About
Donna du Plooy
Welcome! I am a registered Educational Psychologist in private practice in Stellenbosch, South Africa. I obtained my Bachelor and Master's degrees from Stellenbosch University. After completing my internship training at the University's Centre for Student Counselling and Development, I completed my professional board exam and registered as an Educational Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in 2007.
I have 13 years of experience in the field, having worked as an Educational Psychologist in both the tertiary study environment as well as a school environment where I work closely with children, parents, teaching staff, and other professionals committed to the care and development of young individuals. I offer academic, emotional, social and behavioural support to children and adolescents and work closely with their families and other relevant professionals.
I have extensive experience in the administration and interpretation of psychometric assessments which are useful in the process of supporting children and adolescents successfully. I particularly enjoy assisting pupils with subject-choices, career and study decisions, applications for accommodations/concessions, as well as supporting those who experience barriers to learning and learning challenges.
I works closely with parents, teachers, and other professionals in order to ensure that pupils are supported effectively both within and outside the classroom. Parent consultations are aimed at optimizing parenting skills and deepening the knowledge and understanding of children's academic and emotional needs within the home, and in educational and social environments. In addition to supporting children and families, I am also committed to teacher support and professional development.
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Qualifications and Work Experience
Qualifications
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MEd (Psych) - Stellenbosch University
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Master's Thesis focused on exploring the factors which contribute to the development of adult resilience.
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Internship:
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Centre for Student Counselling and Development, Stellenbosch University
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Unit for Educational Psychology, Stellenbosch University ​
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BEd (Hons) - Stellenbosch University
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PGCE - Stellenbosch University
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BA (Ordinary) - Stellenbosch University
Work Experience
Donna has more than a decade of experience working within the field of Educational Psychology field.
She began her career at the University of Stellenbosch, where she was employed in her capacity as an Educational Psychologist at the Centre for Student Counselling and Development. Donna provided psychological services to both prospective and registered students, administered psychometric assessments, offered psychotherapeutic support and provided supervision to a number of intern psychologists.
In addition, she has worked for many years in a school environment, where she has offered emotional and academic support, including psychometric assessments, to children of all ages. Donna heads up the school's academic support unit and in so doing, works very closely with pupils, teachers, and the wider system.
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Donna works in private practice in Stellenbosch and is a contributing author to the University's CPDWell program for mental health practitioners across the country.
Areas of Special Interest include, but are not limited to:
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Learning challenges and difficulties (barriers to Learning)
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Executive function & dysfunction
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ADHD/ADD and impact on learning and emotional well-being
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Psychometric Assessments - subject choice, career guidance, psycho-educational and accommodations/ concessions
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Emotional wellbeing and support, especially related to functioning within school and social systems (eg coping with/managing bullying, cyberbullying, anxiety, depression, loss & grief, divorce).
Professional Development
In addition to being a contributing author to the CPDWell program for mental health practitioners across South Africa, Donna actively pursues and engages in her own continuing professional development activities in order to ensure that her professional work is supported by the latest knowledge and developments in the field. ​
