Jamaican Psychological Society
Values
The core values of the Society are: integrity, accountability, transparency, professionalism, inclusivity/inclusiveness, cultural relevance, social responsibility and respect for diversity.
Objectives
The strategic objectives of the Society are:
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To protect the public by advocating for the highest professional standards amongst psychological and counselling practitioners in Jamaica.
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To enhance the professional practice of psychology and counselling in order to serve the nation and its psychological needs.
Vision
The Jamaican Psychological Society aspires to be the professional body for psychologists and counsellors in Jamaica; while exemplifying high professional standards, providing quality continuing education, ensuring public awareness and advancing psychology and counselling as a profession.
Mission
To promote the development of professional psychologists and counsellors; and uphold ethical standards, conduct, and respect for diversity in the practice of psychology and counselling.
JamPsych Committees
Advocacy
Ms. Valrie McKenzie
Ethics
Dr. Margarett Barnett
Membership
Ms. Daniella Sykes
Public Relations
Policy
Dr. Kerri-ann Peart
Research
Dr. Kimberly Ho Misiaszek
JamPsych Executives
Kai A. D. Morgan, PsyD
Immediate Past President
Kai A. D. Morgan is a clinical psychologist and mother to four (Chy, Xi, Xan & Xo), wife to Chalik Campbell, a homebody who treasures all things psychology and family.
She is the Immediate Past President of the Jamaican Psychological Society, Co-Chair of the Professional Practice & Standards Committee of CANPA, sits on the Executive Board of the Lister Mair Gilby School for the Deaf, and is a member of the APA's Global Psychology Alliance, the International Movement for Prescription Authority for Psychologists and the Association for Black Psychologists.
Currently, she runs a multi-practice and is the Founding Executive Director of KAHLE Journey, a non-profit focused on her life’s journey of creating trauma-informed Caribbean societies.
Contact: jampsychipp@gmail.com
Djavila Ho, MSc
President
Djavila Ho is a licensed Associate Clinical Psychologist in Kingston, Jamaica, who has been in clinical practice for over 10 years. She received her Master of Science in Clinical Psychology with Distinction from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. In addition to private practice, she has worked in diverse settings as the University Counsellor at Caribbean Maritime University, Clinical Psychologist at Victoria Jubilee and Kingston Public Hospitals, and as a research and practicum supervisor for psychology students at the International University of the Caribbean and the Northern Caribbean University respectively.
Her clinical practice focuses on adolescent and adult mental health care, trauma and stress-related disorders, grief, and mood disorders. She has a passion for mental health policy and initiatives focused on developing accessible, affordable and high quality mental health care.
She is an International Affiliate member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and has previously served on the Jamaican Psychological Society executive body as Director of Membership (3 years) and Vice President (1.5 years). She is currently the President of the Jamaican Psychological Society.
Contact: jampsychpresident@gmail.com
Margarett Barnett, PhD
Vice President
Dr. Margarett Barnett is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University College of the Caribbean and a Consultant at the Jamaica Theological Seminary. Dr. Barnett has spent over twenty years working in private, nonprofit organizations that focus on providing services to young people and their families. During this time she has worked as a Counsellor, Program Director, Trainer, Project Manager and Church/School Administrator.
Her professional interests are in the areas of integral psychology (particularly the intersection of psychology, spirituality & business), reflective processes such as dialogue and contemplative practices for building a high trust culture in organizations, leadership studies (particularly servant leadership and transformational leadership), emotional intelligence, entrepreneurship, renewal, passion, and life balance at work, family dynamics in the workplace, and long-term sustainability and fostering a triple bottom line in organizations.
Dr. Barnett enjoys a blend of work as an educator, researcher, and consultant.
Contact: jampsychvicepresident@gmail.com
Verol Billet, MSc
Treasurer
Verol A. Billett is a Licensed Associate Clinical Psychologist (MSc.) who currently works in private practice conducting psychological assessments and psychotherapy. He is also an adjunct staff at The University of the West Indies Mona, where he teaches in the areas of Psychology and Criminology in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work. Much of his work involves helping persons across the lifespan, in various settings, manage their emotions, increasing self-awareness and find healthy ways of coping, adjusting and overcoming obstacles and challenges they are facing and how to use those strategies in the future. He has special interests in forensic psychology, trauma, emotion dysregulation, personality disorders and male mental health. He is a member of the Jamaica Psychological Society, American Psychological Association and a graduate member of the British Psychological Society.
Contact: jampsychtreasurer1@gmail.com
Daniella Sykes, MSc
Director of Membership
Daniella Sykes is an Associate Clinical Psychologist in Kingston, Jamaica. She currently works in private practice conducting psychological assessments and psychotherapy. She also works in a school setting where she does psychotherapy, psychological assessments, and social skills training with children with special needs. She received her MSc. in Clinical Psychology with distinction from the University of the West Indies in May of 2021. Her areas of work in psychology include research, assessments, and psychotherapy. Her interests include positive psychology, body image and working with children and adolescents.
She is a member of the Jamaica Psychological Society and is part of its Policy Committee. She is also an affiliate member of the American Psychological Association. She was nominated in 2021 to be an emerging leader for the American Psychology Association’s Global Psychology Learning Leadership Institute.
Contact: jampsychmembership@gmail.com
Angelina Franklin, B.SW., M.Sc
Secretary
Angelina Franklin, BSW, MSc is a trained Social Worker, who has been serving in said capacity at the Child Guidance Clinic; within the St. Andrew Health Service, since 2008. She serves as a Medical Social Worker in offering counseling services to children, adolescents and their families.
She received her Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) from the UWI in 2008; and her Master of Science in Counselling and Social Work from The Mico University College in 2019.
She is a Full member of the Jamaican Psychological Society and an International Affiliate Member of the American Psychological Association (APA).
Contact: jampsychsecretary@gmail.com
Rosemarie Voordouw, M.A., M.B.A.
Director of Public Relations
Rosemarie Voordouw, M.A., M.B.A. is passionate about helping individuals and companies achieve their best potential. She is a licensed Associate Counselling Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in personal and group psychotherapy. Rosemarie completed her MA in Counselling Psychology at the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology and her MBA at the University of Liverpool. She also holds certificates in The Science of Happiness from BerkeleyX, Leaders of Learning and Basic Neuroscience 1 and 2 from HarvardX, and On-Line Teacher Education from the Inter-American Institute for Economic and Social Development.
Rosemarie is an award-winning communicator with over 20 years’ experience in mass communication in radio, print and television and conducts public speaking training for companies, groups and individuals. She is also a motivational speaker to schools and businesses and a frequent MC for private and corporate events.
Rosemarie is a John Maxwell certified speaker, coach and trainer and a Mediation Training Institute certified workplace mediator. She has lectured in psychology at Bachelor’s and Master’s level at the University of the West Indies and in Public Speaking and Communication at the Bachelor’s level at the Jamaica Theological Seminary.
Corporate services include: communication training, time, stress and change management, mediation, team intervention, group coaching, leadership development and separation counselling. Rosemarie established the first corporate Ombudsman office in Jamaica and provided internal consulting services for seven years to the Scotiabank Group.
Rosemarie served on the executive of the Jamaican Psychological Society for seven years and is an international affiliate of the American Psychological Association.
Contact: jampsychpublicrelations@gmail.com
Valrie McKenzie, MSc., MBPsS
Director of Advocacy
She is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica where she has been since 2011. She has developed the Behavioural Dentistry course in the College of Oral Health Science among other courses.
Ms. McKenzie is a Member of the British Psychological Society which is denoted by the titled acronym MBPsS and extends to divisional membership of Health Psychology Division since 2009. Being a member of the Jamaica Psychological Association, she is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association.
Her educational achievements include a M.Sc. Psychological Research (Clinical & Health) – University of Wales, Bangor, B.Sc. Psychology – Northern Caribbean University (NCU), ASc. Mass Communication – NCU, Certificate in Counselling – United Theological College of the West Indies, Postgraduate Diploma Teaching & Learning with Emerging Technologies – UWI, Postgraduate Certificate in Law (Medical Ethics) – University of Edinburgh, Certificate in Dental Nursing formerly Dental Auxiliary School, Certificate in Health Records & Statistics formerly CAST.
Contact: jampsychadvocacy@gmail.com
Cheril Thompson, PhD.
Director of Education
Dr. Cheril Thompson is a Licensed Clinical psychologist with over 18 years of experience providing treatment to adults, children, and families. Her area of expertise includes psychological testing, and the diagnosis and treatment of trauma related and other psychological disorders. Dr. Thompson is an Associate Professor at Northern Caribbean University. She has served as a faculty member with over 10 years of teaching experience at the university level, in the Caribbean and in the United States. Dr. Thompson completed her educational training by earning a BSc in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston (Central), an MA in Clinical Psychology from Texas Southern University, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Walden University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at PsychSolutions Inc. in South Florida and her post-doctoral fellowship at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center in Houston Texas.
Dr. Thompson has been in private practice for over 14 years and she provide treatment both in person and online. She is a member of the Jamaica Psychological Society (JAMPSYCH), the International Honor Society in psychology (PSI CHI), and the American Psychological Association (APA). She is currently involved in research and her faith in God permeates her personal and professional life.
Contact: jampsycheducation@gmail.com
Deborah Delapenha Simmonds, MCCP
NorthEastern Regional Rep
Deborah is a member of the Jamaica Psychological Society & is a Counselling and Consulting psychologist. She has been working in the funeral industry, providing grief support to relatives who have lost their loved ones at Delapenha’s Funeral Services Ltd.
Deborah has spent her years working with Child Development Agency (children’s officer), Ministry of Health & Wellness, Jamaica Aids Support for Life, and Eve for Life (HIV consulting adult and adolescent psychologist), Working with individuals and groups (specifically MSM and SW) to promote optimum mental health as a means of reducing their risk and vulnerabilities to contracting HIV or to live positively with HIV and AIDS.
She is the CEO of Express Mini Mart, exercising her entrepreneurial skills in the small business sector, Express Mini Mart is a convenient community corner shop building a positive atmosphere for surrounding children and families within the neighboring community districts through the shopping experience. She enjoys empowering women and facilitates renewing of the mind practices on Instagram @think_positive_services to daily transform our minds to truth.
Contact: jampsychnerep@gmail.com
Walter Dunbar, MSc
Western Regional Rep
Mr. Walter Dunbar is employed by the Ministry of National Security as a Case Management Officer. Prior to his employment at MNS, he worked at the Restorative Justice Unit in the Ministry of Justice, SOS Childrens Village, and the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC)
Prior to his employment at these entities, Mr. Dunbar was a Community Case Management Officer at the Citizen Security & Justice Programme, Ministry of National Security, where he spent over nine years working with youth at-risk, empowering them through access to vocational education. Mr. Dunbar is also a part-time lecturer at the HEART-NSTA Trust.
Mr. Dunbar holds a master’s degree in counselling psychology, a bachelor’s degree in social work, and certificates in Conflict Mediation, Supervisory Management, and Cyber Security. He is currently pursuing his Post Graduate Diploma in Education and Training.
He is an advocate for community development and served as Youth Club director, Community Development Committee member and Benevolent Society board member and is a current Justice of the Peace. Mr. Dunbar is also the founder and chairman of the I Can Initiative, an organization that assists the indigent, youths, and the elderly.
Contact: jampsychwestrep@gmail.com
Paul Smith, PsyD.
Southern Regional Representative
Paul Smith hails from the parish of Trelawny, a people person, a practicing believer of Jesus Christ, one who embodies the philosophy; “If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain”. He is married with Two Children. Dr. Smith attended Church Teachers’ College, Jamaica Theological Seminary, Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, and California Southern University. He holds a diploma in Spanish, a bachelor’s degree in Guidance and Counselling, and two master’s degrees, one in Theology and the other in Counselling Psychology. He presently has a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. He has a keen interest in
treating persons suffering from caregiver burden.
Dr. Smith is presently the Founder and one of the Directors of Love & Restoration Ministries- LARM (A registered charity & non-profit, non-denominational organization). He is also a Minister of Religion, a marriage officer, a Justice of the Peace, and a Motivational Speaker. He has a private practice called New -Life Counselling & Psychotherapy Services in Santa Cruz, St, Elizabeth and Mandeville, Manchester.
Contact: jampsychsouthernrep@gmail.com
Monique Barrett, B.Sc.
Student Representative
Monique Barrett is a recent graduate of the University of the West Indies (Mona campus), with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She is fascinated by the field of psychology, and has a passion for research. Her research interests include the the clinical risk factors of psychosis in minority populations and the development of culturally relevant assessment tools and interventions. Despite being an academic at heart, she also enjoys going to the beach and traveling.
Contact: jampsychstudent@gmail.com
By-Laws
Scope of Practice
JamPsych's Scope of Practice outlines the the tasks and roles associated with different categories of psychologist and counsellors who are members of the Society.