About Kim Richardson

Psychotherapy

Kim Richardson graduated as a Clinical Psychologist from the Child Guidance Clinic of the University of Cape Town.  She practiced as a fully licensed Clinical Psychologist in South Africa between from 1994 until 2000.  She worked in private practice, and at Valkenberg Hospital - also lecturing and teaching in the  University of Cape Town's Psychology Department. Kim was a key part of the Empilweni Project of the Groote Schuur Department of Psychiatry from the outset in 1994, training and supervising Community Mental Health Workers to case-manage the mental health needs of children between 4 and 18; and collecting and presenting research on PTSD and epidemiology. The project is still in operation today and provides mental health services to severely disadvantaged communities in South Africa. To consider donating to this worthwhile project, please click here.

Kim was active in the Cape Town Self Psychology Group presenting her clinical research in their annual self psychology conferences in Cape Town as well those held by the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology in the USA.

Upon immigrating to Chicago, USA in 2000, she became licensed as a Clinical Professional Counselor focusing her work on new mothers adjusting to motherhood as well as the treatment and prevention of postpartum depression. She is a member of Postpartum Support International (PSI) and is actively involved in the Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois.

Mothering Work

While awaiting licensure in the USA, she trained and worked as a postpartum doula in 2001 offering support for new mothers. She conducted workshops on new motherhood at Birthways  Inc in Chicago basing her model on Daniel Stern's motherhood constellation. Kim's understanding of the transformation and journey into motherhood has been influenced by psychoanalytic  theorists such as Donald Winnicott, Daniel Stern, Theresa Benedek. Her philosophy incorporates these ideas into a practical and easily accessible model of new motherhood.

Resource for Parents

Kim Richardson also maintains two resource sites for parents of babies and preschooler: www.chicagotots.net and www.SWMichiganKids.com. To advertise your services to parents of children 0 to 5, please visit the sites.

Life Coaching

Kim is undergoing Professional Certification as an ICF accredited Life Coach. She offers life coaching face-to-face or by telephone.

Douglas Center for Psychotherapy

She lives and works in Saugatuck-Douglas, Michigan, USA with her husband and three children. She sees her clients at the Douglas Center for Psychotherapy which she co-directs.