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International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience | ISSN: 1522-4821 | Volume 20
November 26-27, 2018 | Los Angeles, USA
Psychiatry, Mental Health Nursing and Healthcare
World Summit on
Applied Psychology, Psychiatry and Mental Health
International Conference on
&
Experience of my own developmental process while working in the field of psychology over a period of more
than 30 years
C
ompleted my Master’s in Psychology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 1972. Started working as a clinical
psychologist at Correctional Services in Pretoria at the age of 22 where I obtained my experience knowledge and skills
“hands-on” basis. There was no specific training to work in this specialized environment-it was just expected that you know
how to work with all kinds of offenders. Work entailed the provision of psychotherapy to all kinds of people e.g. robbers, rapists,
pedophiles, murderers, serial killers and those that needed to be executed. Provision of interesting examples of cases that I deal
which will be shared. I was appointed the first female Brigadier (Senior Management) in a male-dominated environment and
worked in a managerial position for 17 years until my retirement in 2010. I did my research for my PhD on Sexual Offenders.
My thesis was “The Development and Implementation of a Treatment Programme for Sexual Offenders”. Much of the work and
research did for this, now assist me in doing forensic work and sentence recommendations for the Courts as well as assisting
victims of rape. After retirement in 2011, I decided to continue working as a clinical psychologist in the private sector on a
fulltime basis. Here my work mainly focuses on dealing with many different issues such as anxiety, depression, couples and
family therapy and stress management on a daily basis. My work in these areas involves the provision of coping skills and
management techniques. I can illustrate how I deal with some of these issues by providing examples or techniques that work for
me. Due to work constraints, I have no time for extensive research. I sincerely hope that my experience will assist others when
dealing with mental health issues in their own working environment.
Biography
Lorinda Bergh completed her Master’s Degree in 1974 and her PhD in Psychology in 2002 at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. She worked for more than 30
years in the Department of Correctional Services and retired as a Brigadier (Senior Manager) in 2009. Assisted in the compilation of the Uniform National Guidelines
for Sexual Assault Offenders, presented papers nationally and internationally and published in the Russian Journal of Psychiatry, wrote chapters for a book that
addresses “Violence in South Africa” and the other for “International Perspectives on Sex Offender Assessment and Treatment: Theory, Practice and Research”.
lorinda.bergh@telkomsa.netLorinda Brink Bergh
Medipark Medical Centre, South Africa
Lorinda Brink Bergh, Int J Emerg Ment Health, Volume 20
DOI: 10.4172/1522-4821-C5-023