Psychotherapy ('the talking cure') is the general name for treatments designed to heal psychological and emotional problems through talking. There are many schools of thought and various approaches to Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy usually involves the client and therapist meeting for regularly scheduled sessions, during which they explore the client's issues, the emotions and beliefs surrounding them, the origins of those beliefs, and the ways they are manifesting themselves in day-to-day life and current relationships; alternative views and options are often identified and tried out. For more about my approach to it, please see the Psychotherapy page.

• Increasing self-awareness and depth of experience.
• Changing long-standing patterns of relating to others or functioning in the world.
• Acquiring tools to manage one's feelings, being comfortable and at peace with oneself, feeling confident in one's ability to handle future challenges.
• Improving self-esteem.

Not all people who seek psychological help have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Often a crisis such as the loss of a loved one, the failure of a relationship or another traumatic event prompts people to seek professional help. However, many people seek help because they are dogged by persistent feelings of unhappiness and/or emptiness. You might have a sense of wanting to change something in yourself and your life but feel powerless to do so and are tired of feeling stuck. Sometimes feelings of low self-worth result in self-defeating patterns that prevent you from maintaining healthy relationships or achieving your dreams and goals. Stress may result in overwhelming feelings of anxiety and depression. Fear of being judged by others as being weak prevents some people from seeking professional help. However, it takes courage to address one’s problems. If you feel you are ready to make positive changes in your life to achieve greater self-awareness and contentment, you would benefit from psychotherapy.

Registered psychologists are regulated healthcare providers who have specialised knowledge and training in:

1. How we feel, think, and behave;
2. How problems can develop in these areas of functioning; and
3. How to facilitate change to help reduce distress, resolve problems, and improve overall pyschological health and well-being.

Clinical psychologists have the most extensive education and formal training requirements of any healthcare provider in the field of mental health. Becoming a psychologist requires a minimum of six years of university education to earn a Masters degree in psychology. During this time, they also complete many hours of formal clinical training in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of difficulties related to mental health as well as conducting research. In addition to formal, supervised practical training, a full year clinical internship in a mental health facility must also be completed to obtain a MA Clinical Psychology degree. Furthermore, clinical psychologists have to work for the state for a year as mandatory community service. Registered psychologists are also required to pass a Board examination to demonstrate that they meet the standards of practice set by the Psychology Board of the Health Professionals’ Council of South Africa, a regulatory body which functions to protect the public by assuring that psychologists are accountable and maintain the highest standards of professional practice and conduct.

As registered psychologists, we do not prescribe medications. I am fully respectful of individuals’ decision to use or not to use medications and I am happy to work collaboratively with family physicians and psychiatrists in this regard to ensure that you receive the best holistic treatment possible.

Each psychotherapy is unique and depending on your specific needs and goals, therapy can be short term for a specific issue, or longer term to deal with recurrent self-defeating patterns or a desire for more intensive personal growth. Research shows that the duration of therapy can be influenced by the type of intervention, the therapeutic relationship as well as specific individual factors. Such factors may include your goals, your personal characteristics and the nature, severity and complexity of the problems you are experiencing. External factors such as additional life stressors and the level of social support may also influence your progress. Finally, the extent to which you actively engage in the process and your willingness to make changes also play a role. Generally, therapy has been successfully completed when major challenges have been overcome and you feel a greater sense of self as well as the confidence to tackle new challenges on your own.

This is an important question, as most studies show that the therapeutic relationship is key to successful therapy. You are encouraged to take your time in choosing your therapist, and get the information you need to make your decision. You can use our initial interview to ask the questions important to you, and to get a sense of what it feels like to work with me. If you feel we are not a good fit, you can seek help elsewhere.

In the absence of an overwhelming crisis that requires more frequent intervention, you will be asked to commit to a regular weekly 50-minute session. While in some cases it is possible to meet every fortnight, this is often not as effective as meeting weekly as it restricts the momentum of the work. Once the therapeutic relationship has been established and some progress has been achieved, it may be possible to meet fortnightly. Successful psychotherapy requires commitment from both parties. At our first meeting, we will try to find a suitable time at which we can meet each week. While it might be necessary to change the time occasionally because of unforeseeable events, this fixed time slot is dedicated to you. If for any reason you are unable to make a session you need to give a full 24 hours’ notice to avoid being charged. Unlike medical practitioners, psychologists do not accept walk in patients. .

The initial appointment is an opportunity to understand you and your specific situation, current problems, background, and your strengths and resources to develop an appropriate plan for treatment. The aim is to help you feel comfortable and safe to talk openly about your concerns. I normally ask you to commit to three sessions after which we can assess whether we can work together. Sometimes an individual’s primary concerns or symptoms are not within my area of expertise and, if this happens, I will refer you to another professional who can help.

I charge medical aid rates which currently are R810.80 a session. I am willing to submit the account directly to the major medical aid schemes but the onus is on you to ensure that you have the necessary funds for treatment. If you have a condition such as Bipolar Disorder or Major Depression you may qualify for special sessions under the listed Prescribed Medical Benefits system whether you have a full medical aid or hospital plan. If authorisation is given for such treatment, the session costs are not deducted from your savings account.

No, you can contact a psychologist directly and it will be your choice whether we inform your medical practitioner that you are in treatment. Most medical aid plans do not require a physician’s referral for coverage of psychological services; however, it is best to check with your scheme.

To schedule an appointment, you may contact me.