The Optimal Recovery Programme

Deb with extensive experience in crisis intervention, counselling practice, and socio-forensic assessments, with particular expertise in matters involving primary residence, care and contact disputes and guardianship of children.

My professional journey began prior to formal qualification. In 1997, I volunteered as a Crisis Worker at Careline in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal. Between 2000 and 2002, I was employed full-time as a Crisis Worker and understudy to the Manager, where I responded to high-risk matters including suicide, domestic violence, rape (of adults and minors) and abandoned babies. During this period, I worked closely with the South African Police Service and community-based organisations and served as a Police Reservist, supporting victims from the point of reporting through to the finalisation of their cases. I also facilitated community education initiatives and presented school-based programmes focused on abuse awareness, substance-use prevention, rape and domestic violence.

Thereafter, I dedicated several years to raising my children, an experience that deepened my understanding of family systems, attachment and child development. In 2009, I commenced my formal training in Social Work, completing my degree while managing family responsibilities and part-time employment.

From 2013 to 2015, I was employed as the primary Social Worker at Headway-Natal, an organisation specialising in traumatic brain injury. In this role, I provided individual and family counselling, psycho-education, advocacy, and group facilitation and worked within a multidisciplinary team of therapists and psychologists. I managed complex abuse matters, prepared medico-legal and placement reports and coordinated safe care arrangements for vulnerable individuals.

In 2017, I authored and published a self-help book aimed at supporting families navigating the challenges associated with traumatic brain injury recovery.

Since 2016, I have practised in private practice, providing services in both therapeutic and socio-forensic contexts. My work includes court-mandated supervised contact sessions, as well as socio-forensic investigations relating to primary residence determinations, care and contact disputes, and guardianship assessments. I regularly assess parental capacity, family dynamics, attachment relationships, and the impact of high-conflict separation on children, and I prepare objective, evidence-based reports for use in legal proceedings.

My socio-forensic work is guided by the principles ethics, neutrality, procedural fairness, careful observation and a strong child-centred focus. I am committed to safeguarding the emotional, psychological and developmental well-being of children and to providing the Honourable Court with independent and professionally grounded recommendations.