“In my early professional years I was asking the question: How can I treat or cure or change this person? Now I would phrase the question in this way: How can I provide a relationship which this person may use for his own growth” – Carl Rogers

Dr Karen van Niekerk completed her under graduate studies at the University of Stellenbosch and received her Master’s degree (UP) in 1990 and her Doctorate degree (UNISA) in 2000. Apart from formal graduate training, she published an article in the Journal of European Society of Hypnosis in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine entitled: The utilization of cognitive life skills in Hypnosis.

During 1991 she presented the “Cognitive Empowerment Programme” for MEDUNSA’s first year medical students to develop as well as promote the importance of life and study skills.

She completed a second internship at Stabilis (Treatment Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patients).

She also acted as an expert witness for the HPCSA (Health Profession Council of South Africa) in ethical compliance cases. As a diplomat in the Clinical Hypnosis Society she co-presented training courses to fellow registered psychologists and acted as mentor.

She has advanced training in the following therapeutic approaches and is therefore certified as a:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapist
• Dialectic Behaviour Therapist
• Solution Focused Therapist
• Brain Working Recursive Therapist
• Hypnotherapy

Additional training in the following:

• Medical Hypno-analysis, Ego state Therapy, Traditional Clinical Hypnosis: Diplomate status at South African Society of Clinical Hypnosis
• Advanced training in Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Albert Ellis Institute New York
• Cognitive Empowerment programme: Unit of Cognitive Development VISTA
• Adult Neuropsychology: Post Masters Certificate RAU
• Adult Development and Models of person: Post Masters Certificate RAU
• Adult Psychopathology: Post Masters Certificate RAU
• Sexual Health: South African Sexual Health Association
• Clinical Trials and Good Clinical Practice: University of Witwatersrand
• Cognitive Therapy for Mood Swings and Bipolar Disorders: Dr Sara Tai United Kingdom
• Cognitive Behavioural program for Weight Loss and Maintenance: Dr Judith Beck USA
• Traumatic Separation Theory in the treatment of personality disorders: Dr Don Ebrahim United Kingdom
• Treatment of psychoneurosis and Depression: Dr Daniel Zelling USA
• Pain Control and Hypnosis: Prof Margolis and Dr Byrne USA
• Imago Couples Therapy: Institute of Imago Therapy USA
• Treatment of Co-morbid anxiety disorders:  SA Centre for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• Treatment of Post Natal Depression: Post Natal Depression Support Association
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder: SA Centre for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• Child Abuse to Serial Killers: Prof Loftus USA
• Deconstructing Bipolar Mood Disorder: Dr Frans Korb
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for treatment of Social Phobia: SA Centre for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• What’s the fuss about ADHD: Dr Androula Ladikos (Psychiatrist)
• Advanced Solution Focused Therapy: Solution Focused Institute of South Africa
• International Positive Psychology training: Dr Martin Seligman and Dr Mihaly Czikszentmihalyl Berlin Germany
• Psychobiology of Emotions:  Dr Gunther Schmidt Berlin Germany
• Solution Focused Couples Therapy: Solution Focused Institute of South Africa
• Working with most difficult clients: Dr Elliot Connie USA
• Understanding and measuring memory: Dr Sharon Truter Neuropsychology SA
• Strength Based CBT for Vulnerable Clients & Chronic Issues: Dr Christine Padesky London, UK
• Solution Focused Trauma Therapy: Dr Jacqui von Cziffra-Berg
• Managing the ageing mind without losing yours: Dr Mariet van Niekerk (Neurologist)
• Interface between Medicine and Psychiatry:  GMPP Symposium
• Understanding and measuring memory:  Dr Sharon Truter Neuropsychology SA
• Brain Working Recursive Therapy – Advanced Training: Institute of Brain Working Recursive Therapy
• Pathways to Solutions: Dr Matthew Selekman (USA)
• Changing Trauma Flashbacks: Prof Adam Froerer and Elliot Connie, USA
• Treating Insomnia:  Neuropsychology SA
• Basic Psychopharmacology:  Dr Michael Knott
• Brainworking Recursive Therapy:  Transformation Coaching:  Terence Watts UK
• Value-based Care for Psychology:  Dr E. Allers
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT):  Comprehensive Training:  The South African DBT Institute
• Global Pandemic of Depression & Anxiety:  Solution Focused Institute of South Africa
• Conduct Disorder to Antisocial Personality Disorder:  Dr Junald Hassim
• The female faces of evil:  Falkenburg Hospital Cape Town
• Kids Skills in action:  Dr Ben Furman USA