How to find a therapist in Johannesburg

Johannesburg, City of Gold. Known as the powerhouse of Africa, it entices people from all over the continent, there to seek out new opportunities, find new jobs and create new lives. But how does one find a therapist in Johannesburg, if that’s what you’re looking for? Here are a few pointers to get you started.

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Before we go any further, congratulations are in order. You have already made the greatest and possibly hardest decision when finding a therapist – that of simply deciding to find one in the first place. Therapy helps millions of people to find stability, inner contentment and self-understanding. Therefore, actively engaging with this process is one of the most worthwhile steps one can take in life.

First of all, you need to identify what kind of therapist you want. In a city of 4,5 million people, therapists of all kinds can be found, all willing to help you address whatever emotional difficulties or mind-related issues you are facing.

One of the first decisions to make when embarking on finding a therapist you like is whether you want to address your issues via talk-therapy, occupational/social interventions, medication – or a combination of these. This defines whether you will be likely to seek out a counsellor, social worker, occupational therapist, or psychologist (who uses talking as the primary mode of operation) versus a psychiatrist (who often [but not always] focus on medical interventions, like antidepressants, to address psychiatric needs). Of course, many psychiatrists work hand-in-hand with other practitioners to address needs from different angles.

Psychologists are further split into sub-categories depending on their areas of study. During their training, psychology students can focus on clinical, counselling, or educational psychology. While clinical, counselling and educational psychologists have different areas of focus and expertise, they can all provide psychotherapy so long as they have the requisite training and competence. There is no limit regarding the client age that each of these categories can work with.

In South Africa, psychologists continue to develop skills post-qualification, which can increase the overlap between the sub-categories. Most psychologists (and other mental health professionals) who provide therapy will describe (on their online profiles, websites, or even over the phone) the type of therapy they have been trained in and use in their practice and the ages and conditions they generally work with.

In identifying which type of professional is right, you must also ascertain whether you want to engage with a private or public therapist. The difference between the two is largely a matter of cost and range of choice. Private therapists run their practices, usually from the more affluent areas of greater Johannesburg, such as the Northern Suburbs. Of course, private therapists can also be accessed in other areas of the city.

On the other hand, public therapists generally work from clinics, many of which are based in the city centre or community locations in Johannesburg’s townships. Public therapists usually cost less than their private counterparts. Counsellors also often work from public clinics. Counsellors typically train for a shorter time than therapists, so their fees are less. They also provide useful assistance in addressing specific issues.

A comprehensive list of the low-fee options and free community mental health services offered throughout Gauteng is provided at the bottom of this article. Do be sure to call your local community clinic before you go. Many require that you attend on a certain day or first obtain a referral letter from a doctor. The process will be explained to you when you call.

Lifeline is a non-profit organization where public therapists and counsellors work, offering their services to the community much lower cost than private practitioners. The organization operates in Johannesburg, Alexandra, Norwood and Soweto. To find a therapist or counsellor at Lifeline by phone or in person, you can contact http://www.lifelinejhb.org.za/.

The Johannesburg Parent & Child Counselling Centre (which can be found at http://www.jpccc.org.za) provides counselling at public rates for children aged 3-21 years. With a focus on educational psychology and mentoring for school-aged children, this resource is an excellent and accessible one for this age group.

FAMSA (Families South Africa) is another non-profit organisation in Johannesburg which offers counselling services around various family-related matters. It focuses on issues ranging from divorce, marriage and trauma counselling to play therapy. To contact FAMSA visit http://famsa.org.za/.

There are various psychiatric government hospitals in Johannesburg, the best-known being Sterkfontein Hospital in Krugersdorp and Tara Hospital in Hurlingham. Public hospitals do not offer walk-in mental health services. You need to be referred to a hospital by your local community clinic.

If you prefer a private therapist, referrals from your GP or trusted friends are a good way to start. Another excellent way to find therapists is of course, online. Comprehensive online portals such as TherapyRoute.com are wonderful ways of searching by type of therapist and area. This website is not limited to private practitioners: Clinics, non-profits, and other therapy-related organisations are also searchable by area within Johannesburg.

This South African therapist directory 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.

Part of the decision around finding a therapist in Johannesburg will centre around whether you wish to use medical aid to fund your sessions. Therapists who are registered medical-aid providers usually agree to conduct an initial first session as an ‘assessment’ of your need for therapy. They can then use the findings from this session to motivate to your medical aid why they should assist in funding your therapy. Medical aids are often more supportive of shorter-term than longer-term therapy. This may limit your choice of a therapist to those who practice short-term work.

Once you have considered these various aspects of therapy and their implications, you can find the right therapist or counsellor for you using the suggestions listed above. It is time to begin one of the most worthwhile journeys of your life. Therapy is, without a doubt, one of the best investments you can make with your time. Congratulations on taking this step – with the help of the right therapist, you’ll be on your way to understanding your thoughts, relationships and behaviour with deeper insight and clarity than ever before.

No / Low Fee Mental Health Resources in the Gauteng

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.