Cognition & Co Podcast: Psychology in South Africa Cognition & Co

For the past 2 years, this podcast has been so much fun to create and produce, however as I step into my professional training I need to focus my attention on my studies. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey and I hope that you've learned something for these interactions with other professionals. If this podcast has helped or assisted you in any way, please reach out and let me know - info@cognitionandco.co.za or send us a message on social media.
- Dylan Benyon
Episode List:
1. Student Experience - Monique Van Hattum - SMU
2. Applications & Referee Reports
3. Student Experience - Adrian Campos - NWU
4. Social Media & Psychology Students
5. Research; Where to Start?
6. COVID-19 & Mental Health - Role of Psychologists
7. Cyberpsychology & Online Interviews
8. Burnout & Selfcare for Psychologists and Students
9. Student Experience - Vhonani Maboga - UL
10. Neuropsychology & UCT Neuropsychology Programme
11. Masters Selections; For Loved Ones
12. Psychometry
13. Registered Counselling
14. Masters Mentorship Network - Part 1
15. Masters Mentorship Network - Part 2
16. Cycle4MentalHealth
17. UNIBS Counselling Psychology Internship
18. Body Acceptance & Mental Health
19. Phelophepa Healthcare Train

In this episode of the Cognition & Co Podcast we talk to Counselling Psychologist Lekha Daya about her time on the Phelophepa Healthcare Train as Acting Manager of the Psychology Department. 

The Transnet Foundation started the Phelophepa Healthcare Train initiative in 1994; the two globally recognized flagship primary healthcare trains are fondly nicknamed ‘the miracle trains’ and ‘trains of hope’ by communities across South Africa. For many, the arrival of the Phelophepa trains in their communities signals the arrival of ‘good, clean, affordable, quality healthcare’. The name ‘Phelophepa’ means ‘good, clean health’ in Sotho and Venda and the news that Phelophepa is on the way, brings hope and anticipation to many of South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens.

For more information on the Phelophepa Train, please visit the Transnet Foundation website or contact Sharlene Jadoo via email at Sharlene.Jadoo@transnet.net

Lekha Daya's Bio:

I’m Lekha Daya, a work in progress and a human being before anything else. I am a Counselling Psychologist and mental health advocate focused on creating social change and disrupting the accessibility gap in mental healthcare. I recently vacated the position of Acting Head of Psychology for the Transnet Foundation on the Phelophepa II Healthcare Train. I am currently Senior Psychologist at Panda (a technology company focused on mental healthcare through an app called Panda). I did a Bachelor of Social Sciences (majoring in Psychology and Criminology) at UKZN, a BA Honours in Psychology at (previously known) NMMU, and a Masters in Counselling Psychology at Rhodes University. I completed my professional training at Rhodes as well as at PsyCaD at UJ. I have been a Registered Counsellor with the HPCSA since 2013 and have had the opportunity to apply Psychology within the NGO and public health sector, the corporate wellness sector and the education sector over the past 10 years. When I'm not working I enjoy spending time in nature, hiking, spending time with friends and family, listening to podcasts, and squeezing in some yoga where I can!

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lekha-daya-1a52967b

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In this long awaited episode of the Cognition & Co Podcast; Psychology in South Africa we take a look at body acceptance and how one young lady is single-handedly normalizing the human body, one photograph at a time. Sara Puhto is a 25 year old Psychology student from Finland, who grew up in Singapore. She came to South Africa in 2016 to study an undergraduate degree (BA General) at the University of Pretoria. She decided to further her studies in Psychology by getting an Honours degree at SACAP. 

She currently runs a social media page on Instagram relating to body acceptance and self acceptance. She attempts to bring forth acceptance, neutrality, and/or appreciation towards different topics related to bodies and body image, such as; body hair, hip dips, bloating, tummy fat, cellulite, stretch marks etc. Additionally, in the past she had placed focus on how posing, angles, editing and lighting change how individuals look in photos and relate this to “posing on instagram” versus how people look naturally in real life, without the posing. She did this to normalise how people look in real life because she feels like posing on Instagram can sometimes distort our perception of how bodies look naturally without posing.

Make sure you follow SaggySara on Instagram as well as on her TikTok page for more information on the work she does promoting body acceptance. 

Instagram: @saggysara
TikTok: @saggysara 

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Ever wanted to know what was covered in a Counselling Psychology Internship? Here's your chance to find out more about one of the top Counselling internships in South Africa. In this episode we're joined by Nicole Docherty from the Unit for Professional Training and Service in the Behavioural Sciences (UNIBS) at the University of the Free State. 

Nicole Docherty is a Counselling Psychologist, currently working at the Unit for Professional Training and Services in the Behavioural Sciences (UNIBS) at the University of the Free State and in private practice in Bloemfontein. Nicole works with individuals of all ages, providing therapy and psychological assessments for a wide range of psychological needs. Nicole works not only with various life challenges and pathologies, but also aids individuals in fostering growth and development. In her space time Nicole enjoys writing poetry, running and spending time with friends and family.

UNIBS serves a tri-functional purpose at the University of the Free State. The first, and most prominent of these, pertains to the training and delivery of professionals in the field of psychology – at the registered Counselling Psychologist level. The training is designed in accordance with the prescripts set by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and ensures that the core competencies (as identified by this professional body) are inculcated.

The second and third functions of this unit, namely public service and research, predictably result from the above mentioned primary role and result in the delivery of specialized psychological services to the wider community and the generation of relevant and eminent research and publications. A high priority is placed upon evidence-based and research-supported interventions.

In support of these overarching functions, the unit engages in robust international benchmarking partnerships as evidenced by an internship exchange programme entered into with the KU Leuven in Belgium and numerous other well-established international research collaborations and endeavours.

Since the beginning of 2014, this unit is one of only two internship sites accredited by the HPCSA for the training of Counselling Psychologists in the Free State and Northern Cape Province.

Contact information:

Any queries to Nicole Docherty: dochertyNL@ufs.ac.za

Applications to Prof Adelene Grobler: groblerA@ufs.ac.za

The Cognition & Co Podcast is now available on all major Podcast Streaming Apps so make sure you subscribe in order to keep hearing our content. Follow our social media pages by clicking the links below;

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#CYCLE4MENTALHEALTH

Cognition & Co is extremely proud to announce that we will be partnering with and supporting the Cycle4MentalHealth team as they raise funds and awareness for mental health in South Africa. Manuel van der Neut & Joshua McQuirk will be embarking on a 1600km journey across South Africa by bicycle to raise funds for the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG).

In this episode we'll discuss the entire initiative and how it came to be. Manuel and Josh give us a look into the journey ahead of them, as well as tell us more about their training regime and the challenges they've faced along the way. We cover everything from losing teeth to chamois cream!

Follow the Cycle4MentalHealth journey here.

Donate to the BackaBuddy page here.

Find out more about SADAG and the cause here.

Reach out to SADAG by calling this toll-free number: 0800 567 567

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From the minute Cognition & Co had launched, our goal was to safeguard the mental health of the Psychology students of South Africa. In 2019, we launched our Masters Mentorship Network in an attempt to create an actual intervention that could motivate, inspire, and support any student that would be applying for a professional Masters degree at one of the prestigious South African universities.

In this episode, we talk to Liesl Morris and Amy Davison, a mentorship pair from the the 2020 version of the Masters Mentorship Network. We'll discuss their experiences having been a part of the programme and what they took away from it. 

Liesl Morris is a Registered Clinical Psychologist currently working in a practice in Salt Rock on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal. Liesl completed her BA Psychology and BA Honours Degrees at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). She then also completed her Masters in Clinical Psychology at the University of Johannesburg. Liesl went on to complete her internship at the Townhill/Fort Napier Psychiatric and Forensic Hospitals in Pietermaritzburg, KZN. Thereafter she had the opportunity to do some contract lecturing for the University of KwaZulu Natal before completing her Community Service at the Department of Correctional Services. Here she had the opportunity to assist in introducing and developing Psychological Services Department within the Bethal Management Area in Mpumalanga. Liesl is passionate about providing clients with holistic and individualised treatment and has a particular interest in trauma and loss, substance use and addiction, mood and anxiety disorders and personality disorders.

Amy Davison is a Psychology honours graduate and recently completed her Psychometry Practicum through the University of Johannesburg. She is honoured to be a Mentorship Facilitator with Cognition and Co for this years Masters Mentorship Network. Soon, Amy will be joining the therapy team at a high school working as a Psychometrist where she hopes to inspire, be inspired, to nurture and to grow. Amy aspires to continue her development in the field of Psychology, using her passion and determination as a Psychometrist to eventually study further and register as a Psychologist.

To find out more about the initiative, visit our website by clicking here.

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast so that you don't miss the next episode in this series. In the next episode we will be talking to participants in the 2020 Masters Mentorship Network, and find out more about their subjective experience and how the initiative was beneficial for them.

The Cognition & Co Podcast is now available on all major Podcast Streaming Apps so make sure you subscribe in order to keep hearing our content. Follow our social media pages by clicking the links below;

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Visit our website for more information on our services and offerings - www.cognitionandco.com