Hello, my name is Gina Sim and I am a Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the Board of Healthcare Funders.
I primarily treat adolescents and adults with moderate to severe psychological issues, and who are in need of therapeutic support. I have a special interest in working with adolescents in the areas of depression, anxiety, behavioural problems, suicidality and self-harming behaviours.
My approach to therapy is warm and open, and can be either non-directive or structured - the details of each specific case will determine the most suitable approach.
I served my community service as a Clinical Psychologist working for the Department of Correctional Services. During this time, I served at the Maximum Security Centre at Westville Prison seeing juvenile (youth) and adult offenders. As part of my duties, I provided supportive and rehabilitative therapy for the offenders.
My experience includes lecturing ethical considerations in psychology, psychological assessment and psychopathology at the South African College of Applied Psychology. I have also worked with Boys Town, providing psychological services and group therapy to adolescents.
I completed my internship at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health working at King Edward Hospital and King Dinuzulu Hospital Complex, where I conducted psychotherapy, and clinical assessments, and worked within the district hospital and psychiatric hospital.
I have also had experience working at numerous NGOs including as a Lifeline counsellor, and have presented psycho-educational talks at various mental health awareness forums, including the KwaZulu-Natal branch of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG KZN).
My previous research interests included intimate partner violence and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).
Multicultural approach
My training and experience has led me to value and practice multicultural therapy which aims to address the concerns of clients whose race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, income, disability status, or other social factor(s) fall outside of the majority or outside the dominant social group.
The approach centres on the idea that these factors play a role in how a person relates to others and experiences the world, and then seeks to factor those realities into their treatment.