Estelle Kemp

In my home country, South Africa, extreme social, environmental, and economic issues are part of everyday life. By pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology, I will learn to help address some of their effects by developing my research and clinical skills even further, focusing on co-occurring substance use disorders (SUDs) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a crisis counsellor and supervisor at Africa’s largest (and South Africa’s only) helpline, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), and as a lay school counsellor, I have worked with immensely diverse communities and people. Witnessing many of my clients’ focus on the ‘interconnectedness’ of the people, and of the people with nature and ancestors, has inspired me to take a biopsychosocial approach to my own work. I am interested in studying the influences of biopsychosocial factors in the development and treatment of SUDs and PTSD. During graduate training, I will maintain this integrated approach to intervention, assessment, and treatment, knowing that honouring cultural perspectives and individual differences is central to successful outcomes. Through this work, I have also solidified my commitment to clinical psychology and research. As my intellectual curiosity continues to grow, I have gained an appreciation for the importance of the active consumption and integration of research in clinical practice. I aim to support the development of culturally sensitive, flexible and individualized intervention, assessment and treatment modalities.