Dr Jean-Pierre Van Der Berg, DClinPsy

Clinical Psychologist

“I am a Registered Clinical Psychologist with a deep interest in understanding human behavior, emotional processes and the complexities individuals navigate throughout their lives. My approach to therapy is grounded in curiosity, clarity and respect for each person’s unique experiences. I work collaboratively with clients to explore patterns of thinking, emotional responses and behavioral dynamics that may influence wellbeing, relationships and personal functioning. I provide a supportive, structured and non-judgemental therapeutic space where individuals can develop insight, strengthen coping strategies and work toward meaningful and sustainable change. My professional interests include psychological wellbeing, emotional regulation, behavioral patterns, stress, identity and personal adaptation across life challenges.”

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About Me

I am a clinical psychologist with an area of focus in forensic investigative psychology and the founder of The Behavioral Therapist in Pretoria East. My practice encompasses clinical care, psycho‑legal assessment and forensic consulting with a strong commitment to ethical standards and evidence‑based practice. My expertise includes psychopathy, violent offender profiling, organized crime analysis and crime scene reconstruction. By integrating psychological science with forensic methodologies, I provide support to law enforcement agencies, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) as well as legal professionals and correctional systems in offender risk assessment and investigative strategy. I have contributed professional psychological services within investigative and medico‑legal environments including work associated with the Investigative Psychology Section (IPS) of SAPS. Within my clinical practice, I offer structured psychological assessments, behavioral evaluations and professional psychological reports all grounded in recognized scientific principles and individual‑centered care. Alongside forensic consulting, I remain dedicated to compassionate, evidence‑based support for individuals and families navigating psychological challenges in both clinical and legal contexts. I hold advanced certifications from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and RTI International with training in ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) and LiDAR for clandestine grave detection as well as laboratory standards under the National Laboratory Certification Program (NLCP). My professional memberships include the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA), the Criminological & Victimological Society of Southern Africa (CRIMSA), the American Psychological Association (APA), the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and IBRO (International Brain Research Organization. My professional philosophy emphasizes ethical investigation, scientific rigor and the advancement of forensic psychology as a tool for justice, prevention and public safety.

Approach

My clinical approach is grounded in careful assessment, thoughtful formulation and a structured understanding of the psychological, behavioral and contextual factors shaping an individual’s experience. I work from the position that psychological difficulties rarely exist in isolation. Behavior, emotional responses, coping patterns and relational dynamics are understood within the broader context of a person’s history, environment and lived reality. Therapeutic work is guided by recognised scientific principles and evidence-informed interventions, while remaining responsive to the unique needs, pace and circumstances of each individual. Emphasis is placed on clarity, psychological insight and the development of adaptive strategies that are both meaningful and sustainable. Whether working within clinical, forensic or decision-critical contexts, my focus remains on accurate understanding, ethical practice and creating a space that supports reflection, stability and constructive psychological change.

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Basic Information

Pretoria, South Africa

In-person & Online

Services

I deliver specialised psychological services grounded in rigorous assessment, evidence-based therapeutic intervention and structured psychological support across a broad spectrum of clinical presentations and life circumstances. My professional practice encompasses violent-offender profiling, victimology, organised crime, Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISD), Vicarious Trauma Mitigation, specialised unit vetting, individual psychotherapy, comprehensive psychological assessment and behavioral and cognitive evaluation. Interventions are directed at alleviating emotional distress, facilitating adjustment, addressing trauma-related experiences and resolving relational difficulties. Clinical work extends to the management of anxiety, mood disorders, stress, maladaptive behavioral patterns and complex interpersonal dynamics as well as the psychological consequences of adverse or destabilising events. Where indicated, services include structured psychological assessments and the preparation of professional psychological reports within clinical, occupational and psycho-legal contexts. My investigative practice spans malingering and deception detection, insider threat behavioral telemetry, organised crime mapping and remote deception and statement analysis. I focus specifically on the evaluation of intentional fabrication or gross symptom exaggeration to evade prosecution, utilising gold-standard Symptom Validity Tests (SVTs) and personality inventories, including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS) and the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).

Services Offered:

Risk Management
Assessment and planning to identify and reduce the risk of harm to oneself or others, often part of crisis intervention or ongoing care.
Trauma Counselling
Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.
Learn more about Trauma Counselling
Psychological & Diagnostic Assessment
Formal psychological testing to identify conditions, map a person's cognitive and emotional profile, and guide treatment planning.
Learn more about Psychological & Diagnostic Assessment
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, a therapy that uses guided eye movements to help the brain process and integrate traumatic memories.
Learn more about EMDR
Individual Therapy
One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.
Learn more about Individual Therapy
Psychoanalysis
An in-depth therapy that explores unconscious patterns, early experiences, and inner conflicts to produce lasting psychological change, typically involving frequent sessions.
Learn more about Psychoanalysis
Crisis Support & Counselling
Emergency emotional support and counselling for people in acute psychological distress, available at the point of need.
Learn more about Crisis Support & Counselling
Individual Psychotherapy
In-depth one-on-one therapy that explores the deeper roots of a person's difficulties, often drawing on psychodynamic or psychoanalytic models.
Sex Therapy
Specialised therapy addressing sexual concerns such as low desire, performance anxiety, pain during sex, or mismatched needs between partners.
Learn more about Sex Therapy
Psychiatry
A branch of medicine specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, including the prescribing of medication.
Learn more about Psychiatry

Works With:

Adults
Couples
Families
Organisations
Parents
Groups
Individuals
Adolescents
Children

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Child Behaviour
Behavioural difficulties in children, such as tantrums, aggression, withdrawal, or defiance, that signal emotional distress or developmental needs.
Behaviour or Conduct Issues
Persistent patterns of defiant, aggressive, or rule-breaking behaviour in children or adolescents that significantly disrupt home, school, or social life.
Psychosis
A mental state in which a person loses contact with reality, which may involve hallucinations, delusions, or severely disordered thinking.
Learn more about Psychosis
LGBTQI+ Support
The unique psychological experiences of LGBTQI+ individuals, including identity exploration, coming out, discrimination, minority stress, and relationship dynamics.
Medico-Legal
The intersection of psychology and law, involving psychological assessments and expert reports for legal proceedings such as personal injury, custody, or disability claims.
Pornography or Sexual Behaviour Concerns
Sexual behaviours, including pornography use, that feel compulsive, out of control, or are causing distress or harm to oneself or relationships.
Sex Addiction
A pattern of compulsive sexual behaviour that feels out of control and causes harm to one's relationships, work, or well-being.

Professional Title:

Clinical Psychologist
An advanced mental health professional trained to assess and treat a wide range of difficulties, from anxiety and depression to trauma and complex conditions.

Credentials

Registrations

Health Professions Council of South Africa

Clinical Psychologist (PS)

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Qualifications

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

UNISA

Year: 2025

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology

University of South Africa (UNISA)

Year: 2023

Bachelor of Science with Honours

SACAP

Year: 2019

Bachelor of Psychology

University of South Africa (UNISA)

Year: 2021

Bachelor of Applied Social Science (BAppSocSci) in Psychology & Criminology

SACAP

Year: 2018

Memberships

American Psychological Association (APA)

Full Member

Membership: C2505305286

International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy (IAFP)

Full Member

Membership: 1090275

Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA)

Full Member

Membership: Psy7888

International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy (IAFP)

Affiliate Member

Membership: 2010333081

Service Areas

The Behavioral Therapist

In-person & Online

Waterkloof Glen

Pretoria, Gauteng 0010

South Africa

Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria, South Africa