About Me
Jamie Gardiner
I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Pretoria, majoring in Psychology and Criminology. My interest in psychology was sparked during my abnormal psychology classes, where case discussions deepened my curiosity about human behaviour and mental health.
I went on to complete my Honours degree at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). Reflecting on this time, I recognise that opportunities to build connections with peers and lecturers were limited, particularly during the COVID-19 period. In hindsight, I have come to deeply value engaging with others and thinking critically in collaborative spaces.
While applying for further studies, I sought practical experience and discovered a passion for working with children. I joined The Star Academy in Johannesburg, supporting children on the autism spectrum, and progressed into a Senior Team Lead role. This position involved working closely with parents and multidisciplinary teams, further strengthening my interest in child-focused work and the meaningful impact it can have.
In 2023, I took a gap year to broaden my perspective, travelling to Dublin, Ireland, and later relocating to Paarl in the Western Cape. This period allowed me time for reflection on my purpose and motivation for practising as a psychologist in South Africa. While in Paarl, I volunteered at Bloemendaal Clinic, where I developed an interest in group therapy and gained insight into the value of community-based care.
I completed my Master’s degree in Community-Based Counselling Psychology at Wits. My training included psychological assessment (child, adult, and career), counselling and psychotherapy, psychopathology, ethics, research, and community psychology. I completed my internship at PsyCaD, a training and service unit at the University of Johannesburg, which provides accessible psychological support, including counselling and career guidance, to students and the broader community. During this time, I worked collaboratively with colleagues, gained in-depth practical experience, contributed to the management of a 24-hour crisis line, and consolidated my process-oriented work in ways that meaningfully shaped my therapeutic approach.
After completing extensive academic training, supervised practical experience, volunteer work, my degrees, and internship, I am now registered as a Counselling Psychologist with the HPCSA.
My Approach
My approach is grounded in being fully present with each client in an authentic, supportive, and non-judgemental way. I aim to meet you where you are, with openness and acceptance, creating a space where you can speak freely about anything that feels important to you, without fear of judgement or dismissal. I also value the uniqueness of each person’s context, recognising that your experiences, background, and environment all shape how you see yourself and the world around you.
I believe that the relationships we form throughout our lives, particularly in childhood, play an important role in shaping who we become. These early relational patterns often continue to show up in our present-day thoughts, emotions, and interactions. Within a safe and supportive therapeutic space, built collaboratively between psychologist and client, we can gently explore how these patterns appear in current life and how they may contribute to challenges within oneself and in relationships with others.
Through this process, we work together to build deeper insight and understanding, while also fostering self-compassion and acceptance. As you become more comfortable with yourself, learn to trust your inner experience, and strengthen your confidence, life’s challenges can begin to feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
My approach is eclectic, drawing on a range of therapeutic modalities, including person-centred therapy, psychodynamic therapy, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), to ensure the process is tailored to your individual needs and goals.