- Counselling Psychologist
- BSocSc Psychology (UCT)
- BSocSc (Hons) Psychology (UCT)
- MSc (London Metropolitan University)
- DPsych (City University London)
- HPCSA Board Certification in Counselling Psychology (South Africa)
Despina focuses on clients who struggle with disordered eating, substance abuse, process addictions, stress, anxiety, phobias, and sexual and relationship issues. Her person-centered approach, sprinkled with a little Gestalt, CBT, DBT, MET, and ACT, recognizes every client as unique in their healing and recovery journey.
Besides her clinical work, Despina has lectured at universities in South Africa, the UK, and the USA; her NPO projects include working with women in the sex trade on South Africa’s streets and singing with the Cape Culture Collective’s Rosa Choir.
Addiction is described by Alcoholics Anonymous as being “cunning, baffling, and powerful.” Those living with a substance use disorder know the pain of this. It is a chronic illness which requires a continued commitment to recovery. Despina’s dedication to addiction management has grown in parallel with the alarming increase in rates of a substance use disorder, as well as the range of addictive behaviours, individuals are struggling with globally. Despina considers creating a safe yet challenging space, in which clients can determine their own path towards healing and greater well-being, as being paramount to their recovery.