CEO: Mental Wellness Initiative

Tracey Kotzen is a trauma counsellor with a special interest in recovery from childhood sexual abuse and sexual violence. She is currently completing her master’s degree in social impact assessment with the University of Johannesburg. In addition, she is a globally certified Trauma Release (TRE) provider and is registered as wellness counsellor with the ASCHP. Tracey is the host of the podcast “Heal Your Mind” and co-creator of Collective Action Magazine, a world first multi-media publication dedicated to advancing the response to gender-based violence.

As the former co-convenor of Pillar 4 (Response, Care, Support and Healing) of the End GBVF Collective Tracey facilitated a commission at the 2nd South African Presidential Summit on Gender –Based Violence and Femicide. Tracey has appeared on Mental Health Matters and The Womxn’s Show, on Cape Town TV.

Tracey is the author of Leadership in Action, a personal mastery development programme for emerging leaders.

Director: African Population Behavioural Research Institute (APBRI)

Robin Julies has a background in Mental Health and a Research Masters in Psychology. She is the director of African Population Behavioural Research Institute (APBRI) – a research and capacity building based consultancy that seeks to bring human-centered approaches to the forefront. Robin has spent a collective 10+ years in mental and public health and conducting research in supporting communities. The majority of her work has focused on shedding light on finding support for people experiencing Intimate Partner Violence as well as helping young people access care to HIV and SRHS. Robin is a grounded individual who understands as a practitioner, care is needed, thus she is motivated to ensure that all delegates feel cared for throughout the Forum.

Programme Manager, Grief Counsellor and Life Coach

Segametsi Ditlhale is a Programmes Manager at the Mental Wellness Initiative, where she leverages her diverse skill set to foster mental health and well-being. With certifications in grief counselling, coaching, hypnotherapy, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Segametsi brings a holistic approach to her work, ensuring comprehensive care for those she serves.

In addition to her professional credentials, Segametsi is passionate about energy healing and is committed to furthering her expertise in the field. She is currently pursuing certification in Trauma Therapy, aiming to expand her capabilities and provide specialized support to individuals dealing with trauma.

Clinical Psychologist

Janine Clayton has worked as a consultant clinical psychologist and mental health specialist for more than 20 years. Her experience and on-going work in mental health, spans across a diverse range of international contexts, focusing on South Africa, and the Africa region.

Key work areas include the integration of mental health interventions and wellness into sexual health programming, building bridges between public healthcare and community health programmes, and improving the design of person-centred and trauma-informed interventions.  Further work includes developing programmes that enhance and strengthen the capacity of  individuals and teams to advance the integration of mental health and wellness interventions into existing initiatives that aim to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations.

Counselling Psychologist

Jenna Bayer is a Counselling Psychologist, Keynote Speaker, and Mediator. She has over a decade’s worth of experience in the education, business, and NGO sectors as well as working with various parastatals and government departments. Jenna’s experience includes individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy; psycho-educational training; support group facilitation; mediation work; and human rights activism.

Jenna has lectured Psychology Honours students in Community and Health Psychology. She is a regular guest on prominent radio and television stations such as 702 Talk Radio, SAFM, Newzroom Afrika and SABC news where she talks about pertinent and topical areas of mental health.

Jenna believes strongly that mental health is a human rights issue. She continues to champion mental health issues and counsel victims of gender-based violence addressing the stigma associated with mental health and advocating against injustices brought about by gender-based violence.

Amongst Jenna’s highlights is her work with WITS RHI Transgender Health Centre in Braamfontein where she helped the transgender community navigate psycho-social and physical challenges; a former member of the steering committee for the Anti-Racism Network of South Africa; and regularly supports the Thuli Madonsela Foundation whose ethos is democracy for all.

Registered counsellor and psychometrist

Jennifer Twigg is a registered trauma counsellor and psychometrist. She has a Masters in psychology and her research focused on family resilience. She is a driven individual who has a passion for community-focused work, and especially working with women. She operates from the position of ‘I am because you are’ and that every person is the expert of their own lives; and if we use our gifts and skills to further enable and/or highlight strengths we can collectively grow.

She thrives in diverse settings and is guided by integrity, ethics, and best practice theory. Her therapeutic work includes individual therapy, group facilitation and psycho-education groups focused on GBV. She meets clients where they are and builds a working relationship that allows clients to empower themselves

Certified TRE Provider and Energy Medicine Practitioner

Ray Erasmus is an Intuitive Somatic Practitioner and certified Global TRE Provider. Her practice is aimed at healing through connection to self, others, nature and Great Spirit. Using a variety of alternative healing modalities spanning Energy Medicine, Breathwork, Meditation and TRE, she is passionate about holding sacred space for those in need of releasing deep trauma. Her intuitive approach and her expansive skill set, enables clients to work somatically, mentally and spiritually through their pain points, empowering them with a holistic self-healing toolkit to navigate their lives.

Intern: Psychology Honours Graduate

Kiara Cowen, has graduated with an honours in psychology and has recently completed a short course titled ‘The Science of Sexology’. She is interested in sexuality and relationships and how these factors relate to holistic wellbeing.

Intern: 3rd  year student – Social Work

Amy Pillay is a third-year Social work student at the University of Cape Town. Part of her studies has allowed her to engage with clients for the past two years. There she gained experience in counselling clients specifically in the psychiatric, GBV and educational environments. Her objective is to guide others through recovery from past traumas and help them to be optimal in their own lives.

Intern: 2nd year student – Psychology and Sociology

Billie Du Plessis is a 2nd year student at the University of Johannesburg. Her majors are in psychology, sociology.

Zumba Instructor

Zumba® class is a combination of dance and fitness moves performed to a background of exhilarating, international rhythms. The Zumba® formula is 70% Latin music and 30% of anything else. A typical Zumba® class will feature merengue, salsa, cha-cha, reggaeton, bachata, samba, soca, hip-hop, bellydance, bhangra. Dance it out with 5-year Licensed Zumba® and Zumba Kids ® Instructor Wendy Klein. The beauty of Zumba is that it is the most diverse dance class . It caters for all age groups and brings out the best in all people. Not only does it bring joy and laughter but also releases stress and anxiety.……#bringonthehappiness.

Trauma-informed yoga Instructor

My name is Mackenzie. I have been a yoga teacher for 5 years. Yoga has been a passion of mine since I was a teenager. I love sharing this beautiful practice with people as I’ve always been naturally drawn to healing and holding space for others. My main focus and intention when teaching is to bring people into the present moment by practicing various breathwork techniques, moving with the breath and being mindful of how you’re moving and most importantly how it feels in ones body. All I want for someone taking my class is to feel good and happy in their bodies, to connect and nourish themselves. With trauma-sensitive yoga I would provide a non-verbal, safe and empowering whole-body practice for trauma survivors; to develop effective, accessible tools and resilience in their trauma recovery journey. Trauma-sensitive yoga only requires the presence of two important themes: safety and empowerment.

The theme of safety covers how the class is set up, how I create my own internal safety as a facilitator and how I would provide a practice that is safe for trauma survivors.

The theme of empowerment ensures that I will always keep the trauma- survivor in mind as the authority of their experiences and their decisions. I would refrain from instructive language and provide plenty of opportunities for the trauma survivor to make choices that are aligned with what they require in that moment to be happy in their bodies, connect with and nourish themselves.