Nicolas van Zyl

Clinical psychologist

I am a clinical psychologist working in private practice in Pretoria as well as a lecturer in clinical psychology at the University of South Africa. I offer various mental health services including child and adult individual psychotherapy as well as psychological assessment services to adults and children, with a special interest in forensic psychological assessments, medico-legal assessments and neuropsychological assessments.

Other assessment services include career guidance assessments, intellectual assessments for adults and children, personality and psychopathology assessments as well as assessments for specific learning disorders including ADHD, Dyslexia and specific learning disorders.

Training and Experience

I completed my undergraduate and honours degrees in psychology in 2006 at the University of Pretoria (UP). In 2009 I obtained my master’s degree in clinical psychology at the University of South Africa (UNISA).

After completing my studies I have worked in various provincial hospitals. These include Stikland Psychiatric Hospital and Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape and 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria. Having worked in hospital settings until September 2013, I have gained exposure to various clinical settings. Among these are adult and child psychiatric wards, neuropsychiatric wards, anxiety and eating disorder clinics and a family and couples clinic.

My field of interest includes assisting clients to manage and overcome various psychiatric conditions (including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and schizophrenia) and to make adjustments to general life stressors such as relationship problems, sexual and gender identity crises and dealing with death and bereavement.

I completed my PhD in psychology in 2015 at the University of South Africa.

My Approach

I am familiar with various treatment modalities, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, family systems therapy, narrative therapy and hypnosis. My approach is based on the unique needs and qualities of each client to ensure personalised treatment of their specific problems. The intervention to be used is negotiated with each client, keeping in mind their goals for therapy.

HPCSA Nr: PS 011 3557
Practice Nr: 0470872