Degrees Held
- Bachelor of Arts Degree: University of Durban-Westville (1997)
- Honours (Psychology): University of Durban-Westville (1998)
- Masters Degree (Clinical Psychology): University of Durban-Westville (Thesis awarded with distinction) (2000)
Research Interests
- Developmental Trauma and Complex Trauma reactions
- Child and Adult Psychopathology
- Psychological Assessment in the South African Context
Teaching Interests
- Psychology Practice
- Psychological Assessment
- Ethics in Clinical Assessments
- Health Psychology
Selected publications
- Beekrum, R; Valjee, S and Collings S.J (2011). An emic perspective on the dynamics of non-fatal suicidal behaviour in a sample of South African Indian women. South African Journal of Psychology. 41(1), 2011, pp. 63-73. https://doi.org/10.1177/008124631104100107
- Collings, S.J; Valjee, S.R. & Penning, S.L. (2013): Development and preliminary validation of a screen for interpersonal childhood trauma experiences among school-going youth in Durban, South Africa, Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 25:1, 23-34. https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2012.722552
- Collings, S.J; Penning, S and Valjee S. (2014). Lifetime poly-victimization and posttraumatic stress disorder among school-going adolescents in Durban, South Africa. International Journal of Psychiatry.17:5. https://doi.org/10.4172/psychiatry.1000133
- Valjee, S.R & Collings, S.J. (2015) Convergent validity assessment of a brief screen for poverty with South African adolescents. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, Volume 43, Issue 5, pg. 875-880. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2015.43.5.875
- Valjee, S.R & Collings, S.J. (2016). The meaning of developmental trauma: validation of a brief screen for developmental trauma appraisals. South African Journal of Psychology. Volume 46, Issue 3, pg. 338 – 350. https://doi.org/10.1177/0081246315617888
- Valjee, S.R; Penning, S.L & Collings, S.J. (2018). Complex posttraumatic reactions among adolescents exposed to domestic violence during childhood: Prevalence, risk factors, and treatment considerations. Child Abuse Research: A South African Journal, 19(1): 71-81. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-f13e58dbb
Community Engagement
2019 – current, Mind Genesis – Development and Implementation of Screening Assessment – Primary and Secondary School Learner’s experiencing Learning Difficulties
Department of Basic Education (KwaZulu-Natal) – Development and Piloting screening assessment battery – learning difficulties/potential. Feedback to stakeholders – Department of Basic Education – Umlazi & Illembe District. https://www.education.gov.za/
2019 – current, Mind Genesis – Development and Implementation of School Violence Psychoeducation & Prevention Programme – Primary and Secondary School Learner’s
Department of Basic Education (KwaZulu-Natal) – Development and implementation of School Violence Psychoeducation & Prevention Programme – Umlazi & Illembe District. https://www.education.gov.za/
2019 – current, Mind Genesis – Development and Implementation of Study Skills Programme – Primary and Secondary School Learner’s
Department of Basic Education (KwaZulu-Natal) – Development and implementation of Study Skills Programme – Umlazi & Illembe District. https://www.education.gov.za/
2017 – 2018, , Bobby Bear Foundation – Psychological Debriefing
Offered group psychotherapy debriefing sessions for staff, care-givers and health workers at Bobby Bear – Amanzimtoti
2019 – current, Multisystemic Suicide Prevention Programme
Research project development and implementation – Suicide Prevention Programme – Durban South Secondary Schools
2008 – current, Centre for Applied Psychology – UKZN – Howard College
Individual and group psychological assessment/intervention to community in geographic area located within a 15km radius. https://psychology.ukzn.ac.za/DurbanHowardCollege
Teaching Expertise
- Psychological Assessment in Clinical & Counselling Practice
- Psychology Practice – Clinical & Counselling Psychology
- Developmental Trauma/Victimization
