How to find a therapist in Durban

You live in Durban – the kingdom of sun, sea and sand. And yet, all is not well. Perhaps you are in crisis, feel unfulfilled, maybe you’re searching for meaning, or it might be that you just feel like you don’t know who you are, or what you want from life, and you are starting to ask yourself if it is time to find a psychologist in Durban.

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Luckily (and possibly surprisingly), these are all things that can be addressed with therapy. Yes, therapy is not only for very dire or desperate situations. Therapy can help you to work through a wide range of issues, enabling you to live a more fulfilling and authentic experience of your own life.

Now that you know that therapy might be for you, how do find a therapist in Durban and its surrounding areas?

First of all, it helps to identify why you are seeking therapy. Of course, therapy can help to address a wide range of debilitating difficulties, including depression, anxiety, stress, grief, family troubles, addiction and more. It can, however, also be a way to enhance your experience of life and enrich your understanding of your own behaviours, feelings and relationships.

Identifying what has caused you to seek out therapy helps you to decide the type of therapist you are looking for. Most therapists use talk-therapy as their main mode of intervention. Some therapists (psychiatrists) also prescribe medication – usually in cases of more severe mental health disorders. Most therapists recommend weekly visits, but, again, this varies, with certain therapies requiring more frequent engagement and others requiring less.

If you wish to improve your life, gain a greater perspective on who you are and feel more authentic in your skin, a talk-based therapist - such as a psychologist, social worker, or counsellor - is probably for you. If you struggle to cope with daily living, a psychiatrist (a medical doctor specialising in mental health) might be more appropriate.

When you find therapy in Durban, one of the first questions you’ll encounter is whether to choose a private psychologist, a less costly counsellor, or community therapy. The difference lies largely in the price and how you plan to pay for your therapy. Medical aids usually agree to pay some portion of therapy fees (depending on your plan). This may come with some conditions, as they are often prescriptive about the type of therapy, choice of therapist, and the number of sessions they recommend.

If you feel that a private therapist is right for your needs, a good way to start searching for one is to use a reputable site, like TherapyRoute, which allows you to search for a therapist by your specific area in Durban. Here you can look up all your nearby therapists and filter them by characteristics like 'Identity' (e.g. Black, LGBT+, Gender), 'Language' (e.g. isiZulu, Afrikaans), issues they deal with and many others. Many therapists would have included additional detail about their practice, which can help you get a better feel for who you might be reaching out to.

TherapyRoute can also help you locate public (community) services if they suit your needs and budget better. You will find a list of community mental health services at the bottom of this article. Usually, the first step in this regard is to find and visit your local healthcare clinic. There is one in each area of Durban, with trained professionals available to help assess your therapeutic need. Having considered your, they will be able to or direct you most appropriately. Don't be afraid to tell the nurse, sister, or doctor that you see that you would like to meet with someone for ongoing counselling, even if it means being placed on a waiting list or being referred to another service.

If you are unable to physically get to a clinic, you may also call the Mental Health Information Line (0800 567 567) to be admitted to a public mental health care institution.

Durban and Coastal Mental Health is a large community organization whose work reaches over 50,000 people in the rural areas around Durban. It aims to achieve the highest possible level of mental health for individuals, families and communities. Offering social work services, residential care, daycare and training workshops, it offers affordable services to meet many needs.

Grace Counselling is another Durban-based community offering. A Christian-based service, it offers one-on-one counselling and support groups to cover various needs. Services are run from its two church premises in Riverside and Ballito.

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group is another useful resource to help you find support groups or individual counsellors in Durban and its surrounding areas. Visit the website or call 0800 12 13 14 for help with a host of different psychological difficulties.

Alternatively, your local GP is also a reliable source of referral and can usually put you in touch with either a private therapist or community service appropriate to what you are requiring.

We hope this article helps you to find the right therapist or other therapeutic support for you. There is no doubt that therapy can help to improve your life. Well done for taking this step to life improvement. The new, more fulfilled you awaits…

No / Low Fee Mental Health Resources in KwaZulu-Natal

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 to ask about the process you need to follow to receive counselling or to see a psychologist.

Non-Government Organisations

• The Open Door Crisis Center - We are a Non-profit organisation one-stop crisis & trauma centre offering counselling, social services, & support groups . - eThekwini Metropolitan Municipalit
• Bipolar Support Group - We are an NGO offering mental health advocacy and group counselling . - Empangeni

Public Hospitals and Community Clinics

• Addington Hospital - Psychiatric Unit - We are a public healthcare hospital. The hospital has a psychiatric unit and offers mental health services for children and adults. - South Beach, Durban.
• Amanzimtoti Clinic - We are a public community clinic offering mental health services for children and adults. - Amanzimtoti, Durban.
• Bhekumthetho Clinic - We are a community clinic offering mental health services for children and adults. - Emondlo, Vryheid
• Caluza Clinic - We are a community clinic offering mental health services for children and adults. - Edendale, Pietermaritzburg.
• Cato Manor Clinic - We are a community clinic offering mental health services for children and adults. - Mayville, Durban.
• City Hospital Behavioural Health Centre - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Durban
• Charles Johnson Memorial Hospital - We are a public psychiatric hospital and provide forensic and general psychiatric services on an inpatient and outpatient basis . - Nqutu
• Christ the King Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Sisonke
• Durnacol Clinic - We are a community clinic offering mental health services for children and adults. - Dannhauser, Pietermaritzburg
• East Griqualand & Usher Memorial Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - East Griqualand
• Edendale Hospital Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Pietermaritzburg
• Estcourt Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Estcour
• Ekuhlengeni Hospital - We are a public psychiatric hospital and provide forensic and general psychiatric services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. - Amanzimtoti
• Folweni Clinic - We are a community clinic offering mental health services for children and adults. - Folweni, Durban.
• Fort Napier Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Umgungundlovu
• Gunjaneni Clinic - We are a community clinic offering mental health services for children and adults. - Hlabisa, Umkhanyakude.
• G.J. Crookes Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Ugu
• GJ Crookes Gateway Clinic C - We are a community clinic offering mental health services for children and adults. - Scottburgh, Durban.
• Greytown Hospital - We are a community hospital offering mental health services for children and adults. - Greytown, Umvoti.
• Hlabisa Hospital Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Hlabisa
• Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Durban
• King Edward VIII Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Durban
• King Dinuzulu Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Durban
• Madadeni Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Amajuba
• Manguzi Hospital - We are a community hospital offering mental health services for children and adults. - Manguzi, ‎uMkhanyakude
• Mazabeko Clinic - We are a community clinic offering mental health services for children and adults. - Msinga, uMzinyathi.
• Newcastle Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Amajuba
• Ngwelezana Hospital - We are a public hospital offering mental health services for children and adults. - Kuleka, Empangeni.
• Port Shepstone Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Ugu
• Prince Mshiyeniÿ Memorial Hospital - We are a Government Hospital and also offer mental health services for children and adults. - Umlazi
• Stanger Hospital - We are a community Hospital that offers mental health services for children and adults. - Stanger, Durban.
• Thuthuzela Care Centre. RK Khan Hospital - We are a healthcare hospital offering mental health services for children and adults. - Chatsworth
• Townhill Hospital - We are a public hospital and offer acute inpatient psychiatric care. - Pietermaritzburg
• Wentworth Hospital - We are a public hospital offering mental health services for children, adolescents and adults. - Jacobs

No / Low Fee Mental Health Resources in Eastern Cape

Public Hospitals and Community Clinics

• Korsten Primary Healthcare Clinic - We are a public community clinic and offer mental health services for adolescents and adults. - Korsten.
• Laetitia Bam CHC Clinic - We are a public community clinic offering mental health services for children and adults - Kwanabuhle, Uitenhage.
• Park Centre Clinic - We are a public community clinic and offer mental health services for adolescents and adults. - Uitenhage.
• Port Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital - We are a public psychiatric hospital catering to children, adults, and adolescents. - Port Elizabeth.