Hi, I’m Zaakirah Mohamed Educational Psychologist, I am currently practicing at PsychMatters Family Centre, situated in Bedfordview.

How it all Started

I started my career as a foundation phase educator but, soon realised that many learners are not achieving their full potential because of their emotional, behavioural and academic difficulties.

Many of these learners were not receiving the attention that they desperately needed and I felt that I could make a difference. My field of interest has always been learning disabilities and school readiness.

I completed my honours research on “teachers’ perceptions of LD” and this research has been published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. As a community project, I have developed interventions to aid learners and teachers to function optimally at school.

I’ve worked in a multi-disciplinary team and the professionals in which I interacted with on a daily basis are remedial therapists, a psychometrist, an occupational therapist, a social worker and other psychologists.

I have been exposed to various interventions – rational emotive therapy, solution focussed therapy, BWRT trauma intervention, psychodynamic interventions and narrative therapy. I have  experience with working with patients from diverse backgrounds.

Specialities

My specialities as a senior educational psychologist are individual therapy, play therapy, group therapy, psycho- educational assessments for individuals and groups in school and institutional settings and workshops. I also provide concessions for exams in private and public sector.

Workshops

My workshops have assisted educators to deal with learners with learning and behavioural problems. My most recent workshop – “Neurology and dyslexia” for the Gauteng Department of Education.

I have developed a pro-social handbook for diversion programs for the Department of Social development. Furthermore, I am currently lecturing and supervising psychology students at a tertiary institution.

I am also a registered BWRT practitioner, that focuses on short-term intervention that works effectively for Trauma and other disorders such as depression, anxiety and self-esteem.