support

A crucial aspect of treating EDs is detecting disorders as early as possible. Reports from practitioners highlight that being more aware of body image and eating concerns is an important part of the treatment process (Novotney, 2024).

Ideally, treatment for EDs involves a multidisciplinary approach, often including a range of licensed and qualified professionals, including a medical practitioner, a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or a psychologist, a nutritionist, and/or a dietitian. These professionals are identified as trained and educated to provide a holistic treatment for an individual that treats affected areas of functioning and equips the individual with the necessary intervention to recover.

An infographic of a treatment intervention is attached to this article for educational purposes. The aim of this infographic is to provide practitioners such as registered counsellors with an insight into a treatment plan that may be applied to a case where an individual suffers from an eating disorder. The summary formulation presented below is for educational purposes and highlights key aspects common in cases of eating disorders. This article and its contents do not serve as a medical or professional mental health opinion or diagnosis. If you or anyone you know might be experiencing any of the points below, we strongly urge you to reach out for support via the helplines and contact centres found at the end of this article.

Role of the registered counsellor

A registered counsellor (RC) in South Africa plays a vital role in early intervention, psychoeducation, and brief therapeutic support for clients with eating disorders (EDs). While RCs do not diagnose or provide long-term psychotherapy, they can provide preventative care, short-term interventions, and referrals to psychologists, dietitians, and medical professionals.

Eating disorders in South Africa are often underreported due to cultural stigma, lack of awareness, and limited access to specialist services. The RC’s role is to create awareness, offer psychoeducation, and provide short-term intervention using evidence-based techniques like Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), psychoeducation, and strengths-based approaches.

Please refer to the infographic attached for the example treatment plan.

Support services and organisations:

  • RecoverySpace.org focuses on promoting recovery from eating disorders. The site provides information on various eating disorders, as well as treatment options and recovery tools & tips. The organization provides support to individuals currently in recovery, and includes coaching (via e-mail and online sessions), as well as regular webinars.

Email: info@recoveryspace.org

  • Eating Disorders South Africa (EDSA) renders a variety of eating disorder treatment services including both in and out-patient services as well as aftercare for eating disorders. More information can be found at edsa.co.za.