Resources
Informative pages that may provide you with immediate short-term help and answers to questions you might have.
Resources by Topic
The articles cover a wide range of topics and are grouped by subject matter. Explore these areas to read more about various conditions and addictions that life might throw at you.
Addiction
Addiction is described as powerlessness over all mood-altering drugs and behaviours:
Chemical addictions to illicit or “recreational” drugs and alcohol
Behavioural addictions include Addiction to the internet, Sexual Addiction, Workaholism, Compulsive Gambling, Compulsive Shopping, Compulsive Exercising, Compulsive Hoarding, Eating Disorders, Codependency and Self-mutilation.
Alcohol / Drug Abuse
Alcohol or drug dependence (addiction) differs from
Alcohol / Drug abuse.
The four relevant categories pertaining to Alcohol / Drug Abuse:
Adolescent and Childhood
Extensive research has shown the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy in treating children and adolescents. CBT is often used to treat Mood Disorders and Depression as well as Anxiety Disorders. Research also clearly demonstrates its efficacy with PTSD as well as with crisis debriefing.
Childhood Developmental Disorders include Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD), Separation Anxiety Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder.
Depression and Mood Disorders
Mood disorders can be split into two basic categories: those mood disorders that involve depression, and those mood disorders that include both depression and manic episodes (or just mania):
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders affect 18% of people aged 18 or older in a given year, causing them to be filled with fearfulness and uncertainty. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first date), anxiety disorders last at least 6 months and can get worse if they are not treated. They include Specific Phobias, OCD, PTSD, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Phobia, and Panic Disorder.
Eating Disorders
Regardless of the type of eating disorder, people are generally focused on food, weight (a specific number) and body image (which is usually distorted).
Eating disorders generally fall into three categories:
Compulsive Overeating (Binge Eating)
Trauma, Bereavement and Grief
The simple fact is that if you are having strong thoughts and/or feelings about an experience, then you have been traumatised to some extent by the experience.
Acute Stress Disorder occurs in someone after the impact of trauma.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after a terrifying ordeal that involves physical harm or the threat of physical harm.
Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away.
Personality Disorders
Personality Disorders are seen as separate from normal neurotic conditions (depression, anxiety etc.) in that they are chronic in nature and involve an enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that is seen as culturally inappropriate in modern society. These are the disorders covered:
Cognitive Therapy
As a Cognitive Therapist I am extremely well trained in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), and over the years have upskilled in and added on other Cognitive Therapy modalities such as Rational Emotive Therapy (RET), Schema Therapy (ST), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (AACT) as well as Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT) in order to be able to effectively treat even the most challenging of cases.
Resource Articles
Select from one of the specific articles below to help you understand what you or a loved one might be facing.
Alcohol / Drug Dependence
Alcohol or Drug Dependence (addiction) occurs when an individual develops a particular neurochemical response to a mood-altering substance. It should not be confused with the chemical effect that each different drug has on an individual.
Alcohol / Drug Abuse
Alcohol or drug abuse differs from alcohol or drug use in terms of the amount of use but more importantly in terms of risks incurred by the user.
Addiction to the internet
A set of behaviours observed in people using the internet to such an extent that it has caused other aspects of their lives to become unmanageable.
Mandrax
Mandrax Mandrax (methaqualone) sometimes comes in light and dark blue capsules or white scored tablets. It is sometimes crushed and smoked with dagga in a ‘white Pipe’. Mandrax is also often used as a ‘downer’ by tik users in order for them to be able to function more...
Sexual Addiction
What is sexual addiction? Sexual addiction differs from normal sexual behaviour in the same way that controlled drinking differs from alcoholism. In sexual addiction, like any other addiction, sexual behaviour has reached a point where it is out of control, despite...
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, (tik) in South Africa, is a white, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder commonly known as speed, meth, or chalk.
Workaholism
What is workaholism? In Japan, it’s called karoshi – ‘death by overwork’ – and it’s estimated to cause 1 000 deaths per year, nearly 5% of that country’s stroke and heart attack deaths in employees under age 60. In the Netherlands, it’s resulted in a new condition...
Anabolic Steroids
What are anabolic steroids? Anabolic steroids are a group of powerful compounds closely related to the male sex hormone testosterone. Developed in the 1930s, steroids are seldom prescribed by physicians today. Current legitimate medical uses are limited to certain...
Compulsive Gambling
What is a gambling addiction? Gambling addiction differs from gambling in the same way that controlled drinking differs from alcoholism. In gambling addiction, like any other addiction, gambling has reached a point where it is out of control, despite the damages being...
Alcohol facts: men vs women
Alcohol facts: men vs women. Men and women experience different physiological effects from alcohol and issues associated with heavy drinking.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 or COrona VIrus Disease 2019 is a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus. The COVID-19 virus (or SARS-CoV2) is the latest virus in the growing family of now seven viruses that include SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS-CoV), MERS (Middle...
Psychotic Disorders and Schizophrenia
Psychotic Disorders Psychotic disorders are composed of symptoms that are either fixed, false perceptions or cognitions, or grossly disorganized cognitions or behaviours. Types of symptoms of psychotic disorders There is always a level of fracture from reality, with...
More Resources
Emergency Numbers
A list of relevant South African help numbers if you need Urgent Assistance.
FAQs
The most commonly asked questions about therapy, fees and medical aids.
My Scribblings
Links to therapy-oriented dissertations and book articles I have written
Free Assessment Tools - Tools for Health and Wellness
How anxious are you? Are you getting enough sleep? What’s your Cardiovascular Risk? These tools on TFHAW will help you evaluate your situation.
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How do I get help for myself or my loved one?
The first step in getting help is finding out whether you have a problem. A trained clinical psychologist can effectively perform a professional assessment, which will identify whether you have any problem areas, and will recommend the treatment most appropriate for you if necessary.
Want to explore psycho-educational articles?
Visit our Tools for Health & Wellness site where we attempt to move away from a focus on psychopathology and rather throw more light on the path to health. This site is designed to help you get quality advice on a wide range of physical and psychological health and wellness topics. It promotes the idea of creating broad-based health throughout your life, and acknowledges that in order to maximise happiness and reduce stress both your physical and psychological wellbeing need to be encouraged.
Tools for Health and Wellness is designed for everyone! It is intended for those of you doing really well in your lives and just looking to tweak one or two things to maximise this amazing life experience. Equally, it has been created for those of you who are currently struggling and are looking for more in-depth help with particular issues.
