How to Find a Therapist in Johannesburg

So, you live in Johannesburg and need to find a therapist . Well, you are not alone. Sure, our 'City of Gold' has its blessings and opportunities, but there is a not-so-golden' side.

Stressing about safety, potholes, emergency lane taxi racing, electricity (where?), water (when?), and getting the latest German engineering all take a toll. And that's before we consider your personal life, past traumas, family feuds, and our sometimes complex love lives.

No wonder you are looking for a therapist; they should be compulsory! Yet, finding the right one, even in this busy city, is challenging.

Johannesburg Therapists - Finding One the Right Way

To make finding your best Johannesburg therapist easier, we broke the task into six easy-to-follow steps and offer a comprehensive guide to carry you through each.

Step 1: Clarify your Goals for Therapy

Step 2: Pick the Right Kind of Therapist

Step 3: Choose your Preferred Setting

Step 4: Find Johannesburg Therapists

Step 5: Vett the Therapist

Step 6: Reach out!

Step One: Clarify your Goals for Therapy

The first thing you need to do is stop and clarify why you want to see a therapist in the first place. While all therapists are experts in human behaviour, that’s a big subject, so each type of therapist has their own focus, approach, and skill set. If you clarify why you want to see one, choosing the best professional for your needs becomes easier.

Bonus: Noting down your goals lets you look back later and measure your progress. So no skimping here.

How to Identify/Clarify Your Goals for Therapy

If you are clear about your reasons, skip to step two.

Don’t worry if you don't know your goals; this could be why you want to see a therapist. For many people, all they know is that they want to feel better. And that's fine, too; these suggestions might help you find the words you need.

• Reflect on your feelings and behaviour: Ask yourself what is troubling you. Is it something about you, your child, your relationship, or your family? Are you experiencing complicated feelings like anxiety, sadness, anger, or despair? Are you concerned about your behaviour?
• Consider your goals: What do you hope to accomplish by seeing a therapist? Is it symptom reduction? Does your child need an educational assessment ? Would you like to improve your marriage? Do you want to be a better person?
• Look at your life circumstances: Have life events contributed to your struggles? Are you experiencing a significant change, such as moving, trauma, grief, a job loss, or the end of a relationship? Or does this have more to do with your past?

Reasons People See Therapists

People in Johannesburg seek therapy for various reasons, reflecting the diverse challenges and experiences faced by individuals living in this bustling metropolis. Here are the top five reasons why people in Johannesburg see therapists:

1. Mental health concerns: Johannesburg's fast-paced, competitive environment can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Therapists provide a safe space for individuals to process emotions, develop coping mechanisms, and work towards mental well-being.

2. Relationship challenges: Relationship dynamics can be complex and challenging, and Johannesburgers face unique relationship stressors due to cultural differences, family dynamics, and socioeconomic disparities. Therapists offer guidance on communication, conflict resolution, and building healthy relationships.

3. Life transitions: Johannesburg is a city of constant change, with individuals frequently navigating significant life transitions such as career changes, job loss, or the loss of loved ones. Therapists assist individuals in adapting to new environments, managing life transitions, and coping with loss or grief.

4. Substance abuse: Substance abuse is a prevalent issue in Johannesburg, and therapy plays a crucial role in addiction treatment and recovery. Therapists help individuals address the underlying causes of addiction and develop strategies for long-term sobriety.

5. Trauma exposure: Johannesburg's history and social context can contribute to trauma exposure, such as violence, crime, and political unrest. Therapists provide trauma-informed care to help individuals process traumatic experiences and develop resilience.

Step Two: Decide on the Kind of Therapist

Now that you have clarified why you want to see one, consider which type is most likely equipped to meet your needs. This list covers the main types of therapists available in Johannesburg and what they typically do. Of course, every professional brings a unique background, and some will have broader skills.

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is the legal body regulating therapists throughout South Africa, including in Johannesburg and all its surrounds.

To practice legally, every therapist must hold at least a master's degree and register with the HPCSA under a category that reflects the focus of their initial training (where there is also tremendous overlap). The most relevant categories are listed below.

Kinds of Therapists in Johannesburg

• Clinical Psychologists: Clinical psychologists are trained to diagnose mental health disorders and use evidence-based therapies to treat them. These therapists have proved competent in helping with issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD, personality difficulties, and OCD.
• Counselling Psychologists: Counselling psychologists are experts in everyday challenges, behavioural matters, transitions, and stressors. They are exceptionally skilled in addressing relationship issues, clarifying values and goals, and helping people through divorce and many other such changes. These therapists also provide evidence-based insight and growth-promoting therapy.
• Educational Psychologists: Educational psychologists have proven skills in working with families, parents, and children. They are experts on child development and can skillfully identify and address emotional and learning difficulties. Many educational therapists offer assessments, report writing, play therapy for children, and guidance and therapy for parents.
• Neuropsychologists: Neuropsychologists assess neurocognitive functions. They see people experiencing neurological conditions like traumatic brain injuries or dementia and use standardised tools to identify deficits and develop treatment plans to address them. They may also provide assessments for insurance and legal purposes.
• Registered Counsellor: A Registered Counsellor in South Africa is a qualified professional who provides counselling services to individuals, often for emotional and psychological support. They are often less expensive, registered with the HPCSA and typically work with clients on various personal and mental health issues.
• Psychometrist: A Psychometrist in South Africa administers psychological assessments and tests to evaluate cognitive and emotional functioning, often working under the supervision of a psychologist. Their assessments help with diagnosis and decision-making in education and mental health.
• Clinical Social Workers: Clinical Social Workers in South Africa are highly trained professionals with a master's degree in social work. They specialize in addressing complex psychosocial and emotional challenges, offering evidence-based therapeutic support for issues like depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship difficulties. Regulated by the South African Council for Social Service Professions, they play a crucial role in the country's mental health and social support services.

Go back to your notes and ask which aligns most with your concern; that’s the kind to search for. As mentioned, overlap and variation exist, and some therapists have studied to broaden their scope. However, all things equal, looking for the kind whose initial skill set matches your needs is best.

Step Three: Choose your Preferred Setting

So far, you have clarified your issue and identified the kind of therapists to look for. Before you set out to do that, you must decide on your preferred setting (online or in person) and location (local, national, or international). Not all therapists work online, and not all work in person. Knowing your preference (or what is likely best for you) helps.

Online or In-Person

There is a reason you want to find a therapist, and no doubt you want the process to be as effective as possible. So, setting up your sessions to achieve this outcome should guide your decision here. While holding your first meeting online is possible, some matters require in-person sessions. Psychometric assessments, play therapy, managing intense emotion or risk, and in-depth therapy are all good examples.

There are of course, exceptions, e.g., you might be too afraid to meet in person and will only meet in person after growing comfortable through a period of online work. In this case, starting online is the only way to achieve your goals. The same can be said if online the only way you can access a service is, e.g., you need a therapist who speaks an otherwise unavailable language or lives deep in the Karoo.

If your situation allows you to choose between online or in-person sessions, take the decision seriously. Yes, online meetings can bring convenience, improve access, enable you to meet in the comfort of wherever and obliterate travel time. But there are also downsides, especially for therapies that require a deep emotional connection or exposure (if you fear leaving home, getting out may be an essential part of treatment).

In-person sessions have their advantages, too. Sitting in a room with someone you have grown to trust is helpful even before the power of therapy. Plus, time to process your thoughts while travelling to and from sessions allows you to gather, consolidate, and reflect. Sometimes, having somewhere to go and planning to get there can help you through the most challenging times.

Important: Some popular South African providers have rules and exclusions for online sessions or sessions with people in other countries. Check with yours for more details.

Location - Local is "Lekker!"

When choosing between local therapists or looking further into the field, we think there is no contest.

You could have heard of especially great therapists in Houghton even though you live in Benoni. And yes, therapists differ in talent, and some are more specialised. But decades have taught us that no psychologist holds a magic bullet.

South African therapists are well-trained, and the relationship you build together will count more than a PhD or popularity. So, the therapists near your home or work are likely best unless you need something locally unavailable.

Choosing local has other advantages, too. The process becomes easier to sustain by reducing travel time and cost. Scheduling sessions to fit your routine is more straightforward, and Johannesburg traffic congestion becomes less of a worry. As a result, you cancel less, avoid late cancellation fees, and have more opportunities to benefit.

Step Four: Find Therapists

At last, the search begins. But before you start, remember this: if therapy is what you are after, your goal is to find someone highly skilled whom you can form a connection with and who you believe might get and accept you. Keep this in mind every step of the way.

But how do you find nearby therapists in Johannesburg? Follow the steps below and keep a list of favourites (you may need to approach more than one) as you proceed.

Visit online directories: Therapist directories are the most convenient way to find therapists. TherapyRoute.com is South Africa's best homegrown option. Not only will you find many mental health professionals, but its features will also speed up and smooth the process. For example, the homepage instantly displays the closest therapists (and other therapists) and shows which have availability.

If you need to look elsewhere, you can use the search box to search by location. This is helpful, as therapists typically practice in affluent suburbs, so there may be more choices near your office than your home.

TherapyRoute also helps you find your best-fit therapists by providing filters like professional type, language, issue, client group, and identity, e.g., black, male, female, LGBTQA+, and more. So all you need to do is visit TherapyRoute.com , use the dropdowns, open the profiles you like best, and read them to see which ones resonate most.

Ask for recommendations: While it does mean exposing yourself a bit more, this is another popular approach. Turn to people you trust, especially those you know who have seen therapists before, and ask if they know anyone to recommend. It is usually best to see a therapist without connections to your social circle. Good boundaries help enable you to be more honest and open. So, even if you don’t see their therapists, their therapists could link you with another suitable, trusted colleague.

Asking your Doctor is another popular strategy since they often have referral relationships with local therapists. Ask for a referral to someone they can vouch for and who they know helped their other patients.

Schools: When it comes to family and children, schools are often a good port of call. Schools frequently call upon therapists, and the teachers see which ones benefit their scholars. Ask your child’s teacher if they have someone to recommend based on their observations.

Whichever approach you choose, once you have a list of options, the next step is to vet them for any red flags. We will tell you how to do this next.

Step Five: Vetting the Therapists

Call us paranoid, but Johannesburg (and everywhere else!) isn't known for its lack of scammers. Taking a moment to confirm someone's credentials and peeking at their online footprint is a good idea.

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) offers an online public portal for their database of clinicians. The portal allows you to look up medical professionals and confirm who is registered and in which category. Click here for the HPCSA online database.

Looking someone up using their registration number is easy. You can also search by name, although this is less reliable. Hint: enter their first name in the "full name" field, surname in the "surname" field, and tick "wildcard". Don't be alarmed if you get zero results; typos in their captured details can cause this.

The point of checking is to see their status, note judgments or offences, and confirm the information corresponds with their self-description.

Once satisfied that each therapist is in good standing, the next step is to Google their name. Stalking is a bad idea (better stick with their professional selves), but do look out for red flags. Do you see a pattern of negative reviews? Do worrisome news articles appear? Does their online footprint look like a professional's should, e.g., are they mentioned on relevant websites?

If all still seems promising, it is time to reach out.

Step Six: Contact the Therapist

Hooray, finally! It's time to reach out. You could fire off a few quick one-line messages or use this as a final opportunity to learn more about them and see if they are the right therapists for you before committing to a meeting.

Your aims here are to find out if they have availability that suits you, whether they think they can help with your concern, and to clarify their process and requirements. Also, if you have deal breakers (e.g., the therapists must be trans-affirming), now is the time to ask about them.

There is no one way to reach out, so don’t take our pointers too seriously; we put them together to help you along. Read through them and give them a bit of thought. Ask yourself if we missed something vital to you. Then, once you know what you want to say, draft a text to send or to use to prompt you through the jitters if you decide to phone them.

Trusted Resources

Here is a comprehensive list of mental health resources in Johannesburg:

Government-funded mental health services:

Gauteng Provincial Government Mental Health Services: The Gauteng Provincial Government provides various mental health services, including individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management. They have clinics located throughout Johannesburg.

Community Psychiatry Services - Wits University: Wits University offers outpatient psychiatric services at district clinics in Johannesburg. Psychiatrists and psychologists provide these services.

Non-profit mental health organizations:

SADAG (South African Depression and Anxiety Group): SADAG is a non-profit organization that provides various mental health resources, including a 24-hour helpline, support groups, and educational materials.

The South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH): SAFMH is a non-profit organization that advocates for mental health awareness and provides support and services to people with mental illness.

The Central Gauteng Mental Health Society (CGMHS): CGMHS is a non-profit organization that provides various mental health services, including individual therapy, group therapy, and residential care.

Gateway House: Gateway House is a private mental health clinic that offers a variety of services, including individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management.

Here are a few more reputable resources that you can utilize to access verified therapists in your vicinity or nearby:

Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) : PsySSA has a directory of registered psychologists in South Africa, including those in Johannesburg. You can search for psychologists by location and specialization on their website.

Therapist Associations: You can also explore therapist associations in South Africa, such as the South African Clinical Neuropsychological Association (SACNA) or the South African Psychoanalytic Initiative (SAPI) . These associations often provide directories of their member therapists.

Eating Disorder South Africa (EDSA): EDSA is a valuable resource providing support and information for individuals in South Africa dealing with eating disorders. They offer assistance in finding specialized therapists and treatment centres to address these complex mental health challenges.

The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP): SASOP represents South African psychiatrists and offers a directory to connect individuals with qualified psychiatric professionals. It serves as a reliable source for those seeking expert mental health assessment and treatment.

The South African Medical Association (SAMA): SAMA is a premier professional organization for medical practitioners in South Africa. Their platform offers a directory to connect individuals with qualified medical professionals, including physicians who can provide comprehensive healthcare and referrals to specialists, including therapists.