Ms. Heila Siebrits – Psychology Pre-Doctoral Placement Student
Ms. Heila Siebrits is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Walden University, currently completing her pre-doctoral internship under the supervision of Dr. Jean Dennis. With roots in South Africa and having lived in several countries across a multitude of continents, Ms. Siebrits brings a strong multicultural perspective and a deep appreciation for the diverse ways people live, heal, and grow. Having lived in both collectivist and individualist societies, she brings a nuanced understanding of how cultural and relational contexts shape identity and coping, and informs her commitment to multicultural, ethical, and person-centered care.
Her clinical work focuses on the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the way in which early adversity influences emotional regulation, core beliefs, relationships, and coping across the lifespan, and she approaches this work from a strength-based, trauma-informed perspective that honors both the lasting effects of early experiences and each person’s capacity for resilience, growth, and change.
Her therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing primarily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) while also incorporating Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT); Person-Centered; relational; attachment-informed; and trauma-informed frameworks. Ms. Siebritsviews therapy as a collaborative process and believes that clients are the experts of their own lives, and strives to offer evidence-based, goal-oriented care that is culturally responsive and grounded in empathy.
In addition to psychotherapy, Ms. Siebrits is trained in psychological assessment and testing, including clinical interviewing, behavioral observation, and the administration and interpretation of standardized measures of cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and personality functioning, and values assessment as a collaborative process that informs diagnosis, treatment planning, and a deeper understanding of each client within their cultural and developmental context.
Ms. Siebrits is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and judgment-free therapeutic space grounded in unconditional positive regard, a deep respect for each person’s lived experience, and a strong commitment to being an affirming ally.
Ms. Siebrits is fluently bilingual in English and Afrikaans.
