More About Me

My name is Amber Pinho and I am an educational psychologist with over seven years of experience working with children in various educational and therapeutic settings. My passion lies in fostering children's emotional, cognitive, and academic development, helping them reach their fullest potential.

I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Honours in Psychology Degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand (2009–2012). After completing my studies, I gained hands-on experience working with children as an au pair and in community-based settings.

In 2017, I pursued my Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the University of the Witwatersrand, which led me to a six-year teaching career at a Curro School. During this time, I taught various subjects across different grade levels and took on leadership roles as the Grade and Subject Head. Additionally, I was actively involved in learner support, assisting with accommodations, and serving as a prompter, scribe and reader for students requiring academic assistance.

Recognizing my deep passion for supporting children beyond the classroom, I decided to further my studies and pursued a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Johannesburg (2022–2023). While completing my degree, I continued teaching and gained over 100 hours of therapeutic community-based experience in schools and government hospitals.

In 2024, I successfully completed my 12-month internship at PsyCaD (Psychological Services and Career Development) at the University of Johannesburg. Throughout my training, I gained expertise in:

• Psychoeducational, school readiness and career assessments

• Play therapy and child, adolescent and student psychotherapy

• Learner support

• Facilitating workshops and support groups

Beyond my practical experience, I have a strong research interest in resilience and divorce. I have published an article in the Journal of Policy and Development, exploring the risk factors faced by adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic alongside parental divorce. Currently, I am pursuing my Doctorate in Educational Psychology, focusing on the resilience of educators working with learners with conduct disorder. A group of learners who exhibit challenging behaviours in the classroom setting.

Outside of my professional life, I value spending time with family, prioritising exercise, and practicing self-care as I navigate my journey in psychology and education.