Stellenbosch Clinical Psychologist

ABOUT ME

I started my career as an occupational therapist and worked as an OT for six years in South Africa, the UK and Germany. Later I followed my passion and qualified as a clinical psychologist. Since then I have been in private practice, first in Pretoria and since 2015 in Stellenbosch.  For five years I had the priviledge to work as part of the multidisciplinary team at the Neurodiversity Centre, where I gained invaluable experience and a passion to work with autistic and other neurodiverse individuals.

As a psychotherapist I feel very honoured to work with people from diverse backgrounds, who trust me with their pain, hurt, disappointments, but also their small steps to acceptance, recovery and big triumphs. No problem is too small or too big to bring to therapy. I am so grateful to learn from every patient or client on their journey – I can really say that I love my job! Having trained in many different modalities over more than 30 years, I adapt the therapeutic process to each person’s specific need. Drawing on many years of clinical experience with different cognitive, psychodynamic, systemic and somatic approaches, my main aim is to understand the lived experience of each individual and find solutions for difficulties that life throws at all of us. 

I believe in addressing every dificulty with kindness and compassion, and offer therapy in a private and comfortable space in a beautiful old house in the centre of town. 

Sometimes there are no ‘solutions’ other than sitting with what is. I am committed to be fully present when you experience unbearable loneliness, grief, and pain. No masking or, pretending is needed, and oppressive positivity is not necessary.

Working in a university town where I was a student myself, I am acutely aware of the challanges faced by many students, ranging from loneliness, academic and social pressure, lack of motivation, relationship issues, burnout, depression and high levels of anxiety. Nobody should suffer in silence. 

There are two very fluffy and soft cats, who may grace you with their presence.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • B Occupational Therapy – University of Stellenbosch
  • BA Hons (Psychology) – University of Pretoria
  • MA Clinical Psychology – University of Pretoria
Karin Huyssen Clinical Psychologist

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

  • Somatic Experiencing Practicioner (SEP)™ •  www.traumahealing.org
  • Systems and Family Constellations facilitator, trainer and supervisor •  www.familyconstellations.co.za
  • Accredited DISCO user (Diagnostic Interview for Social and Developmenal Disorders) • www.neurodiversitycentre.co.za •  www.autism.org.uk
  • Neurolinguistic Programming NLP Practitioner (specialising in working with trauma)
  • Tomatis Consultant (Level 1) (not practicing, but can provide informationa and refer on, if incidcated)
  • Ongoing training in working with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
  • Sensory Integration Theory (I worked in this field as an OT with children with neurodevelopmental conditions)

Special Interests

  • Autism and all related concerns
  • Ego State Therapy
  • Systemic and Inner Parts Constellations
  • Trauma (acute/ developmental/ complex/ intergenerational)