Dr Melanie Du Preez, PhD

Clinical Psychologist

Verified

“I'm Dr Melanie du Preez, an HPCSA-registered clinical psychologist (PS 0073547) with more than 26 years of clinical experience. I work mainly with neurodivergent teens and adults (ADHD, autism, AuDHD), people recovering from eating disorders, and people living with the long-term effects of trauma. Sessions are in English or Afrikaans.”

About me

Many people who find me have already tried the standard advice and found it didn't fit. That is usually not a motivation problem. It's a fit problem. I'm a late-diagnosed AuDHD adult myself, so I know from the inside what it's like to spend years building workarounds before anyone names what's going on. That lived experience sits alongside specialist training. I'm one of fewer than five certified Maudsley/Family-Based Treatment practitioners in South Africa (the model developed by James Lock and Daniel Le Grange). I'm also certified in BWRT Levels 1 and 2 (Terence Watts) and in Neurodivergent Coaching. Outside the therapy room, I teach through Mindpath Academy, where more than 5,000 students have taken my courses, and I comment regularly on South African radio about eating disorders, anxiety and body image.

Approach

Our work is practical and paced to you. First, we make sense of the patterns: what drives them, and what they may have been protecting you from. Then we test small, specific changes between sessions and keep what works. I draw on CBT, DBT skills (Marsha Linehan), ACT (Steven Hayes), BWRT, and trauma-informed work grounded in polyvagal theory (Stephen Porges, Deb Dana). With neurodivergent clients, I adapt the process to you rather than asking you to adapt to it. That means clear structure, written summaries if they help, and no judgement for needing something explained twice. I see adolescents through older adults.

Contact Melanie

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic information

Languages:

Afrikaans, English

Fees:

Please enquire

Klerksdorp, South Africa

In-person & Online

Services

- ADHD, autism and AuDHD assessment support and therapy, including late diagnosis in adults - Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and ARFID, with Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for adolescents - Trauma and PTSD - Anxiety, rejection sensitivity and emotional regulation - High-functioning burnout - Body image concerns - Parent guidance for neurodivergent children and teens

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.
Stress Management
Techniques and strategies for managing the body and mind's response to excessive demands, including relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and lifestyle changes.
Learn more about Stress Management
ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
A form of therapy that teaches acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while guiding action aligned with personal values.
Learn more about ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
Coaching
A goal-oriented practice focused on identifying objectives, overcoming obstacles, and taking action, centred on the present and future rather than past difficulties.
Crisis Support & Counselling
Emergency emotional support and counselling for people in acute psychological distress, available at the point of need.
Learn more about Crisis Support & Counselling
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
A structured therapy that combines cognitive behavioural techniques with mindfulness, designed to help people regulate intense emotions, tolerate distress, and improve relationships.
Individual Psychotherapy
In-depth one-on-one therapy that explores the deeper roots of a person's difficulties, often drawing on psychodynamic or psychoanalytic models.
Online Counselling
Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.
Learn more about Online Counselling
Psychological & Diagnostic Assessment
Formal psychological testing to identify conditions, map a person's cognitive and emotional profile, and guide treatment planning.
Learn more about Psychological & Diagnostic Assessment
Skills Training
Structured programmes that teach practical coping and life skills, such as emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.
Learn more about Skills Training

Works With:

All ages
Adolescents
Adults
Individuals

Area of expertise

Scope of Practice:

Alzheimer's / Dementia
A progressive brain disease that causes memory loss, confusion, and decline in thinking skills, eventually affecting the ability to carry out everyday tasks.
Learn more about Alzheimer's / Dementia
Eating Disorders
A group of conditions, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, involving disturbed eating behaviours and a distorted relationship with food and body image.
Learn more about Eating Disorders
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
ADHD / Attention
A neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent difficulty with attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity that interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about ADHD / Attention
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

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.