ABOUT SORIKA

QUALIFICATIONS:

Sorika de Swardt holds the following professional qualifications:
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• BA degree in Social Work ; 1995 (NWU) South Africa
• Masters (MA) degree in Psychology ; 2001 (NWU) South Africa
• Post Qualifying Award 1 in Social Work ; 2002 United Kingdom
• Post Qualifying Awards 2- 6 in Mental Health Social Work ; 2004 United Kingdom
• Accreditation in the Community Resiliency model (CRM) presented by Trauma Resource Institute ; 2015 USA

accomplishments:

The specific accomplishments and knowledge that sets her apart from her peers include:

• ​Being a frequent speaker on radio and television programmes
• Being an expert witness in court for high profile criminal cases
• Contributing to many articles for South African magazines and newspapers
• Presenting at International and countless National Congresses on a variety of field related topics
• She offered training, consultation and service development to companies in Botswana, Namibia, Nigeria, United Kingdom, USA and all around South Africa
• She was personally trained by expert Dr Robert Weiss (LCSW) on process addictions such as pornography addiction, sex addiction and digital addictions both during her visit to Las Vegas OMICS International Conference where she presented a paper on sex addiction in July 2013, but also during his training in South Africa in March 2016 for a select 25 practitioners in the South Africa
• She also has practitioner accreditation for the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) for Trauma from the Trauma Resource Institute (TRI) in the USA

​Her passion for people with addictions, mental health difficulties and those who struggle in relationships is evident and contagious.

After starting out at a local NGO where she did child protection, family reunification and other Generic Social Work services she moved to the United Kingdom in 2001 to further specialise in the fields of Addiction, Mental Health and Forensic Social Work. She completed the required ASW PQ6 award to specialise in mental health in 2004.  

During this time she developed a forensic dual diagnosis (mental health and addiction) treatment program for the patients in a medium secure treatment unit.  She also created a training program for Social and Healthcare Professionals which was nominated in 2005 for the NIHME Quality awards in England.  She lectured on the Mental Health Act to post qualified Health and Social Workers at Essex University. 

In 2006 she completed research regarding the effect of severe mental illness on family and carers. The outcome was made into an educational film by Arklight Media, of which Sorika was the clinical producer. This DVD won the Silver Quality Trust award in 2007 as part of a training package. 
 
Since her return to South Africa in March 2007, Sorika practiced as Assistant Director for the NG Ministry of Caring, involved in training, psychometric evaluation and therapeutic services. She then rendered 3 years of Medical Social Work at Life the Glynnwood hospital and Psychiatric Social Work at Life the Glynnview followed by her position as Addiction Consultant at Elim Clinic, Professional Addiction Treatment Centre.

She retained her Private Practice from 2010 and her responsibilities brought her in close contact with people of all ages and all educational levels, both professionals and the general public. As a trainer she has a special ability to meet the audience at their level of knowledge and to transfer the information that they need in a skillful and interesting manner.

​She is a sought after speaker and accredited CPD trainer with the SACSSP, HPCSA with various training obligations since 2001. Apart from her training and public speaking engagements she is a dedicated therapist and renders the following therapeutic services:

• ​Addiction Treatment and Aftercare
• Structured Intervention for Addiction
• Trauma, Loss and Bereavement
• Relationship Councelling
• Support and Recovery from Mental Illness
• Struggling with your Sexual Orientation or Identity
• Assessment and Treatment of ​Behavioural Addictions
• Complicated Marriages and Relationships
• Mediation service pre- or post divorce