Creating a space for good well-being

Clinical psychologist Madipere Anokwuru evaluates, diagnoses and treats mental, emotional and behavioural disorders in individuals, and assists patients with problems ranging from acute issues to severe, chronic conditions.

When she’s not at her private practice, Anokwuru is also stationed at the TUT Polokwane campus weekly as the student development support practitioner, where her role is to support students with psychological interventions to reach their potential in an academic setting, and to prepare students for the world of work, according to the university structure.

Anokwuru is also a board member and a chairperson of the South African National Council on Alcoholism (Sanca) Limpopo which helps with the prevention and treatment of substance use disorder.

“I provide crisis intervention and also help students access the appropriate resources as needed. They are taught coping mechanisms, stress management techniques and interpersonal skills to enhance their emotional resilience and ability to navigate challenges,” she said.

She added that she provides support to students to explore and identify their goals. “I have also collaborated with health services on and off campus, such as the Pietersburg Hospital’s psychiatry department, Mankweng Hospital eye clinic, academic excellence officers, academic advisors as well as disability support, to provide holistic support for students,” she said.

What motivated Anokwuru to work in this industry is her curiosity about how people think, feel and conduct themselves, and unravelling the complexity and diversity of human behaviour and the desire to help people.

She advises individuals to utilise psychology services often as some services are offered by the state at no cost.