Benoni Therapy and Assessment Centre

Fellyn Collins

Counselling Psychologist

Qualifications: B.A. Psych. (WITS), B.A. Psych. Hons. (Cum Laude) (WITS), M.A. Couns. Psych. (WITS)

Fellyn is a WITS trained Counselling Psychologist, who completed her internship at Epworth Therapy and Assessment Centre, which included placement at a children’s village, a child welfare organisation, and a high school. She particular enjoys working with children (aged five and over), adolescents and adults who face various emotional, social, behavioural, and adjustment concerns or those who would like to gain a deeper understanding of themselves. She has a special interest in Art Therapy, whereby an individual’s difficulties can be expressed, understood and worked through with the use of various art materials. An individual is not required to be artistic in order to benefit from this form of therapy and it often allows the individual to let go of any inhibition within the therapeutic space. Therefore, in her experience it appears to be a useful medium to use with children and adolescence who are somewhat closed off to therapy.

Hela Keir

Drama Therapist

Qualifications: MA Drama and movement therapy (London), M-Tech drama (Cum Laude) (TUT), PGCE (TUT)

Hela trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. She has experience working with a wide range of people from children to the elderly. She specialises in working with people who respond to a more non-verbal approach to therapy such as people with dementia, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autistic spectrum disorder, global delay, physical and learning disabilities, those who have been abused, children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, as well as those working creatively on self-improvement. Hela works with groups and individuals. She is passionate about the community and also develops programmes to uplift and skill various children across South Africa.

Stefania Romanini

Counselling Psychologist

Qualifications: B.A. Psych. (Cum Laude) (UNISA), B.A. Psych. Hons. (Cum Laude) (UNISA), M.A. Couns. Psych. (UP)

Stefania obtained her Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology through the University of Pretoria and completed her internship at Holy Rosary School and at Itsoseng Psychological Clinic in Mamelodi. Her training and practical experience has allowed her to develop a diverse foundation and she portrays a strong work ethic and strives to be empathic and accessible to her clients in order to provide them with a safe space in which they feel comfortable to explore their emotions. She has a particular interest in working with children, adolescents, and young adults and her practical experience has allowed her to develop and refine her skills in the areas of individual therapy as well as assessment methods. She provides assessments, including cognitive, emotional, subject and career choice, as well as IEB and GDE concessions. She makes use of an integrative approach that takes into account the needs of the client as each person is unique. Her approach to therapy is that it should enable the client to feel comfortable while engaging in the therapeutic process. Some of the approaches that she draws upon includes: Gestalt Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-centered Therapy, Systemic Therapy and Narrative Therapy.

Mechelle Browning

Counselling Psychologist & Director of Benoni Therapy & Assessment Centre

Qualifications: BSocSci Psych (Cum Laude) (UFH); BSocSci Psych Hons (Cum Laude) (UFH); MSocSci Couns. Psych. (Cum Laude) (UFH)

Mechelle is a UFH (East London) trained Counselling Psychologist who completed her internship at the Psychological Services Centre in East London. She has a particular interest in working with children (aged five and over), adolescents and adults who face various emotional concerns including depression, anxiety, grief, adjustment difficulties, and relationship difficulties. The philosophy guiding Mechelle’s work with others is that of a person-centered and collaborative approach – the attempt to understand and value an individual’s world as he/she experiences it. She is comfortable working from an integrative approach in therapy, drawing on her experience in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Narrative / Collaborative Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Solutions-Focused Therapy, and Play Therapy to best meet the needs of those she is privileged to share a therapeutic space with. Mechelle is also able to provide a range of assessments, including cognitive, emotional, developmental and career assessments. She is additionally a trained and registered user of the Griffiths III Developmental Measure - a measure used to assess the developmental rate of young children.

Anca Oprea

Receptionist

Anca is the ‘face and voice’ of Benoni Therapy & Assessment Centre, assisting the various therapists with administrative functions and helps to keep our centre in good working order. She is currently studying her Honours in Psychology, and in her spare time she enjoys playing piano and reading.