DIANNE NEL

Tertiary Education, Further Qualifications, Registrations and Work Experience
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND REGISTRATIONS
My interest in psychology began as an undergraduate at UCT in 1980. Whilst studying part-time psychology honours through UNISA (University of South Africa) I was employed as an English teacher and Guidance teacher/school-psychologist in the high school system of the Western Cape. After travelling and living in Canada for three years I returned to enter into the Clinical Psychology Masters Programme at Stellenbosch University (1990). My internship was completed at the UCT teaching hospitals of Valkenburg and Groote Schuur. I was then employed in a five/eighth post at Valkenburg Hospital as well as beginning my own private practice which I have continued to develop ever since. In 2009 and 2011 I trained as a mediator and facilitator with FAMAC as an extension of my interest in couple dynamics. I have also been involved in supervising and teaching part-time in the Master Clinical Programme at Stellenbosch University since 2004. I endeavour to acquire new knowledge and skills. More recently, in 2019, I had the privilege of attending the introductory course to MBT with Anthony Bateman at the Anna Freud Centre in London.
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
1980-1982
Bachelor of Arts Degree in English & Psychology (Political Science, Philosophy and Social Anthropology).


UNISA
1985-1986
Honours in Psychology with an emphasis in family and systems theory.
STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY
1990-1992
Master of Arts (MA) Clinical Psychology.


VALKENBURG
1993-1998
After my internship in 1992 at the UCT training hospitals of Valkenburg and Groote Schuur, I held a clinical post at Valkenburg working with psychotic disorders (bipolar and schizophrenia). In 1995 I attended a conference in Birmingham (UK) training in CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) with schizophrenia.
ACPP
1999-present
The ACPP (Association of Couple Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists) was inspired by the Tavistock (UK) Psychoanalytic Couple Training. The ACPP was founded in 1999 by a group of therapists in Cape Town to promote Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy in South Africa of which I was a founding member. From 2015-2017 I was the Co-Chairperson and I was also part of the committee for drawing up the ACPP code of ethics. I am Co-Trainer in the ACPP psychoanalytic couple training (August 2023 - June 2025).
(Website: http://acpp.org.za/)


FAMAC
2009-present
FAMAC (Family Mediators' Association of the Cape) has its origins in FAMSA Western Cape, where an interest group was formed in 1988 to train mediators in resolving family and couple conflict. I trained as a mediator with FAMAC in 2009 and as a facilitator in 2011. I have been a registered mediator and facilitator complying with their continued professional development ever since.
(Website: http://www.famac.co.za/)
HPCSA
1993-Present
I've been registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa since 1993. My membership number is #36684.


APS
2015-Present
I registered with the Australian Psychological Society to keep in touch with a global psychological society for conferences and training purposes. My registration number is #170810.
PRIVATE PRACTICE
1993-Present
I began private practice in Cape Town in 1993 and in 1998 I relocated to Somerset West where I have been in practice ever since. I have currently been in private practice for
30 years.


ARTICLES PUBLISHED
2005
South African Journal of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (Vol 13, No 1 2005)