Mrs Samukelisiwe Okonkwo, MClinPsych

My professional career began in the field of social work, where I worked extensively in HIV/AIDS care, trauma support, parenting interventions, and Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP). This early experience grounded my understanding of the social, relational, and systemic factors that shape psychological wellbeing. I later qualified as a Clinical Psychologist through the University of Cape Town (UCT). My clinical training included placements at Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital and Malmesbury Correctional Services, where I gained experience working with severe mental illness, complex trauma, forensic populations, and multidisciplinary teams within high-containment settings. I currently practice as a Clinical Psychologist at Mediclinic Milnerton (117 Annex), offering psychotherapy to adolescents and adults experiencing trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, personality-related difficulties, adjustment challenges, and work-related stress. My work is integrative and evidence-based, drawing from CBT, DBT-informed interventions, trauma-focused approaches, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. My therapeutic approach is reflective, structured, and collaborative, with careful attention to formulation, containment, and meaningful long-term change.