Ivan was born and raised in Pretoria. He studied Psychology at the University of Pretoria where he obtained his Bachelors and Honours degrees. During this time he also worked at Vista Clinic’s Reintegration Centre. The Centre mainly treated patients who struggled with substance abuse and addiction. He then moved to Bloemfontein to complete his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, where he was one of only a few students to receive a bursary from the Department of Correctional services. He then returned to Pretoria to complete his internship at Weskoppies hospital, and thereafter started his community service year at Pretoria Central prison. Ivan worked at the Department for about four years, where he was responsible for therapy and parole assessments with medium and maximum offenders, before entering private practise full-time.