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Clinical Psychologist, Helping people grow
& blossom in their life.

Ayabonga Timakwe

Clinical Psychologist in Johannesburg

I am a clinical psychologist in private practice, consulting in Johannesburg. I offer a safe and empathic space for my clients to come to a better understanding of themselves, their emotions and behaviours.

I completed my Masters degree and training in Clinical Psychology at the Child Guidance Clinic, University of Cape Town. My internship was at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. I gained extensive experience in psychometric and neuropsychological assessments as well as psychotherapy (play therapy for children, individual therapy, parent counselling, family therapy and couples therapy).

My community service was at Malamulele Hospital treating a wide range of clinical disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. In addition to this, I worked with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, ASD, Intellectual Disability as well as psychotic disorders. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients, i.e. survivors of rape and abuse and members of the LGBTQI community.
 
My research interests are around the psychopolitics of race, class and gender as well as understanding the complexity of violence (structural violence and gender-based violence) in this country. Over and above this, I am passionate about understanding people and I believe that my role as a therapist is to facilitate a process where my clients can feel empowered to reach their full potential.

A. Timakwe

My Education

#
University
Degree
Year
01
University of Cape Town
MA in Clinical Psychology
2020
02
University of Cape Town
B.Soc.Sci Honours in Psychology
2017
03
University of Cape Town
B.Soc.Sci
2016

Services I offer

It's my goal to create a comfortable, safe environment where we'll work together to achieve your goals.

Areas of Expertise

I work with most clinical disorders and psychological concerns. My areas of interest include, but are not limited to the following:

Anxiety and Depression

Including postpartum depression or adjustment difficulties

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder and Intellectual Disability

Childhood behavioural concerns

Such as stealing, lying and aggression

Family problems

Separation, divorce, sibling rivalry and more

Grief

The loss of a loved one.

Parenting difficulties

Challenges with discipline

Relational difficulties

Conflict with spouse or partner, communication problems

Trauma

Emotional, physical or sexual abuse
Psychologist

How I Work

I offer my clients a safe and comfortable space to explore their challenges. My approach is one of unconditional positive regard, empathy and collaboration. The aim is to help you develop better insight into your challenges and equip you with more appropriate coping strategies.

While my training has been largely from the psychodynamic school of thought and I have a keen interest in attachment theory, I am eclectic in my therapeutic approaches depending on the needs of my clients.

FAQ

In order for me to render a service to you I need to do a proper evaluation. The first few sessions are used to explore your reasons for consulting. In the course of this evaluation I will ask you a number of questions about your symptoms, your personal history, relationships and so forth. Some of these questions may be very personal but I will not ask you anything that is not pertinent. Thereafter, we will discuss my recommendations and the way forward. 

This could be either therapy or an assessment. Therapy usually brings improved personal growth in the long term. In the short term, however, it may be an unsettling experience, as it is usually an emotional experience. The purpose of therapy is to bring about changes in your circumstances. The success of therapy is influenced by a number of factors. One of the most important factors is the degree to which clients take responsibility to bring about change. For further information about the type of assessments I conduct, please contact me.

The duration of a session is usually 60 minutes long. However, this depends on the needs of the clients. For example, for couples therapy and family therapy, 90 minutes is indicated.

I charge medical aid rates for clients who are able to claim from their schemes. For those not on medical aid, I offer cash rates. Please enquire about this. I believe that mental health services should be accessible to everyone, therefore I reserve a limited number of appointments on a sliding scale basis, based on financial need.

A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required for all cancellations. Should the notice period be less than 24 hours, or should you not arrive, you will be charged in full for the session. This is because I am unable to use this time to see another client. Unfortunately, medical aids do not cover missed appointments – the fee will be for your personal account.

Get In Touch

Contact Me For An Apointment

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