Donita Rodrigues
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Whether you're navigating the emotional and physical changes of parenthood, feeling overwhelmed by the demands of caring for a newborn, or silently carrying the weight of sadness, you don’t have to do it alone. We will work together to uncover the parts of you that need healing, create space for acceptance, and nurture your growth toward new possibilities.
Mindful Parenting - Individual and Couples Psychotherapy and Coaching
I’m passionate about working with parents - including expectant parents - to navigate parenting challenges, that may be complicated by parental health needs (e.g. anxiety, depression with peripartum onset, trauma, complex PTSD, ADHD, life transitions), children's distress (e.g. separation anxiety, medical complications), marital separation, divorce, or complicated grief / bereavement.
My Approach
We are all unique and I love working with my clients to create a space where they feel truly heard and contained. At the heart of my approach is a collaborative connection. I believe in the transformative power of working together to understand and shift the patterns that may be holding you back.
The range of therapeutic approaches I use include: Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness interventions, Solution Focused, Attachment Theory and Insight-focussed Parenting. But beyond the therapeutic approach, it is about the connection we build, the insights we uncover, and the way in which we can use our insights to guide and inform your most precious relationships, with your spouse, family and children.
Training, qualifications & experience
Following undergraduate training in Psychology and Criminology, Donita travelled to London where she worked as a spinal homecare assistant before settling into the role of Clinical Support Worker at an in-patient child psychiatric facility in London. Upon returning to South Africa, Donita continued her clinical focus and interest in working with children by registering as a Trauma Counsellor with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in 2012. During this time, she provided trauma counselling and support to abused women and children at the Saartjie Baartman Centre in Manenberg, Cape Town.
In 2014, Donita completed her Masters in Clinical Psychology at the University of Cape Town (UCT). During this time, she was trained in various modalities of psychotherapy as well as psychological assessment through the UCT Child Guidance Clinic. Furthermore, she completed her master’s thesis, titled, “My kids are then my life: Mothering in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence,” and presented these findings at the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Health Professionals (IACAPAP) Conference.
During her clinical internship, she was based at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. Working across in-patient, out-patient and community health settings, she offered individual, family, and group psychotherapy, as well as neuropsychological assessments to adolescents and adults with psychiatric conditions.
She later served as a Community Service Clinical Psychologist for the City of Cape Town. In these specialised health clinics, Donita offered psychological services to clients with psychiatric conditions and co-morbid medical conditions, such as HIV and/or Tuberculosis.
In the education setting, Donita established the Student Wellness Department at Cedar House Independent School in Cape Town, offering psychotherapy services, psychometric assessments and classroom interventions for students with scholastic/psychological difficulties. She also implemented mental health awareness programmes into the educational curriculum.
Following this, Donita entered into private practice. During this time, she also worked as a Sessional Clinical Psychologist for the Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatric Service at Valkenberg Hospital, providing criminal capacity assessments to inform court proceedings and psychiatric treatment for child offenders.
Donita has since established a full-time independent practice where she continues to work psychotherapeutically with adults, couples and families.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
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The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£120.00 - £140.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Please reach out to discuss my fees; I am happy to work with you to keep therapy affordable.
When I work
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