Anyone know good non-religious psychologists in Pretoria area?

Thanks Jane!

There are "good" psychologists? Ones who provide some benefit to humankind? Shit, you learn something new every day! Next thing there'll be "good" homeopaths. Nance - where are yoooo?

The difficulty, though, (and this is what I think rwenzori is driving at) is that even without all of the New Age encumbrances and woo-woo adornments, it is doubtful whether orthodox psychology properly qualifies as a science – or even could, given how there’s a theory to fit every occasion and personality.  Psychology is extremely short on falsifiability because it has a model pretty much irrespective of the situation.  I’ll grant that it’s trying to be a science but I’m not convinced that it’s anywhere near that goal yet.

'Luthon64

waaa ka ka ka 

im allso in two minds about shrinks.

wereas they might be to supply a person with methods in coping, like keeping a diary, or what the hell ever, i think they might have about as much merit, as having a chat with a mate over a drink.

with coming out of a violently abusive relationship, i feel the need to see somebody. 
i think, that friends get gatvol of hearing you bitch, and eventually tell you to get over it, whereas the shrink gets paid to listen to you karp on indefinitely.

Bit confused on the topic so please inform me...

Isn't the difference between a shrink and your buddy down at the pub, that the shrink can decide you have a chemical imbalance in your brain and treat it with prescription medicines? I wouldn't go so far as to say NOBODY gets benefits from antidepressants. However I'm sure you can make a case that anti-depressants/ritalin/etc. are over-prescribed. But then I'd contend the same is true of antibiotics, even though I solidly consider those to be with scientific merit (if used wisely).

Going to the pub for schizophrenia is also just going to make matters worse I'm afraid, the schizo's I know who are on medication tell me that they just cannot live without the pills and will probably go psychotic after not too long without them.

I may just be getting lost in the distinction between clinical psychologist/psychologist/psychiatrist/etc. Like I said, please enhance my understanding if I'm getting this wrong....

An aquantance of mine practicing child psychology blatantly states that the kids are his ferrari money, he "treats" children from a fairly well-off background and generally in his opinion its the parents that actually needs help and not the kids. On the other hand, I have colleagues who assists kids with a variety of real issues and equip them with practical solutions (managing ADHD or social background issues for instance) - there's a huge difference between these two people and like with any  job out there, it comes down to whether its a passion or a well-paying job for the individual.


Yes, and its tiring on a good day. I still maintain though, if you truly have the need to talk to someone about your problems, go find yourself an older person - they have far more practical advice born from experience and are generally rooted in reality, and they're also not professionally bound not to tell you that you're being an idiot and to stop your crap. (and its for free)

What I find extremely fascinating is the amount of sexologists thats popping up all over the place, and I've also in the last year or so came across quite a few psychologists that claim to be psychics and combine the two practices (I was horrified - its immoral) Throwing woo into the mix is giving false hope and not empowering someone to do something for themselves but to instead to sit on their asses and wait for the spirit world to fix their shit.