Find Psychiatrists in Cape Town, South Africa

Everyone on this page is listed under the professional title psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who then specialised in mental health. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication.

Many also offer talking therapy. Psychiatrists tend to see people whose medical, psychological and social needs all come together.

Ask a practitioner's office what a first appointment covers. Ask what they need before you book.

Groote Schuur Hospital - Psychiatry Outpatient Services. Phone +27 21 404 9111. Western Cape public hospitals charge on a means-tested scale. Patients in the lowest band pay nothing for specialist outpatient visits. Public patients are accepted by referral from a district or secondary service. Each specialty has its own eligibility criteria.

Ask the practice whether you need a referral before booking. Many health systems require a doctor's referral; some do not. How the appointment is paid for can change what is needed.

A psychiatrist asks about the problem that brought you¹. They may also ask about your life, your thoughts and feelings, and your physical health. You can ask about any diagnosis, how the psychiatrist has made sense of your situation, and what the care plan is.

Not automatically. Many psychiatrists also offer talking therapy.

Medication helps in some situations. For some conditions a combination of medication and psychotherapy is the most effective route². Ask what the options are, and what happens if you would rather not take medication.

Psychiatrists tend to treat people whose medical, psychological and social needs all have to be considered. Psychologists focus on psychological treatments.

Where medication is likely, or the picture is complicated, a psychiatrist is the usual route. For talking therapy alone, either can be a starting point. Many people see both.

Our records name no register for the title psychiatrist in South Africa. See the South Africa page for the professions that do carry a register there.