Bernice du Plessis: Working in the private sector as an evidence-based therapist for well over a decade, Bernice’s treatment approach is informed by both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-CBT.  Bernice had the privilege of completing her clinical training at SUN which offered an intensive CBT program. Owing to the dearth of continued training in this field Bernice joined and became a board member of the South African Chapter for the Association of Contextual and Behavioral Science (ACBS SA). The ACBS has been instrumental in providing practitioners with the opportunity to be taught ACT by top accredited international trainers including Dr. Robyn Walser, Prof. Tamar Pincus, Prof. Melanie Noel and Dr. Russel Harris to name a few!

Bernice has had the opportunity to present at various local and international conferences and workshops with the focus on using ACT in clinical practice. She has been published in the Journal of Peace and Conflict and the Journal of Child and Abuse and Neglect. Even though she holds a second masters in psychological research from UCT, she much prefers her clinical work.

Bernice’s expertise lies specifically in the treatment of OCD, anxiety related disorders, children who have experienced trauma, tic disorders, trichotillomania, Dermatillomania, ADHD, Autism and working with clients who live with chronic health conditions and persistent pain. She works with children and adults in both English and Afrikaans.

The values which inform her work are adventure, acceptance, authenticity, challenge, curiosity, collaboration, flexibility, humour, humility, independence, and innovation. Bernice is known for forward-thinking and her non-conformist approach to life and work, she is a creative, out-of-the-box thinker with an unconventional approach to both her work and life.

Angeline Stephens, PhD (she/her) is a psychologist working in student mental health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is also an executive member of the Sexuality and Gender division of the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA). Her work is informed by feminist, critical and decolonial approaches to psychological praxis that recognise the interconnectedness between persons and contexts. She is particularly interested in the intersections of gender, sexuality, violence, citizenship, and work with marginalised people. Her current work focuses on trauma and healing from sexual and gender-based violence.

Thabo Msibi is the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning and a professor of Curriculum Studies in the School of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.   He completed his Master of Education degree at Teachers College: Columbia University and obtained his PhD in Education from the University of Cambridge. He has published research in South African and international journals and books and is author of the book Hidden sexualities of South African Teachers: Black male educators and same-sex desire.  He has also co-edited a book entitled Gender, Sexuality and Violence in South African Educational Spaces, with Deevia Bhana and Shakila Singh.  He also is an associate editor in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality in Education.  Prof Msibi is a recipient of a Distinguished Teacher’s Award from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is an NRF P-rated scholar.  He is also the recipient of the Early Careers Distinguished Alumni Award, awarded by Teachers College: Columbia University and the Chen Yidan Visiting Global Fellow, awarded by Harvard University.  Prof Msibi also received the inaugural Human Sciences Research Council Young Scholars Medal for the Social Sciences and Humanities in 2019.  In 2022, Prof Msibi was appointed by the Basic Education Minister to serve on the sixth Umalusi Council.  At the University of KwaZulu-Natal, he also leads the University Staff Doctoral Programme offered via the United States-South Africa Higher Education Network.

Sibongile Mdibi, known as Sbo MaDlamiini, is a mother of three girls and three grandchildren. She is a survivor of GBV. She is the author of the book ‘No one marries to divorce’ and was one of 16 women who contributed to a book of poems, This is how we mend our bones,  which was facilitated by Masoodah Mohamed. Despite the hardships that she has endured, Sbo manage to study and obtained a BA degree in Health Science and Social Services, specialising counselling. Sbo is very passionate about working with families who experience GBV, especially those living in deep rural areas. She offers counselling support and seeks to empower and encourage families to speak out against GBV.

Thenjiwe Mswane is SGBV Strategic Coordinator at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Before taking up this role, Thenjiwe worked as the Education Campaigns Officer at Wits University’s Gender Equity Office (GEO). Thenjiwe has also worked for the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), Livity Africa, Kwa-Zulu Natal Research Institute for TB and HIV (K-RITH), and the Centre for Aids Research In South Africa (CAPRISA). Thenjiwe is the author of the Sunday Times Literary Awards shortlisted novel All Gomorrahs Are the Same (Blackbird Books, 2021) and has written for numerous publications including HOLAafrica! the GALA Queer Archives Queer Realness.