Who is Dr. Erika Hitge?
CV Erika Hitge
31 Congo Rd, Emmarentia 2195 082 336 3374 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
EDUCATION
2015 PhD (Psychology) University of North West
The Well-being of South African Psychologists: A Mixed Method Study
2006 MDiac (Play Therapy) UNISA
1991 Hons Psychology, University of North West
1989 B.A. Psychology, University of North West
WORK EXPERIENCE
2007 – date Private Practice
Provide psycho-education, counselling and psychometric services in private practice.
2017 – date Academic work
o Work as research supervisor and external evaluator for Master’s degree and PhD candidates in psychology and social work at NWU
o Part of ethics research proposal approval committee at NWU from 2020
o Contract lecturer in Psychopathology on 3rd year and 4th year level, research marking and module lead of 4th year psychology modules Trauma and Ethics at Pearson Institute for Higher Education (2019-2020)
2012 – 2019 Family Court
o Appear as expert witness for children’s court cases
2011 – 2020 Guild Cottage
o Deliver assessments of Guild Cottage children aged 5 -18 re school placements based on IQ and scholastic ability
2007 – 2020 Emmarentia Primary
o Provide counselling, play therapy, parental guidance and psychometric testing for school assessment on children aged 6 -13; coaching of teachers
2012 – date Nkosi’s Haven
o Worked with HIV positive mothers and children doing parental guidance, psycho-education and counselling
o Appeared in court as expert witness re cases of child abuse and abuse of vulnerable adults
o Executed psychometric testing for correct school placement of children aged 5-18
o Currently only involved with scholastic assessment
2015-2019 Ekuphuleni Trauma Centre
o Ran training on child abuse assessment, play therapy techniques, rational emotive behaviour therapy, body mapping
o Consulted in child abuse cases
o Expert witness in child sexual abuse enquiry
EAP Experience
2015 ICAS, Universal Health,Company wellness solutions and Lifeassist
o Provided telephone counselling for Employee Assistance Programmes-currently only Lifeassist
2019 to date Lifeassist
o Provide in person counselling services
2021 to date Company Wellness solutions
o Provide in-person counselling services
2007 – 2019 Continued Professional Development Presenter
o Originated and presented training on Play Therapy, Child Abuse Assessment, Couples Therapy, Rational Emotive Therapy, Divorce, Positive Psychology, Bullying and self-care (accredited by Health Professions Council of SA).
2010 – 2013 Melville Montessouri
o Delivered Play Therapy for children aged 6 and younger on behavioural problems, divorce, new developmental phases, new school year adaptions, relationships
o Assessed underachievers scholastically
o Provided guidance to teachers on managing “The Difficult Child” and understanding child behaviour
2007 – 2013 Childline
o Worked as play therapist, dealing with adult survivors of child abuse and providing therapy for children in abusive situations during 2007
o Supervised Childline Counsellors (monthly team building), special training: transference and cross- transference in sessions, self-care, mindfulness
o Provided individual sessions for team members on work or personal relationships, caring for the carer
2013 - 2020 South African Women’s Federation (SAVF)
o Handled counselling and parental guidance in cases of children removed from family homes due to parental drug abuse and child abuse
o 2007 – 2012 Child Abuse Treatment and Training Services - JHB Child Welfare
o Co-Guide in 2 strong team for Sexual Offender Groups
o Provided professional and personal coaching to employees of CATTS, enhancing professionalism and personal well-being
o Public training was offered on play therapy, child abuse assessment and couples therapy
2009 - date PRO BONO WORK
o Deliver guest appearances as speaker at Emmarentia Primary, Melville Montesourri, Randburg Reformed Church and Unika Primary School on family relationships, divorce handling, suicide, ADHD and more
o Recruited and trained volunteer counsellors in counselling techniques and debriefing for the Alzheimers’ Society (2009 – 2012)
o Assisted in establishing Alzheimers’ support groups in suburbs, attended group meetings to monitor progress and keep volunteers on board
1997 - 2006 Hitge, Van Heerden & Associates Management Consultants & Trainers
REGISTERED with Services SETA as service provider and accredited trainer based on Employment Equity Act and Labour Relations Act for change management, organisational development and recruitment and selection (Focus, EEA & LRA)
o Appointed for a government tender to restructure the department of Sport to merge Sport Council and Dept of Sport
o Originated productive job descriptions, executed psychometric testing, handled recruitment agencies and personal headhunting, also for CEO recruitment
o Won government tender at the Office of the Public Service Commission for the roll-out of a diversity programme
o Secured a contract with the SA Development Bank’s Employment Equity Dept. for a targeted Recruitment and Selection Training Programme
o Employed by G4 International Security Company for diversity management intervention and improving communication on all management levels
o Ran “African Renaissance” diversity workshops for the ATKV nationwide and in Namibia
o Handled assessment and moderation for The Assessment College
1996 - 1997 Hoechst Group, Recruitment and Training Manager
1991 - 1996 Dept of Trade and Industry, HR Practitioner
ACHIEVEMENTS
2020 Published book “Boosting workplace wellbeing”
2018 Article published in SAJP (South African Journal of Psychology) on the Wellbeing of SA Psychologists
2017 Article published in LITNET on the Wellbeing of Psychologists
www.litnet.co.za/riglyne-vir-die-bevordering-van-die-welstand-van
2010 – 2021 Appeared on Radio Sonder Grense on topics e.g. date rape drugs, teachers
and bullying, rape, ADHD, early childhood development, discipline methods for children, COVERT19
2016 Chairperson at 22nd SA Psychology Congress of a session and accredited speaker on
“Wellbeing of SA Psychologists”
2016 Presented talk to residents of Randburg on “Suicide in Teenagers” after 2 local
teenagers committed suicide
2016 Contributed to “There is Hope after Klara’s Death” in Melville and Northcliff Times
2014 Received letter of appreciation from Dr’s John and Clare Morrissey for personal
Master’s degree work used at Liverpool John Moore’s University, USA
2014 Rooi Rose contributor: www.rooirose.co.za/die-lee-nes
2012 Speaker at 3rd Annual Alzheimers’ SA seminar “How to Cope as a Caregiver”
2010 Achieved 100% for Ethics part of HPCSA Board examination as Psychometrist
2010 STAR paper article nominated by “Make Abuse Disappear, on-line Accountability
Tool” as exceptionally ethical article
www.iol.co.za/lifestyle//family/baby-toddler/tug-of-war-625530
2009 Approached by WITS’ Occupational Therapy Dept to deliver talk on “How to build a
relationship with the Child Client”
2006 Obtained Certificate of Competence from Huguenot College for Play Therapy
1989 - 1995 Received 4 Achievement Rewards from Department of Trade and Industry for
quality of work on “Diversity management” as Change Agent
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
2018-date COMENSA
2017 Executive committee of PSYSSA (Psychological Society of S A – (RCP Division)
2017-2020 SAAM (South African Association of Mediators)
2011 – date PSYSSA
2020 to date - APA-American Psychological Association
BHF Practice number: 0810000349151
PRC 00008575 (Registered Counsellor) since 2007
PMT 0027944 (Psychometrist) since 1991