Divisions
Society for Educational Psychology of South Africa (SEPSA)
Objectives of the Division:
The SEPSA Division of PsySSA aims:
- To co-ordinate professional and research activities in the field of Educational Psychology.
- To promote the theory, practice and research of Educational Psychology.
- To promote liaison between educational psychologists and other personnel such as guidance counselors/teachers, working directly in the field of educational psychology/education support services.
- To promote the relationship between educational psychologists as well as with other registered psychologists, other professions, public and private institutions and the public at large, and in particular to play a role in influencing policy relevant to the practice of educational psychology in education in South Africa.
- To combat abuses in the field of Educational Psychology.
- To promote the general interests of its members.
- To collect and disseminate information pertaining to Educational Psychology.
- To reconcile historically oppressed groups.
- To serve the needs and interests of all South African people.
Description of what Educational Psychology is and how they are assisting the community:
Educational psychology focuses on learning and development across the life span and in multiple contexts. Like other psychologists, educational psychologists are trained to promote healthy functioning and to evaluate, diagnose, and treat pathologies of behaviour, mental processes, emotions and personality. Educational psychologists often work with clients with primary or co-morbid presentations that include disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood or adolescence; cognitive disorders; mental disorders due to medical conditions; substance-related disorders; mood disorders; anxiety disorders; sexual and gender identity disorders; eating disorders; sleep disorders; adjustment disorders; and personality disorders. They may also deal with somatoform disorders, fictitious disorders and impulse control disorders. Less often, some educational psychologists work with clients who experience schizophrenia; other psychotic disorders; and delirium, dementia and amnestic disorder.
Different educational psychologists (as is the case with all categories of psychologists) will have developed different areas of interest in their practices. Some areas of activity for educational psychologists, within their specialised focus on learning and development, may include the following:
- Promoting psychological well-being
- Treating psychopathology
- Promoting learning
- Facilitating development across the life span
- Psychotherapy
- Family therapy
- Group work
- Community interventions
- Parental guidance
- Couples counselling
- Marital therapy
- Play-therapy
- Parent infant psychotherapy
- Case management
- Psycho-educational assessments
- Psycho-legal assessments
- Vocational assessments
- Examination concession assessments
Assessing, diagnosing and treating a wide variety of psychological issues, such as:
- Problems first diagnosed in infancy, childhood or adolescence (for example, learning difficulties, bed wetting, behavioural problems and anxiety)
- Problems due to medical conditions
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders; such as separation anxiety, post-traumatic stress and generalised anxiety – Problems of adjustment
- Sexual problems
- Gender identity
- Eating disorders
- Sleep disorders
- Personality disorders
- Relationship issues
- Bereavement and loss
- Reconstructed families
- Divorce
- Sexual abuse
- Cognitive handicap
- Autistic spectrum disorders
- Problems with reading, writing, spelling, maths and comprehension
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorders
- Developmental delay
- Study skills
- Attachment and bonding
- Family conflict
- Step-parenting
- Sexual abuse
- Post-natal depression
Incentives for Divisional membership
What do members receive by becoming members?
In addition to the PsySSA membership benefits, the benefits below are included:
- Free access to PsyTalk, the Society’s Newsletter
- Free access to the South African Journal of Psychology, the major scientific psychology journal in Africa
- Free online access to a number of Psychology journals published by SAGE
- Reduced fees for workshops and PsySSA activities, all of which are CPD-accredited
- Reduced fees for the Annual National Psychology Congress, the flagship for psychology as a science and profession in South Africa, now in its 22nd year
- Free Ethics Committee advice and resolution of issues
- Free PsySSA domain e-mail addresses and electronic alerts of issues affecting psychology
- The most cost-effective Professional Indemnity Insurance available in the market, designed exclusively for psychology professionals
- Free listing and regular referrals through the PsySSA Directory of Psychology Professionals in Private Practice and through the PsySSA office
- Networking activities throughout the country and abroad
- Negotiating for better work conditions and fees for psychology professionals
- APA member rates for APA convention registration, APA convention regsitration, APA databases, and APA books and journals
This is a Division of PsySSA advocating and focusing on the interest of Educational Psychologists in PsySSA.
Details of costs:
| Full Member | Associate | Affiliate | Students |
| R100.00 | R100.00 | R100.00 | R20.00 |
Profile of Executive Committee:
Chair: Dr Elizabetha JM Matthews
Lizette Matthews (PhD), Educational Psychologist in Private Practice in Irene, Pretoria. She completed a PhD (Educational Psychology), M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) (Cum Laude), M.Ed. (Counselling), B.Ed. (Educational Psychology), BA and THED (Cum Laude). She is a member of various organisations, including HPCSA, PsySSA, SACNA, the Centurion Psychology Forum and is a founder member of EPASSA. She was the principal of School of Achievement, served on various committees, as well as on the International Advisory Council of the International Alliance for Invitational Education.
Vice-chair: Mr Henk Mostert
Henk Mostert is a Registered Educational Psychologist at Grantley College, Parktown. He is in part-time private practice as well. He holds the following qualifications: MEd (Ed Psych)(Wits); MEd (Psychology of Education)(Cum Laude)(UJ); BEd(Hons)(Ed Psych)(UJ); BEd (Hons) (Educational and Learning Support)(UJ); HED (RAU).
Secretary and Treasurer: Mrs Linda De Rooster
Linda De Rooster – Educational Psychologist in Private Practice in Pretoria. Fields of interest: medical-legal assessments, medical negligence assessments, expert witness in court, psycho-educational assessments with children with learning difficulties / developmental delays / emotional problems. Member of PsySSA, member of EPASSA, associate member of SACNA, member of the SA Medico-Legal Society.
Additional member: Dr Mtandiswe Patriot Noqamza
Dr Noqamza attained a PhD (Community Psychology) at the University of Zululand. He is a registered Educational Psychologist with many years experience, first as a teacher in the Eastern Cape (more than 20 years); then as Educational Psychologist at the KZN Department of Education and the Eastern Cape Department of Education. He has been in full-time private practice in Port Edward and Bizana since 2006.
Additional member: Ms Trishana D Soni
Additional member: Mrs Philanda Denysschen
Philanda Denysschen is currently a Registered Educational Psychologist at Grantley College, Parktown. She holds the positions of Deputy Principal and the Head of the Support Unit at the School. She holds the following qualifications: MEd (Ed Psych)(UJ); BEd (Hons)(Ed Psych)(UJ); PGCE (UJ) and a BA General (RAU).
Student member: Mrs Natalie Pretorius
Division Contact details:
Chair: Dr EJM Matthews lizette@psychologyworx.co.za
Vice-Chair: Mr Henk Mostert henk@ianopperman.com
Secretary: Mrs Linda de Rooster info@lindaderooster.co.za
Treasurer: Mrs Linda de Rooster info@lindaderooster.co.za
Additional member: Dr Patriot Noqamza noqamza@telkomsa.net
Additional member:Mrs Philanda Denysschen philandak@hotmail.com
Additional member: Ms Trishana Devi Soni tdsoni@uj.ac.za
Student member: Mrs Natalie Pretorius natalie.pretorius@gmail.com
Upcoming Events
Please view the events calendar on the homepage for more details.
