Trauma Psychiatrists in Cape Town

Trauma therapy treats what stays behind after a frightening or overwhelming event.

The World Health Organization names psychological treatment as the first choice for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ¹. Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy and EMDR have the most evidence.

Treatment usually includes preparation, and work on the memory itself comes later. It is for people whose symptoms have persisted.

Not everyone who has been through something bad needs it. Ask a practitioner which approaches they are trained in.

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.

The title you will see is Psychiatrist. Search the register by name at Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Check that the name and title match and that the entry is current. If they do not, ask the practitioner why.

In South Africa psychologists and social workers must be registered to practise. No statute protects the plain title counsellor.

See the South Africa page.