Mr Francois van der Linde, MA

Clinical Psychologist

Verified

“I do this work because I believe people can change and heal. I’ve witnessed many brave clients transform their lives. Our journey begins wherever you are right now. Together, we create the conditions you need to grow, heal, and feel free to be yourself and live authentically.”

About me

I "discovered" psychology in my mid-20s and began studying it as a hobby. As my interest grew, I made a career change, completing my formal training at Rhodes University in 2007. I value continuous learning and I do so with the help of supervisors and colleagues, conferences and workshops, living life, and importantly, also through my clients. VALUES: Honesty, Integrity, Authenticity, Continued Growth

Approach

My approach utilizes short-term dynamic therapy. Rather than open-ended talk therapy that can stretch on indefinitely, we actively work with both your conscious thoughts and the underlying patterns you might not yet see. This focused, collaborative process helps you achieve meaningful, lasting change more directly.

Contact Francois

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic information

Languages:

Afrikaans, English

Fees:

Insurance accepted

Knysna, South Africa

In-person & Online

Services

Individual Therapy Individual Psychotherapy is an active, collaborative partnership designed to help you uncover the root causes of your struggles and create lasting change. Drawing on a Short-Term Dynamic framework, this focused approach works with both the conscious patterns you recognise in yourself and the unconscious dynamics that may be quietly driving them. Together we engage in focused, purposeful work, building emotional resilience, deepening self-understanding, and breaking free from cycles that have kept you stuck. Couples & Marital Couples and Marital Therapy offers a supportive, collaborative space for you and your partner to navigate relationship difficulties, heal relational ruptures, and rebuild a secure and lasting bond. Rooted in evidence-based frameworks, this focused approach helps you understand the dynamics driving your relationship, untangle repetitive conflicts, and reconnect with both shared purpose and genuine intimacy. This is active work, not a space to simply vent or adjudicate who is right. Together, we work to shift the patterns beneath the surface so that lasting change becomes possible. Hypnotherapy Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic tool that uses deep relaxation and focused attention to help you access your mind’s natural capacity for healing and change. I will guide you into a calm, receptive state where we can safely explore and shift negative thought patterns and beliefs, reduce stress, and work through personal challenges at a pace that feels right for you. Plant Medicine & Psychedelic Integration Therapy Plant Medicine and Psychedelic Integration Therapy offers a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space to help you process, ground, and make meaningful sense of altered states of consciousness, whether those experiences felt profound, confusing, overwhelming, or somewhere in between. As a psychologist, I do not provide, prescribe, endorse, or facilitate the use of any substances. This work focuses entirely on two distinct and clinically recognized phases: preparation and integration.

Services Offered:

Brain Working Recursive Therapy
A therapy that works with the brain's natural response patterns to change unwanted reactions before they reach conscious awareness.
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy
Psych & Diagnostic Assessment
Formal psychological testing to identify conditions, understand cognitive and emotional functioning, and guide treatment planning.
Psychodynamic Therapy
A therapy that explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape current feelings, relationships, and behaviour.
Learn more about Psychodynamic Therapy
Somatic Psychotherapy
A form of therapy focused on the connection between mind and body, using body awareness and movement to release held tension, trauma, and emotion.
Imago Relationship Therapy
A couples therapy approach based on the idea that relationship conflicts are rooted in unmet childhood needs, using structured dialogue to improve understanding and connection.
Learn more about Imago Relationship Therapy
Divorce Counselling
Counselling for individuals or couples going through separation or divorce, addressing the emotional, practical, and relational dimensions.
Guided Visualisation
A relaxation technique in which a therapist guides you through calming mental imagery to reduce stress, anxiety, or pain.
Relationship Counselling
Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.
Hypnotherapy
A therapy that uses hypnosis — a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility — to help people explore thoughts, feelings, or memories that may be held outside everyday awareness.

Works With:

Adults
Individuals
Adolescents
Couples
Elderly
Groups
Families

Area of expertise

Scope of Practice:

Abuse
Emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment by another person that causes lasting psychological harm and disrupts a person's sense of safety.
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
Autism (ASD)
A neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication, sensory processing, and behaviour patterns, with a wide range of presentations and strengths.
Grief & Loss
The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.
Learn more about Grief & Loss
Mood Disorder
A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.
Learn more about Mood Disorder
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy
Trauma
The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.
Learn more about Trauma
Anger
An intense emotional response to perceived threat, injustice, or frustration that, when persistent or uncontrolled, can damage relationships and well-being.
Learn more about Anger
Depression
A mood disorder marked by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and changes in energy, sleep, or appetite that impair daily functioning.
Learn more about Depression
Self-Esteem
A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.
Learn more about Self-Esteem

Professional Title:

Clinical Psychologist
An advanced mental health professional trained to assess and treat a wide range of difficulties, from anxiety and depression to trauma and complex conditions.