How to find a therapist in Cape Town

So, you want to find a therapist in Cape Town but don’t know how to go about it. Who do you ask? Where do you look? You don’t know whose recommendation to trust and perhaps aren’t even sure what you’re looking for…

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You start getting daunted by the thought of finding the therapist and consider giving up before you even start.

But - you don’t. Because you have made the excellent, self-affirming choice of embarking on therapy in the first place, and for that decision alone, you deserve congratulations. The only thing you can guarantee for certain about your future is that you will be in it. So it makes utmost sense to invest in you and become the most fulfilled version of you that is possible.

And therapy can certainly help you to do this.

So, how do you go about finding the right therapist in Cape Town?

Firstly, it’s a good idea to identify broadly what kind of therapist you hope to find. The term ‘therapist’ covers many professionals who can help people with different needs. It can be overwhelming to plough through the various terms and identify the kind of therapist you’re looking for. There are hundreds of different types of therapies and therapists out there.

In all of South Africa, Cape Town is no exception; the most common types of professional mental health practitioners are psychologists, psychiatrists, registered counsellors, and social workers. All of these professionals work with emotional difficulties and matters relating to the mind.

Psychologists and counsellors typically use talk-therapy as a way to help a person understand their mind, thoughts, actions and relationships. Psychiatrists have the same objective but are medical doctors and usually prescribe medication to address psychiatric conditions. Social workers typically work with family groups rather than individuals.

When choosing the right therapist, the decision is often influenced by how intensely you wish to - or need to - engage with your practitioner. Different therapies differ in intensity: Most psychologists and counsellors see people once weekly, but some entail more intensive schedules. Psychoanalysts, for example, can see people up to five times weekly. Psychiatrists, on the other hand, many start with weekly sessions but drop down to medication-review sessions every six months after some time.

Therapists will recommend an approach and schedule based on what they feel is best for your needs. Of course, extrinsic factors like transport and distance to your therapist and how you will fund your therapy all play a relevant role in selecting the right type and frequency.

In terms of funding your therapy, it is important to consider upfront the therapist’s rates, counsellors tend to charge less, whether your medical aid plan will cover any of your therapy costs, and how long you can continue your therapy once you’ve embarked on it. Options are available even if funds aren't; we will also look into these.

Practitioners’ rates are usually determined by how long they have studied and whether they work in private practice or community clinics. Typically therapists work in private practice, whereas counsellors and social workers may work in private or community clinics. Counsellors do not study for as long as therapists, meaning their rates are generally lower. However, they provide valuable, often short-term, directive help and emotional support to those who need it.

So where do you start your search to find a therapist in Cape Town?

Of course, word-of-mouth is one way to find a therapist. Your GP or other trusted doctor is often a good place to start when seeking recommendations. Friends and family will likely recommend you to therapists you are compatible with. However, it is not advisable to begin therapy with a therapist who also sees someone close to you, as the therapeutic relationship works best if a therapist’s only source of information about you is, indeed, you - rather than your family member or friend who is also in treatment with the same therapist. Dual relationships almost always complicate therapy and should be avoided wherever possible.

Another way of finding a therapist in Cape Town, or any city, is the internet. TherapyRoute.com (this website) is an excellent place to start. The South African therapist directory search page automatically displays the providers nearest to you and offers powerful filters that enable you to search by factors like; Identity (Black, Gender, LGBT+), Language (isiZulu, etc.), Issue (trauma, etc.), and many more.

In Cape Town, therapists and therapies of all natures abound. However, most Capetonian therapists practice Psychodynamic, Jungian, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Self-Psychology, or Integrative therapy methods. It is difficult to tell which therapy methodology will work best for you before starting therapy. On a site like TherapyRoute.com, therapists’ methodologies and specialisations are included in their listings, enabling you to read more about their areas of expertise.

If therapy in a private practice setting does not suit your budget or needs, there are several other places to seek mental health support in Cape Town - one-on-one, in group support settings or via call-centre support.

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group manages a 16-line call centre for various needs. This includes specific lines such as Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline: 0800 70 80 90, Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Line 24hr helpline: 0800 12 13 14/ SMS 32312, and Suicide Crisis Line: 0800 567 567 amongst others.

FAMSA (Families South Africa) has a Western Cape branch which links people to counsellors who specialise in grief, divorce, trauma, parenting and other family-related topics or difficulties. They also offer mediation and training programmes as part of their community outreach.

Hope House is a Cape Town based support centre offering counselling and addiction support. It has three physical ‘houses’, in Bergvliet, Kuilsrivier and Tableview. A non-profit organisation, it requests only donations in return for its counselling services. Hope House also offers public courses on anger, family and marriage.

Valkenburg Hospital in Observatory offers good psychiatric care and outpatient support for people suffering from mental illness. Other hospitals specialising in mental health include Alexandra Hospital in Maitland, Lentegeur Hospital in Mitchells Plain and Stikland Hospital in Bellville. See the list below for more government and non-profit service providers in the Western Cape.

Looking up a therapist’s credentials and qualifications before contacting them is always a good idea. As a rule of thumb, the longer the study time, the more intensively and professionally a therapist can engage with and help you address your problems. In your quest to find the right practitioner, you are encouraged to ask as many questions as needed in your initial conversation or meeting with your mental health practitioner to identify whether your therapeutic relationship will work for you both. See here for more on choosing the right therapist or counsellor for you?

No / Low Fee Mental Health Resources in the Western Cape

Note: South African public hospitals do not offer walk-in services. Most require a referral letter and will only serve a particular catchment area. Call your local community clinic or GP and ask about the process you need to follow to receive counselling or to see a psychologist.