Kerry Skinner is an Educational Psychologist registered with the Health Professions Counsel of South Africa. She is passionate about her work and has a special interest in working with children.
Kerry is an enthusiastic therapist who enjoys studying and enhancing her understanding and skills. She has obtained various degrees at the University of Cape Town. These include an undergraduate degree in psychology, psychology honours, a post-graduate degree in Education (intermediate phase) and a masters degree in Psychological Research with Neuropsychology as her coursework component. She was fortunate to train under Professor Mark Solms, a well-known Neuropsychologist and Psychoanalyst at the Stroke Unit at Groote Schuur Hospital. Here she gained insight and witnessed the wonderful miracles and synergy of the body, brain and mind.
She then went on to complete her Masters in Educational Psychology at the University of Stellenbosch. Her dissertation investigated the quality of life of three adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders who were living in a group home in Cape Town. The group home was a pioneering project started and run by Autism Western Cape. This experience opened her eyes to the exciting and complex world of autism, an area that still captivates her attention and interest.
In 2008, she moved back to Johannesburg to complete her internship at Delta Park School. Delta Park is a full-time remedial school where learners receive therapeutic and remedial support and are placed in small classes where they can get individual attention. Here she worked closely with speech and occupational therapists who eagerly shared their knowledge and expertise with her. She also expanded her knowledge about various learning barriers and learnt new skills and techniques to empower the children to rise above their scholastic, emotional and social barriers.
Kerry particularly enjoys play therapy with young children. She believes that through play, children can express their thoughts and feelings, their likes and dislikes, and their hopes and fears. Positive and negative feelings can be expressed and pent-up emotions can be released by playing rather than talking. In this way, children are able to explore and gain control over their thoughts, feelings and actions. This control contributes to a sense of mastery and builds up a child's self-confidence.
Areas of interest:
Child-Centred Play Therapy
Socio-emotional and behavioural problems
Career Guidance
Parental Guidance
School Readiness
Assessments for learning problems, emotional evaluations and subject choices
