Professor Zelda G. Knight holds a PhD in Psychology from Rhodes University and has been a registered Counselling Psychologist for over two decades. She has held the position of Professor of Psychology at the University of Johannesburg since 2004, where she continues to train the next generation of psychologists in the practice of psychotherapy.
Her clinical work spans more than 25 years and is rooted in psychodynamic psychotherapy. This means she works with the understanding that our present difficulties are often shaped by earlier experiences, by family dynamics, cultural context, and the ways we have learned to relate to others. These patterns, once brought into awareness, become the starting point for meaningful change.
Why This Work Matters
Prof Knight's motivation for her life's work comes from a deep interest in human experience. How history, culture, trauma, and family of origin shape the people we become. And how those experiences play out, often unconsciously, in the therapeutic relationship itself.
This interest is not only clinical. It is personal. It drives a commitment to sitting with people in their pain without rushing to fix, to listening before interpreting, and to honouring the courage it takes to walk into a therapy room.
Academic and Professional Background
Prof Knight's academic career has run in parallel with her clinical practice. She has published extensively in international journals on topics related to psychotherapy process, trauma, and relational dynamics. She has presented papers at psychotherapy conferences around the world, contributing to broader conversations about what makes therapy work.
With over 30 years of experience training Master's-level student psychologists, her influence extends well beyond her own consulting room. The psychologists she has trained carry forward a tradition of thoughtful, relational, and ethically grounded practice.
My Approach to Therapy
Therapy with Prof Knight is built on one foundational idea: the relationship is the therapy. This is not a slogan. It is the guiding principle behind every session.
What this means in practice is that therapy is collaborative. It is a space where you are not analysed from a distance but engaged with as a whole person. The goal is not to provide quick answers. It is to walk alongside you as you uncover your own understanding of what is happening and what needs to change.
Prof Knight is committed to providing professional mental healthcare to clients from all walks of life and to supporting each person in their journey towards personal empowerment. That commitment extends to working with individuals and couples of all backgrounds and life orientations, including LGBTQ adults and couples.
