Meet The Team

Psychologists

Charl Davids

Charl Davids Psychology

Mr. Charl Davids holds a MPsych from UWC and is a registered Counselling Psychologist (HPCSA).

Mr. Davids is also a former Youth Programme Manager at Selfhelp Manenberg; Training Department Manager (Trauma Centre for the Survivors of Violence and Torture, CPT) and Principal Psychologist (South African Police Services, CPT). He started his private practice in 2003. He joined UWC's Psychology Department in 2006, where he lectures at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In, 2013 - 2015 Mr. Davids held the position of Deputy Head of the Department of Psychology. He is currently the Deputy Director at the Centre for Student Counselling and Development at Stellenbosch University.

He is involved in a number of NGO’s where he served on various boards with different portfolios. He is the founder of the NGO, Youth Development Specialist Services (YDSS). Mr Davids is also a director of Social Development Practitioners – Pty/Ltd. In addition, he also pursues his own research, with a focus related to substance abuse, sport psychology and issues around identity.

Dr Trevor Moodley

Dr Trevor Moodley

Dr Trevor Moodley holds a PhD in Child Psychology and is a registered Educational Psychologist (HPCSA). He started his private practice in 2003.

Dr Moodley has over 25 years of experience in the field of Education at various levels. He taught for a number of years at primary school, and was then promoted to the position of Head of Department at his school. Thereafter, Dr Moodley was transferred to a district office of the Western Cape Education Department, where he worked as school psychologist for 6 years and was then promoted to the post of senior psychologist for 2 years. He then accepted a post at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, where he lectured educational psychology to student teachers for 4 years.

He joined UWC's Educational Psychology Department in 2014, where he lectures at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He currently is the Head of the Educational Psychology Department at UWC. He is also involved in post graduate supervision of Honours, Masters and Doctoral students completing academic research theses. In addition, he also pursues his own research, with a focus related to educational psychology.

Mr Mark Barends

Mark Barends Psychologist Kimberley

Mr. Mark Barends holds a MPsych from UWC and is a registered Counselling Psychologist (HPCSA). Mr. Barends is a former Coordinator of the Employee Health and Wellness Programme of the Northern Cape Department of Health (2005 to 2006). He was also the Therapeutic Head of Institutions of the Northern Cape Department of Social Services and Population Development (2006 to 2007). He is currently the Managing Director of MSBOR Consultants and Technologies involved in developing various developmental and wellness programmes for youth, wellness programmes for employees and organizations, as well as developing assessment and wellness technologies.

Mr. Barends is the founder of MSBOR. In addition, he also pursues his own research, with a focus related to youth and community development. Mark is based at the Kimberly practice.

Lynn Blackburn

Registered Counsellor Lynn Blackburn

Mrs Lynn Blackburn holds a MPsych from UWC and is a registered Clinical Psychologist (HPCSA).

She completed her clinical training at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital and community service at Mitchell’s Plain District Hospital. She is currently a Clinical Psychologist at Karl Bremmer hospital. She has an eclectic therapeutic approach based on the individual needs of each client. Therapies offered include, psychotherapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, trauma counselling, couples and family counselling and play therapy. She does evaluations of children (emotional and scholastic) and enjoys working therapeutically with the whole family. Before becoming a psychologist Lynn practised as a Social Worker for a number of years.

Registered Counsellors

Lauren Schilder

Registered Counsellor Lauren Schilder

Ms. Lauren Joy Schilder completed her Bachelor of Psychology Honours Degree (B.PSYCH) at the University of the Western Cape in 2007 and is a Registered Counsellor with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). She completed her internship at the TygerBear Clinic at Tygerburg Hospital and thereafter spent a year abroad in South Korea where she taught English at Korean primary school. After returning from South Korea Lauren worked at Youth Development Specialist Services (YDSS, NGO) from 2010 to 2012 as a counsellor and supervisor to psychology honours interns. In 2013, she completed her Masters in Child and Family Studies at the University of the Western Cape and began working as a school counsellor for 3 years at a High School in the Northern Surburbs. In 2016 Lauren joined Community Keepers a NGO that provides psychosocial and therapeutic services to schools which partner them, and is currently employed in the capacity of Office Manager and counsellor at a primary school.

Jade Petersen

Registered Counsellor Jade Petersen

Mrs. Jade Petersen holds a Masters in Research Psychology as well as a Psychology Honours from UWC and is a Registered Psychological Counsellor (Independent Practice) with the HPCSA. Mrs Petersen is a former intern at Youth Development Specialist Services as well as with the Military Psychological Institute. She also worked at The Mudita Foundation and was a school counsellor for four years. She is currently pursuing her registration as a Clinical Psychologist. Towards this end she completed her internship at Tygerberg and Stikland Hospital and her community service at the Department of Correctional Services.

Alene Smith

Registered Counsellor Alene Smith

Mrs. Alene Smith holds a BA Honours in Psychology from UWC and is a registered Counsellor with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. She is currently busy with a Coaching for Development qualification with an intention to offer her clients a more holistic approach in reaching self-actualisation.

Alene’s journey started with a 12 months internship as an intern trauma counsellor at the South African Police services in 2008 followed by 6 months of lecturing First year Health Promotion in schools at the University of the Western Cape in 2009. With a passion for community development, she then embarked on a new chapter and in 2010 she worked at the Youth Development Specialist Services in Bishop Lavis.

Alene has four years of experience in the corporate division as a Management and Development consultant (2011-2014) and has been exploring the NGO sector for the past 5 years with portfolios ranging from Site Manager to heading multiple Prevention and Early intervention programmes. She helds the position of Organisational Health and Wellness Practitioner at James House Child and youth care centre in Hout Bay which holds a staff compliment of 56 members.

She thrives on giving back to her community and to date has volunteered at several organisations including SANCA, Colleen’s House of Hope, YDSS, Buit Tul Aman and Women of Worth. In addition to this, Alene renders pro bona psychological services to the community of Mitchells Plain – a community she holds dear to her heart.

Lameez Abrahams

Registered Counsellor Lameez Abrahams

Lameez Abrahams holds an Honors Degree in Linguistics and Psychology obtained at UWC and is registered with the Health Professions Council of South as a Community Mental Health Counsellor.

Upon completing her first Honours degree in Linguistics, Lameez started working as a Journalist for the Muslim Views community newspaper. She then persued her dream of becoming a counsellor by completing her second Honors degree. Lameez completed her internship at theTygerbear Unit at Tygerberg Hospital and a second internship at Claremont Practice which is a Private Practice. The 2 intern sites allowed her the experience of working with both traumatized children and youth from impoverished communities and dysfunctional families and also with children from healthy functioning families.

While completing her studies at UWC, Lameez was employed as a psychology tutor and a research assistant where she worked in various schools across the Western Cape.

Lameez worked as an Addictions Counsellor for 3 years at the Sultan Bahu Drug Rehabilitation Centre situated in the Cape Flats and since then has been involved in numerous community projects including Mustadafin Foundation, One-to-One, UWC and the Bo Kaap Helpers.

Her work experience in the counselling field allowed her the opportunity to work with individuals of all ages and from all walks of life. Lameez currently volunteers her services as a consultant at the Bo Kaap Helpers, an initiative of the Bo Kaap community.