RCP Workshop – Opening Your Own Practice as a Registered Counsellor or Psychometrist

by Web Admin | Oct 29, 2025 | Division of Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists (RCP), Events and Announcements, Psychology Events, PsySSA Announcements

RCP Workshop – Opening Your Own Practice as a Registered Counsellor or Psychometrist

Hosted by the PsySSA Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists (RCP) Division

Join the PsySSA Division of Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists (RCP) for a free online workshop on Opening Your Own Practice as a Registered Counsellor or Psychometrist.

Workshop Details:

Date: Monday, 17 November 2025
Time: 18:00 -19:30
Online Via Teams

RSVP by 14 November 2025.

Contact Information: rcp@psyssa.co.za

About the Workshop:
Are you ready to take the leap into independence? Whether you’ve just passed your board exams or you’re ready to transition from employment into private practice, this workshop is designed to give you the confidence and practical know-how to launch your professional journey successfully.

Join Shaazia, an inspiring Psychometrist, and Chantel, a passionate Registered Counsellor, as they share their expertise on building a thriving practice from the ground up.

Why attend?

Learn the step-by-step process of registering with HPCSA, BHF, and medical aids
Understand what to include in your professional stationery to build credibility
Discover marketing and advertising strategies that attract the right clients
Gain clarity on the administrative essentials for running a smooth practice
Walk away with practical tips, templates, and guidance to fast-track your setup
This workshop isn’t just about theory — it’s about real, actionable strategies to help you start strong and shine in your professional journey.

Click Here to RSVP

Shaazia Patel

Presenter

Shaazia is a registered Psychometrist with extensive experience and knowledge in the assessment-related field. She is actively involved in various community volunteer projects. She is currently in the process of creating a project for pro-bono career assessments for those who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Shaazia is passionate about sharing her knowledge and helping others and has been a mentor for the PsySSA Student Division National Mentorship Programme for several years. Her love for animals and helping people is leading her to attain her Master’s qualification to work within the Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy field.

Chantel Retter

Presenter

HPD Workshop – Living positively with diabetes: The importance of mental health

by Web Admin | Oct 29, 2025 | Events and Announcements, Health Psychology (HP), Psychology Events, PsySSA Announcements

HPD Workshop – Living Positively With Diabetes: The Importance of Mental Health

Hosted by the PsySSA Health Psychology Division (HPD)

Join the PsySSA Health Psychology Division (HPD) for a free CPD-accredited online workshop on Living Positively With Diabetes: The Importance of Mental Health.

Webinar Details:

Date: Friday, 14 November 2025
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Platform: Online via Teams
1 General CPD Point

About the Workshop:

Despite many advancements, diabetes remains one of the most challenging health conditions in the world today, impacting individuals, families, societies and economies. In this webinar, we want to shine the light on the mental health aspects of living with the condition, by giving an overview of the main mental health challenges those living with diabetes experience. Then, we hope to propose an alternative approach to managing mental health challenges in positive psychology interventions, including self-compassion, meaning making and managing perceptions of the condition. In the webinar, we hope to not only share the latest research, but also provide practical examples of interventions that could assist those living with diabetes.

Learning Outcomes:

Gain a better understanding of diabetes, it’s mechanisms, prevalence and challenges.
Explore the mental health challenges in managing diabetes.
Learn about positive psychology concepts, as well as research on effectiveness of positive psychology interventions.
Reflect on the development of positive psychology interventions on constructs such as self-compassion, meaning -making and illness perceptions to improve mental well-being of those living with diabetes.

Click Here to RSVP

Dr Sonja Mostert

Presenter

Dr Sonja Mostert is a registered Research Psychologist currently employed as a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pretoria. She is passionate about the field of health psychology and her research is mainly focused on health literacy and improving the mental health of people living with diabetes. She is a member of the Health Psychology Division of PsySSA and teaches several undergraduate and postgraduate modules including health psychology to both undergraduate medical students and previously to honours psychology students. Her primary research areas include topics within health psychology, specifically health literacy; mental health and diabetes; health behaviour change; online health information use and the role of psychological factors in chronic conditions.

Prof Elmari Deacon

Presenter

Prof Elmarí Deacon is a registered Clinical Psychologist and currently employed at the NWU as full professor in Psychology and acting Director in the School of Psychosocial Health. In her career as academic, she has lectured several modules and supervised 27 master’s and four PhD students to completion. She is a C2 NRF rated researcher and has published 28 articles. She is also a member of the Health Psychology Division of PsySSA.

Prof Deacon is the principal investigator of the SMILE with diabetes project, investigating psychosocial variables in adjusting to diabetes management behaviours. Positive Psychology constructs are very prominent in her research and interventions development, as these have proven to assist those living with diabetes.

RCP Workshop – Understanding Medical Aids and ICD-10 Codes in South Africa

by Web Admin | Oct 29, 2025 | Division of Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists (RCP), Events and Announcements, Psychology Events, PsySSA Announcements

RCP Workshop – Understanding Medical Aids and ICD-10 Codes in South Africa

Hosted by the PsySSA Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists (RCP) Division

Join the PsySSA Division of Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists (RCP) for a free CPD-accredited online workshop on Understanding Medical Aids and ICD-10 Codes in South Africa.

Webinar Details:

Date: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Time: 18:00 -19:30
Platform: Online Via Teams
1 General CPD Point

RSVP By: 10 November 2025
For more information, contact: rcp@psyssa.co.za

About the Workshop:

This workshop will provide mental health practitioners with an understadning of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), and its relevance to the South African context. Practitioners need clarity on coding requirements, practical implications for clinical documentation, and how these changes intersect with medical aid submissions.

Key Focus Areas:

Introduction to ICD-10: structure, changes, and benefits.
Relevance of ICD-10 for registered counsellors in South Africa
What practitioners need to know for claims and reimbursement
Common challenges and practical tips for coding in line with ICD-10
Q&A session to address participant concerns

Why attend?

Understand ICD-10 and its benefits
Learn how medical aids are adapting
Gain practical guidance for claims and coding

Perfect for Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists who want to stay compliant, confident, and up to date.

Takeaway:

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of ICD-10 coding practices and practical strategies for navigating medical aid requirements in South Africa.

Click Here to RSVP

Rekha Kangokar Rama Rao

Presenter

I am a counselling psychologist, committed to fostering psychological wellbeing, resilience, and growth across diverse populations. My practice is guided by empathy, ethical responsibility, and a person-centered approach, which allows me to support clients in navigating life transitions, relationships, and personal challenges with care and integrity.

Alongside my clinical work, I hold a strong interest in the evolving relationship between psychology and artificial intelligence. I am particularly drawn to examining how AI can be ethically integrated into mental health support, education, and research, while also addressing critical questions about bias, human identity, and the role of technology in shaping relationships. This dual focus enables me to contribute to conversations at the intersection of human development and technological innovation.
By combining counselling psychology with an interest in AI, I aim to advance approaches that remain human-centered, compassionate, and grounded in evidence-based practice. I am passionate about the future of psychology in an increasingly digital world and committed to ensuring that advances in technology continue to reflect the values of care, ethics, and human connection.

SASCP Webinar – Beyond Diagnosis: Reimagining Therapy Through a Neurodiversity Lens

by Web Admin | Oct 29, 2025 | Events and Announcements, Psychology Events, PsySSA Announcements, The South African Society for Clinical Psychology (SASCP)

Beyond Diagnosis: Reimagining Therapy Through a Neurodiversity Lens

A free CPD webinar for Psychologists

Hosted by the PsySSA The South African Society for Clinical Psychology (SASCP) Division

Webinar Details:

Date: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Time: 18:00 – 20:00
Platform: Online via Zoom
2 General CPD Points

About the Webinar:

This webinar introduces mental health practitioners to the foundational principles and clinical applications of Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy approach that challenges deficit-based and pathologizing frameworks in understanding neurodivergent individuals. Participants will explore the evolution of the neurodiversity paradigm, differentiating between the neurodiversity movement, the paradigm itself, and affirming therapeutic practices. The session will highlight the shift from a medical model rooted in normalisation and symptom reduction toward a strengths-based, empowerment-oriented framework that values neurological diversity as a natural part of human variation. Through discussion of common neurodivergent presentations such as emotional dysregulation, sensory sensitivities, and communication differences, the webinar will equip clinicians to better recognize and support neurodivergent clients within affirming and trauma-informed frameworks. The session also examines comorbid presentations including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and eating disorders, with specific attention to concepts such as autistic burnout and the overlap between trauma and neurodivergence.

Overview
This workshop offers psychologists an opportunity to engage with the emerging neurodiversity paradigm — a transformative shift in how we understand and work with diverse minds. Moving beyond traditional deficit-based models, the neurodiversity framework recognises that neurological differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and others reflect natural variations in human cognition rather than disorders to be corrected.

Challenging psychologists to rethink long-held assumptions about normality and disorder. Rooted in the principles of neurodiversity, it explores how we can dismantle deficit-based narratives and create spaces where every client’s way of being is valid and valued. This session offers a critical, evidence-informed look at how adopting a neurodiversity-affirming stance can transform not only therapeutic relationships but the ethical landscape of mental health itself.”

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Sameeha Elias

Presenter

Sameeha is a Counselling Psychologist in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. She consults with children aged 5+, adults and families from diverse backgrounds. She has a special interest in neurodiversity, particularly neurodivergent affirming therapy with kids and adults, and runs workshops training practitioners in this approach. She is also a research supervisor at SACAP and a Guest lecturer at Stellenbosch University for student psychologists in the Child and Family Interventions module.

Click Here to Register

ACT in Practice – Live 1 Day Workshop

by Web Admin | Oct 28, 2025 | Collaborations, CPD Opportunities, Events and Announcements, Practice and Techniques, Professional Development, Professional Resources, Psychology Events

ACTivate Tour 2025 in partnership with PsySSA

Curious about ACT? Start online tomorrow before the tour begins!

Join our Online ACT Workshop tomorrow, 29 October — the perfect opportunity to explore Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) before the full tour begins!

Attend the online workshop on its own to get a feel for the approach — and if you decide to join an in-person city workshop, the amount you paid for the online session will be credited toward your in-person registration.

Already booked for an in-person city? Great news — your online session is included in your registration!

Whether you’re curious about ACT or ready to deepen your practice, this is your chance to learn, reflect, and connect with peers across South Africa before the tour begins.

About the workshop:

This workshop provides an in-depth introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Content covered includes the Hexaflex, the Choice Point, Effective Usage of Metaphors, Structuring ACT Sessions and Adapting ACT for Depression and Anxiety

Mr Werner Teichert

Presenter

Werner Teichert is an international speaker and clinical psychologist based in Sydney, Australia. He was trained in ACT under Steve Hayes, Russ Harris, Robyn Walser, and Kirk Strosahl. Werner has trained healthcare professionals across South Africa, Namibia, New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

Click Here to Register Now!

ACTivate Tour In-Person Workshops

Trauma-Focused ACT (TFACT)

(Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg)

This 3-day workshop will be a Trauma Focused ACT deep-dive Into evidence-based interventions for trauma and related conditions. The in-person workshops will take place in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. Bonus access to the ACT for Depression and Anxiety (on-demand) (16 CPD) courses are included.

Online: 29 October ’25
Durban: 12 – 13 Nov ’25
Cape Town: 14 – 15 Nov ’25
Johannesburg: 20 – 21 Nov ’25

Cost: R7500
PsySSA Members: R6000 (Coupon: TF2025)

What to expect

3-day workshops focused on real-world application
Evidence-based tools you can use immediately with clients
Up to 40 CPD Points
Trauma Focused ACT track includes bonus access to pre-recorded on-demand ACT courses

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Click Here For More Info & to Register Now!

ACT for Depression & Anxiety

(Bloemfontein)

This 3-day workshop introduces practical Acceptance and Commitment Therapy strategies for working with depression and anxiety. Learn how to target avoidance, rumination, and worry with evidence-based skills you can apply immediately in clinical practice.

Online: 29 October ’25
Bloemfontein 17 – 18 Nov ’25
Cost: R5500
- PsySSA Members: R4750 (Coupon: ACT2025)

What to expect

3-day workshops focused on real-world application
Evidence-based tools you can use immediately with clients
Up to 40 CPD Points
Trauma Focused ACT track includes bonus access to pre-recorded on-demand ACT courses

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Click Here For More Info & to Register Now!

20 Annual Peace, Safety and Human Rights Memorial Lecture

by Web Admin | Oct 22, 2025 | Events and Announcements, Psychology Events, PsySSA Announcements

20 Annual Peace, Safety and Human Rights Memorial Lecture

The Institute for Social and Health Sciences in the College of Human Sciences, Unisa, in collaboration with the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) and the Pan African Psychology Union (PAPU) cordially invites you to the 20 Annual Peace, Safety and Human Rights Memorial Lecture.

This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Honourable Dr. Grace Naledi Pandor, with a response from Prof. Saths Cooper. The lecture, titled “Fascism, Deepening Inequality and Genocide: 21st Century Threats to Freedom and National Determination,” promises a thought-provoking engagement with some of the most pressing global challenges of our time.

Venue: ZK Matthews Great Hall
Date: 30 October 2025
Time: 11h00-14h00 (registration at 10h30)

For inquiries, please email: Munene Nkuna: nkunapm@unisa.ac.za
RSVP: 20 October 2025

Honourable Dr Grace Naledi Pandor

Keynote Speaker

Prof Saths Cooper

Respondent

Click Here To RSVP

Click Here For More Information