MJC Psychology

About

Misha-Joy Clark is a qualified Clinical Psychologist and psychotherapist with special interest in art therapy, mindfulness, children and adolescents.

Description

I am a Clinical Psychologist based in Fourways. I completed my Masters in Clinical Psychology after a 7 year training programme at the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg). My special interests are in children, adolescents, Mindfulness/meditation and Art therapy. I have completed several additional courses to supplement my degree in the latter areas. I completed my Art therapy training at Flourish (Chicago based art therapy center), where I gained theoretical and practical knowledge. I also have a Community Arts Counsellor qualification from Lefika Arts Therapy Centre (Johannesburg). I have completed a course on Parent-Infant Psychotherapy (Ububele, Johannesburg) and Child Psychotherapy (Institute for Child Psychotherapy, Johannesburg). In addition, I regularly dedicate my time to participate in regular Child Development courses through the Institute for Child Psychotherapy, Johannesburg Parent and Child Counselling Centre, and Ububele; keeping up to date with new research and trends.
My role is to help individuals understand and explore their inner selves, assist with diagnosis of mental disorders and relieve psychological distress. I desire to help individuals become more adaptive in their lives, form healthy relationships with those around them and to ultimately achieve a sense of self, a sense of identity and of peace.

I have special interest in the following areas:
- Arts therapy
- Mindfulness (adults and children)
- Parent-infant psychotherapy
- Children and Adolescents
- Couples
- Long-term Psychotherapy

I was trained psychodynamically, and generally work within this theoretical framework. This means that I work with the client to gain deeper understanding of their own minds, emotions, and how they relate to others. Often we need an ‘other’ to help us understand the strong forces that drive us, which can be confusing.
I am a strong believer that “I relate, therefore I am” (adaptation from John. S. Mbiti), and thus try not to see the individual in isolation and work to enhance the way one relates to others.
I try to hold in mind a holistic view of life and therapy, so as to work with individual needs, rather than utilizing one particular theoretical perspective as a “fix all” solution.