About

‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ – Socrates

Cohesive Collaboration is a brand that seeks to strengthen values of sustainable collaboration, mindful cohesion, rehabilitative redress and optimised development by promoting mental health awareness and offering consulting services targeted at normalising mental health and wellness in South Africa.

Having come across the Ancient Greek aphorism ‘know thyself’, Sikander’s curiosity for acquiring a better understanding of himself along his odyssey into adulthood was ignited. It was around this time that he completed two years of volunteer work with ER24 Emergency Medical Services and the Department of Health. Engaging in such work allowed him to realise that mastering self-knowledge and rendering quality healthcare are intertwined life-long endeavours. This combination of self-curiosity and passion for healthcare provision motivated Sikander to enrol at the University of Pretoria to start the six-year-long journey towards becoming a HPCSA-registered clinical psychologist.

Whilst studying towards his bachelor’s degree, Sikander became interested in subfields such as neuropsychology, personality pathology, and sexual health. It was this interest that led him to enrol for courses which he found particularly stimulating upon commencing with his honours degree, namely, Personality and Psychopathology, as well as Cognitive Neuroscience. Sikander’s postgraduate coursework was complimented by postgraduate research with a public health focus–specifically revolving around the intersection of psychological variables and reproductive decision making.

Upon successfully completing his master’s degree coursework with thirteen distinctions and fulfilling the degree’s clinical training requirements at Elizabeth Donkin Psychiatric Hospital, Sikander then began his clinical internship year at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital (Gauteng Department of Health). During his clinical internship, he rotated through different clinical units, namely, the Bipolar and Related Disorders Unit; the Forensic Unit; the Anxiety and Depressive Disorders Unit; and the Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Unit.

After completing his clinical internship, Sikander continued to work for the Gauteng Department of Health and served his year of public service at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (previously known as Johannesburg General Hospital). During his time at the hospital, he rendered clinical services to in- and out- patients of the Adult Clinical Psychology Department and the Department of Psychiatry, as well as consultation-liaison services to numerous clinical departments, such as neurology, oncology, urology, and gastroenterology. In addition to the aforementioned, he also conducted assessments for the Transplant Unit of the hospital, specifically assessing liver as well as kidney transplant candidates. His more recent endeavours include finalising his concept paper for PhD candidature at Wits School of Public Health, and Sikander currently holds a consulting position at University of Pretoria’s medical school.

Sikander predominately conceptualises patients within a psychodynamic framework and often grounds his treatment plan in either a corresponding psychodynamic approach or a tailored cognitive-behavioural approach. Sikander currently practices within the Sandton region at various clinical settings such as Mindful Psychology Practice, The Couch (Practice of Psychology and Psychiatry) and Sandton Mediclinic private hospital. He also practices in neighbouring clinical settings such as Akeso Parktown.

Alongside his clinical endeavours, Sikander also has a passion for leadership and public speaking. In this regard, he has presented numerous talks at initiatives launched by the National Department of Health and hosted by provincial departments of health. His personal interests include artwork (visual, literary, and performing arts), comparative history, and philosophy. As he continues on his life-long odyssey towards better self-knowledge and rendering quality healthcare, he aspires to make this a mutually-rewarding journey for himself and those he comes across along the way.

Credentials: M.A. Clin. Psych. | Pr No. 0775622 | HPCSA No. PS0137588