Reaching the practice, and knowing who to ask for

Most people who write to us are not sure whether they need a booking, a referral letter or just a straight answer about how intake works. Use the details below and say plainly what you need. If your question is about a specific listing, mention the practitioner's name and suburb so we can point you to the right person rather than sending you in circles.

Practice address

15269 Esther Meadows
North Marystad, KZN 5791

Visits are by appointment. The building entrance is on the side street, and there is parking behind the block.

Phone and email

+27(47)9144026
info@thinkgrouppsychology.com

Calls are answered during office hours. Email suits longer questions about referrals, medical aid authorisation or telehealth setup.

Hours

  • Monday to Thursday: 08:00 - 17:00
  • Friday: 08:00 - 15:00
  • Saturday: 09:00 - 13:00, selected practitioners
  • Sunday and public holidays: closed

Which channel to use

For a first appointment, phone is fastest. For anything involving documents, such as a GP referral or a medical aid pre-authorisation, send an email so the paperwork stays in one thread. If you are a practitioner wanting to claim a listing or reply to a review, use the email address and include your HPCSA registration number.

Before you call

It helps to have your medical aid scheme and plan name on hand, the suburb you can travel to, and whether you need an evening or weekend slot. If you are asking about a child, mention their age, since play therapy and adolescent work are handled by different practitioners. Nothing you say on that first call commits you to a session.

Not sure which page answers your question?

Help works best when you know what you are actually stuck on. Some people arrive with a name and a suburb and just need the listing. Others have a referral letter from a GP and no idea what happens after the first phone call. A few are weighing up whether to stay with a therapist they have seen for two years.

Leave your email and we will send a short note pointing you to the right part of the directory, the explainer that fits your situation, and what to have ready before you make contact. No weekly newsletter, no marketing sequences. If nothing matches, we will say so.

Stay in touch

Tell us where you are in the process

One line is enough. City, what you are looking for, and whether you have medical aid cover or a referral already.

Prefer to speak to someone? Call +27(47)9144026 or write to info@thinkgrouppsychology.com.

What this directory does not claim

Help pages are only useful if the limits are stated up front. These are the definitions and conditions behind every listing, review and explainer on ThinkGroup, so you can read the rest of the site with the right expectations.

Reviews are client accounts, not clinical assessments

A review describes one person's experience of consultation style, waiting time, session format or how intake felt. It is not a judgement about a practitioner's competence, and it is not a substitute for an HPCSA finding or a formal complaint. Where a review touches on diagnosis, treat it as personal recollection rather than fact.

Registration status is checked, scope is not guaranteed

We confirm that a practitioner appears on the relevant register before publishing a listing. We do not verify which approaches they are trained in, whether they take a particular medical aid plan, or how current their waiting list is. Those details change, so confirm them directly before your first appointment.

Filters narrow the list, they do not rank it

Suburb, session language, approach and evening or weekend availability are search tools. A practice appearing first is not a recommendation, and a listing with more reviews is not automatically a better fit. Read the substance of the feedback, especially anything about communication and how the first session was handled.

Editorial explainers are general guidance

Articles on first sessions, GP referrals, registration differences and switching therapists describe how things usually work in South Africa. They are written for orientation, not for your specific situation. Anything urgent, or anything involving risk to yourself or someone else, belongs with a professional or an emergency service, not with a help page.

If something here is wrong

Practitioners can claim a listing and reply to feedback, and readers can flag a review that names a third party, describes someone else's care, or reads as an attack rather than an account. Write to info@thinkgrouppsychology.com or call +27(47)9144026. Corrections are handled by the same small team that writes the explainers, so replies take a few working days.

Questions people ask before they book

Most of what slows people down is not the therapy itself, it is the paperwork and the uncertainty around it. These are the questions that come up most often in the reviews and emails we receive.

Do I need a referral from my GP to see a psychologist?

Not for the session itself. You can contact a registered clinical psychologist directly and book an intake. A GP referral becomes useful when you want your medical aid to treat the visits as a prescribed minimum benefit, or when a psychiatrist needs to be involved. If you are unsure, ask the practice what they need from you before the first appointment.

What is the difference between a clinical psychologist and a counsellor?

Both are registered with the HPCSA, but the scope differs. A clinical psychologist can assess, diagnose and work with complex presentations. A registered counsellor works within a narrower frame and generally does not diagnose. For something specific and short-term, a counsellor may be the right fit. For assessment or a longer treatment plan, look at the registration on the listing.

How do I know if a therapist is the right match?

You often do not know after one session, and that is normal. Pay attention to whether you felt heard during intake, whether the approach was explained in plain language, and whether practical things like evening slots or telehealth fit your week. If it is not working after a few sessions, say so. Most practitioners will refer you on without taking it personally.

Can I claim therapy sessions from my medical aid?

It depends on your plan and whether the practitioner is registered and contracted. Sessions with a registered psychologist are usually claimable from a savings account or day-to-day benefit, and some plans cover a set number of visits. Telehealth sessions are treated differently by some schemes, so confirm with your medical aid before you start rather than after.

How do I leave a review, and can a practice respond?

Reviews are open to anyone who has seen a practitioner in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria or elsewhere in the country. We ask for details about waiting times, consultation style and how the intake felt, not just a rating. Practitioners can claim their listing and reply to feedback. If something in a review looks wrong, write to us and we will look at it.

Still unsure where to start? Read the contact page for how to reach the team, or check the privacy policy if you want to know how review data is handled.

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