by Web Admin | Oct 22, 2025
Dr Lauren Martin is a counselling psychologist since 2014 and has worked in education for over 12 years. Lauren currently holds the role of Dean at the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP). Lauren has a deep-rooted passion for education and mental health, reflected in her PhD which focused on integrating mental health into learning and teaching practices to enhance resiliency in psychology students. Through various roles, whether Vice Chair for the Research Ethics Committee, an Academic Board member, BBBEE Committee member, or members of HELTASA or WHEN, she strives to contribute to driving positive change in psychology and society.
by Web Admin | Oct 22, 2025
Boshadi Semenya is a clinical psychologist and teaches in the MA clinical psychology programme at the University of South Africa. Boshadi uses ecosystemic, decolonial and other critical theories and qualitative methods to explore multiple, complex processes in which sexual and reproductive issues are embedded.
by PsySSA-Web Support | Oct 21, 2025
I’m an analytical thinker with a profound interest in the forces that shape human cognition, focusing on the mechanisms of decision-making and meaning-making. This academic curiosity is put into practice through a dual role as an academic and the founder of an NGO.
As an academic, I am committed to advancing a nuanced understanding of human behavior, bridging empirical precision with psychological analysis. This approach is anchored in the belief that mental life must be studied in relation to the narratives, embodied experiences, and environments in which thinking occurs, not solely through neurobiological processes.
In my professional capacity as the founder of an NGO, I direct research and curriculum design initiatives focused on the development of executive functioning. My work emphasizes how cognitive capacities are cultivated and constrained in under-resourced communities. This role has allowed me to combine empirical investigation with applied program design, producing interventions that strengthen focus, resilience, and long-term goal orientation in learners.
In addition to my other work, I serve as a mental health coach for a UK charity, providing crucial support to individuals from under-resourced communities.
My contributions lie in creating integrative, ethically informed, and contextually grounded models of mental life. This unique blend of theoretical inquiry and practical application aims to foster a more comprehensive understanding of human cognition while creating tangible, positive change.
by PsySSA-Web Support | Oct 21, 2025
I am currently in my second year of my Bachelor of Arts at Varsity College Nelson Mandela Bay. Throughout my studies, I have developed a deep interest in both the academic and practical sides of psychology. Beyond the classroom, I have gained valuable experience through volunteering and shadowing professionals, which has strengthened my passion for the field.
I am an active member of the PsySSA SD National Mentorship Programme (2025). I am also a part of the information and research team. This opportunity allows me to contribute to research that supports mental health awareness and development among students and young professionals.
My areas of interest include clinical psychology and neuropsychology, with a specific focus on neurodegenerative disorders. I am passionate about being part of treatment planning for individuals facing these conditions, as I believe that too often they are diagnosed but not adequately supported. I am also deeply interested in child development and the importance of educating parents to foster healthier childhoods, which in turn shape better outcomes in adulthood.
My long-term goal is to expand access to psychological care, particularly for individuals and communities who cannot afford therapy but are in great need of it.
