The love and passion for psychology

The love and passion for psychologyWorking hard every day to improve lives Ngundambiriko Wahahiza Katire is a psychological counsellor at the ministry of labour, industrial relations and employment creation. Monique Adams

Katire is from the Otjijarua Epukiro district and attended Okakarara Primary School and Martin Luther High School. After school he graduated from the University of Namibia with an honours degree in clinical psychology.

He then worked as an assistant to clinical psychologist Dr M Mberira until he was accepted for an internship position at the ministry of labour, industrial relations and employment creation.

Once he completed his internship, he registered with the Social Work and Psychology Council and applied for a job opening at the ministry of labour, industrial relations and employment creation, where he is currently working.

As a psychological counsellor he is tasked with career counselling and guidance. Career planning includes many factors such as identifying and choosing an occupation, getting the credentials and then the job. Katire helps individuals to achieve this by conducting a psychometric assessment using personality, interest, career development, school readiness and aptitude tests.

“The biggest challenge I face is not getting to the people who actually need the service most because they are unaware that the service exist or are unable to make it to where the service is,” he says.

“It has always been my desire to take psychology to rural areas, hence it has been an accomplishment to be allocated to the Otjozondjupa region. Upon my arrival here, I have reached out to most of the schools in the region to advertise our services and indeed most have made use of the services,” he said.

He enjoys seeing people realise their potential and heal from past traumas and failures.

Once Katire had a horrible day and on the same day a client of his told him how he had saved them from committing suicide. It in that moment he decided that he would never stop working hard to help people because he might not always see the positive impact he has on his clients.

He looks forward to establishing his own educational psychology practice, establishing homeless shelters to accommodate more people and being the best father for his children.

“If I ever had an opportunity to change something in the world it will be psychologically and emotionally empowering the working class of our country. To become a psychological counsellor, one needs a clinical psychology degree, six months’ internship at a recognised institution and be registered with the Health Professions Council of Namibia,” he said.