Shenay Ganasen

About Me

Why I became a psychologist?

My work is deeply rooted in my passion for psychology, shaped by my experiences of growing up feeling misunderstood within a community where emotional and psychological support was not always accessible. I understand what it feels like to be labelled rather than supported, and to struggle with feelings of not being “good enough” when what is needed is understanding, compassion, and care. These experiences, alongside witnessing others within my community face similar challenges and being misunderstood in their own ways, have shaped my desire to support individuals in feeling seen, understood, and valued in their journeys.

What Makes Me Different?

Through my personal and professional journey, I have come to understand sensitivity and vulnerability as strengths that deepen connection and attunement to others. Having often been described as “too sensitive,” I have learned to work with emotional depth in a way that allows me to remain present, grounded, and responsive in the therapeutic space. I am attentive to subtle emotional shifts and use gentle reflection and thoughtful responsiveness to help clients feel safe, understood, and less alone.

Training

I am an Educational Psychologist with experience across diverse educational and therapeutic contexts. I completed my Master of Education in Educational Psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand, followed by my internship at PsyCaD (University of Johannesburg). During this time, I worked with children and adolescents in the community, as well as young adults at the university.

I have training in, but not limited to, psychodynamic psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused approaches. I adopt an integrative approach to therapy, drawing from different theoretical frameworks depending on the needs of the client. I was also trained in psychoeducational and career assessments, as well as play therapy, with a particular focus on child-centred play therapy. I have since worked in both remedial and mainstream school settings, providing play therapy, psychoeducational assessments, and therapeutic support to primary and high school learners.