MA (Clin. Psych.) (Stell.), MA (Psychology), B.Psych (NMMU)

Registered with the Professional Board for Psychology (HPCSA) in the category Clinical Psychology

Email: d.booysen@ru.ac.za

Tel: +27 (046) 6038507

Office: Psychology Department, room 105.

Notice:

Prospective students interested in pursuing a master’s by thesis (MBT) in trauma-focused research are encouraged to contact me to discuss research options and funding opportunities.

Profile

I successfully completed the degrees B. Psych (Counselling) and MA (Psych) at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and MA (Clinical Psychology and Community Counselling) at Stellenbosch University. I enrolled in the University of Cape Town Clinical Psychology internship programme and completed my internship at Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital, working in the Adult Therapeutic Ward, Child and Family Unit, and Intellectual Disability Ward. My community service period was in the Acute Psychiatric Ward at Dora Nginza Hospital in Port Elizabeth. My clinical work experience ranges from working in tertiary and secondary hospital settings, and at a primary care level. I am also a Ph.D. Candidate at Stellenbosch University. In addition to my academic work, I also manage a small clinical practice. I work from a general cognitive behavioural approach to treat primarily traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression in adolescents and adults. Lastly, I also serve on the Membership Committee of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), and I am the co-chair of the Corresponding Membership Sub-Committee of ISTSS.

Teaching Areas

Professional Practice in Clinical Psychology (MA in Clinical Psychology Programme)

Working with Diversity (MA in Clinical Psychology Programme)

Clinical Psychology in Health Contexts (Evidence-based Practice)

Public Mental Health (Implementation Science) (MA in Clinical Psychology Programme)

Psychopathology (Psychology - Honours)

Psychological Interventions (3^rd year)

Research Focus

My primary research focus is to investigate whether empirically supported trauma-focused treatments such as prolonged exposure therapy (PE) can effectively ameliorate PTSD among persons residing in contexts of ongoing adversity characterised by poverty and increased levels of trauma exposure. In addition to effectiveness, I also explore whether empirically supported treatments such as PE can be implemented in a feasible and acceptable manner in low resource settings. Secondary research areas are public mental health in South Africa and the development, contribution, and relevance of clinical psychology as a profession in South Africa.

Current Research Project(s)

My current research work is an international collaboration on the implementation of PE for Primary Care (PE-PC) at a Primary Care level Trauma Centre. Based on a Type-1 Effectiveness-Implementation Trial, the primary aim of the project is to investigate whether prolonged exposure therapy for primary care (PE-PC) is an effective treatment for PTSD among adults at a primary care level. A secondary aim is to ascertain whether PE-PC for PTSD is a feasible treatment among trauma counsellors, and if PE-PC is an acceptable treatment among adults at a primary care level in the Cape Town area.

Research Experience

Booysen, D. D., & Kagee, A. (In press). Double burden of treating traumatic stress in low-and middle-income countries: experiences and perspectives of non-specialist health workers in South Africa. South African Journal of Psychology.

Johnson, S. & Booysen, D. D. (In press). “I just want to live”: A case study exploring separation abuse among women in heterosexual relationships. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 31(1).

Booysen, D. D., & Kagee, A. (2020). The feasibility of prolonged exposure as a treatment for PTSD in low- and-middle income countries: a review. European journal of psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1753941

Booysen, D. D., & Kagee, A. (2020). Implementing prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD in a context of ongoing adversity: A clinical case study. Clinical Case Studies, 19(4), 258–269. 

Haine, P. & Booysen, D. D. (2020). Life after training: Professional experiences of early career clinical and counselling psychologists in South Africa. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 30(5). 475-483

Booysen, D., D. & Naidoo, A., V. (2016). On becoming a psychologist: The experiences of the unsuccessful applicant. New Voices in Psychology, 12(1).

Booysen, D. D. (2019). Implementing an Evidence-Based Trauma Therapy for PTSD in a Resource Constrained and Multicultural Context. European Society of Traumatic Stress Studies Conference, Rotterdam Poster Abstract Book, European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 10:sup1, 1613837, DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2019.1613837  

Booysen, D., D. (2012). A psychobiography of Friedrich Nietzsche. An unpublished master’s dissertation. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth.

National and International Conferences

• Booysen, D. D., & Kagee, A. Implementing an Evidence-Based Trauma Therapy for PTSD in a Resource Constrained and Multicultural Context. 35th Annual meeting of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 14-16 November.
• Booysen, D. D., & Kagee, A. Feasibility of a prolonged exposure program for trauma survivors in South Africa: A brief report. The 16th European Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) conference in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 13-16 June 2019.
• Booysen, D. D., & Kagee, A. A brief trauma treatment programme for survivors of trauma and torture: A pilot study. Symposium Presentation at the 1st Pan-African Psychology Congress held in Durban, South Africa, 18 - 20 September 2017     
• Booysen, D. D. Psychobiographical research. Paper presented at the South African Association of Counselling and Development in Higher Education (SAACHE) held in Cape Town, South Africa, 7 September 2015

Supervised Research

1. D.
2. P. (2020 -) Life after training: Experiences of early career psychologists in South Africa. Doctoral degree in Psychology. Co-supervisor. (In progress).

MA (by thesis and or coursework):

• Haine, P. (2018-2019). life after training: professional experiences of recently qualified clinical and counselling psychologists in South Africa. Coursework MA. Sole supervisor. (Completed).
• Johnson, S. (2019). Separation assault in South African heterosexual relationships. MA by thesis. Sole supervisor. (Completed).
• Mahe-Poyo, P. (2018-). Experiences and perceptions of persons living with a mental disorder receiving mental health treatment at a primary care clinic in the Eastern Cape. Coursework MA. Sole supervisor. (Completed).
• Duiker, A. (2019). Exploring the experiences of psychology honours graduate students, who are not in any professional training programme for psychology: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Sole supervisor. (In progress).
• Munishvaran, K. (2020- ) Clinical Psychologists’ experiences of treating traumatic stress at a tertiary psychiatric hospital in the Eastern Cape: A qualitative research study. Sole Supervisor. (In progress).
• Ndebele, Z. (2020 -). The effectiveness of prolonged exposure therapy for the treatment of PTSD and ideation among university students. Sole supervisor. (in progress).
• Slabert, M. (2021- ). The effectiveness and feasibility of online prolonged exposure therapy for traumatic stress among university students. Sole supervisor. (in progress)
• Arendse, C. (2021- ). Family members’ experiences of living with and supporting a family member with psychosis. Sole supervisor. (In progress).

Last Modified: Tue, 12 Jan 2021 14:22:35 SAST