Mental Health in South Africa

It is estimated that in South Africa, only one in four individuals in need of mental health support receives it in any form. Various challenges, such as the persistent stigma around seeking help, long waiting times at public clinics, and the high cost of private psychological services, make it difficult to access the necessary support. Both centers we collaborate with offer free or highly affordable services aimed at marginalized individuals and groups who would otherwise have limited access to psychological care.

Psychological Counseling Center in Woodstock, Cape Town

The center in Cape Town is run by a nonprofit organization, providing affordable and accessible psychological counseling as well as workshops on wellbeing and mental health. The goal is to bridge the gap between the demand for mental health services and the availability of such services in disadvantaged and marginalized communities. The center is centrally located in Woodstock and serves neighboring areas such as Zonnebloem, Salt River, and Observatory.

Many of the counselors are psychology students who are trained and supervised by team members with BA and MA degrees in psychology and social work. Services are offered both on-site at the center and remotely (e.g., via WhatsApp). They include short-term individual counseling and group workshops on topics such as basic life skills, addiction support, gender and sexuality, loss and separation, trauma, and personal crisis counseling.

Another aspect of the organization’s mission is to raise awareness about mental health. They regularly hosts workshops and talks on mental health topics at the center in Woodstock. Additionally, the organization has a program to train teachers and managers in stress management, providing them with tools to help students and employees manage stress effectively.

Internship placements are available for psychology students, supported by qualified supervision to enhance your learning experience. You’ll receive initial training and then conduct counseling sessions with clients. You’ll also have the chance to discuss your experiences and challenges with the center's leadership and receive valuable feedback. There’s also the opportunity to assist with other tasks at the center, gaining further insights into different areas of work. The internship supervisor is a UK-trained psychotherapist specializing in existential psychotherapy, trauma therapy (NATAL, TAU), and PTSD (Harvard University).

Psychological Counselling Centre in Tokai, Cape Town

The centre is a non-profit counselling organisation with several locations across Cape Town, including a site in the suburb of Tokai. The organisation is committed to making psychological support and emotional care accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Counselling services are provided regardless of financial means, as sessions are donation-based and there are no fixed fees for clients.

The services offered at the centre include individual counselling sessions as well as a wide range of workshops and training programmes on topics such as self-care, stress management, trauma, relationship issues, emotional regulation and substance awareness.

In addition, the centre runs community-based educational programmes, including a specialised 12-week substance abuse treatment programme for adolescents as well as workshops addressing mental and psychosocial challenges. The aim of these programmes is to strengthen psycho-emotional skills within the community.

The centre also offers internships in the field of counselling: Master’s students or graduates with a relevant qualification (Bachelor’s degree) can gain practical experience, work with clients under professional supervision and further develop their skills. Interns also have the opportunity to participate in and co-facilitate psycho-educational workshops in schools and at the centres and, where appropriate, to be involved in the substance abuse treatment programme alongside the centre’s social workers. In addition, a wide range of professional resources is available to them, which they can access and use to deepen their knowledge.