Dr Derine Louw focuses on therapeutic interventions in children, adolescents and adults.
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Dr Derine Louw

Growing through
life's challenges

Adult Therapy
Providing a therapeutic space for the individual to gain awareness, adapt, grow and heal.
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Feel less isolated

Group Therapy
Providing opportunity to grow in a supportive environment and identify similar challenges.
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Feel safe

Child and Adolescent Therapy
Therapy provides the child or adolescent with a safe space, and thus their privacy and confidentiality will be honoured to facilitate engagement in the process.
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about

Dr Derine Louw

Dr Derine Louw (BSc, Hons BSc, MDIAC, MSc, PhD) started her private practice in 2020, after working as a senior psychologist at Stikland Psychiatric Hospital in Bellville, Cape Town since 2010. Her focus is on therapeutic interventions in child, adolescent and adult mental health with a special interest in mood and anxiety disorders, body-focused repetitive behaviours (hair-pulling, skin picking), as well as working with siblings and care givers of children with special needs. Intervention modalities include Gestalt Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and BrainWorking Recursive Therapy. Both individual and group sessions form part of her service.


The bulk of Derine’s experience was gained in the Western Cape Department of Health in secondary/tertiary level psychiatric care – in the Psychogeriatric Unit, Out-patient Department and Therapeutic Unit (Intlalo Clinic). She was jointly appointed as a lecturer at Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Campus. Her work opportunities have allowed her to develop skills in a range of areas, including psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, working closely within multi-disciplinary teams, in- and out-patient individual and group psychotherapy, psychometric and neuropsychological assessment and report writing, student and colleague supervision and training, as well as lecturing, research and coordination of academic programmes.


Derine obtained her PhD in 2019, which focused on cognitive training as an intervention for patients with hair-pulling disorder. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed, as she believes that the patient’s experience of mental illness – their story, is just as important as the statistical information gathered during research. This study paved the way for her interest in Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours (hair-pulling, skin-picking, nail-biting etc).


Before qualifying as a clinical psychologist, Derine worked as a tutor for children with autism while completing her play therapy masters. She experienced the impact that managing a child with autism had on families first-hand and in her research investigated the experience of siblings of children with autism. This gave her a view of a world, in which siblings often step back to accommodate the management of the family member with special needs. Years later, she herself would become a sibling of a younger brother on the autism spectrum. Her engagement with families with special needs children, is thus a passion on both a professional and a personal level.

Dr Derine Louw

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services

Services Offered

Intervention modalities include Gestalt Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Both individual and group sessions form part of her service.

Individual Therapy

Therapeutic modalities and process duration differ depending on the presenting problem and the need of the client.
Applies to children, adolescents and adults.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is an effective way of engaging in therapeutic work that has the benefit of providing the client the opportunity to grow in a supportive environment. Group comprises of 6 - 8 members.
faq's

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a clinical psychologist?
    A clinical psychologist has specialist training in diagnostic assessment, intervention and psychotherapy. They hold a master’s degree in clinical psychology and can only register at the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) after completing a clinical psychology internship at a psychiatric institution and one-year community service at a government institution. In order to stay registered at the HPCSA, they must comply with Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Please refer to the HPCSA website for more information on the different psychology registration categories and scope of practice: Click to Download
  • What is meant by confidentiality?
    The information you share during the therapeutic process is confidential and cannot be disclosed without your consent. Limitations to confidentiality arise when there is risk that you might harm yourself or someone else, or children are at risk. Also, if the psychologist is subpoenaed by the court to testify in a legal case, one is obligated to disclose confidential information.
  • What are the practice's office hours?
    Mondays to Thursdays 09:00 – 17:00
    Fridays 09:00 – 13:00
  • How do I make an appointment?
    Please contact the practice at +27 21 913 1858 or email info@derinelouw.co.za to book an appointment.
  • How many sessions will I need?
    The number of sessions vary depending on your treatment and can be discussed at your first appointment.
  • How does payment work?
    The first consultation is to be paid immediately. Clients without a medical aid are required to pay cash immediately after each session. Accounts not paid within 90 days will be handed over and you will be liable for the full cost. Your account will be debited with a full consultation fee with failure of cancellation within 24 hours prior.
  • What are the appointment fees?
    Medical aid rates are charged for all services as proposed by Healthman Psychology Costing Guide. Please follow the link www.healthman.co.za or make contact with the practice for more information.
  • Who can I contact for billing enquiries?
    We make use of Abacus Account Management Services. They can be contacted telephonically at +27 21 979 0652 or via e-mail at aams@mweb.co.za. For more information, please visit their website at www.abacusbilling.co.za
  • Will my sessions be covered by medical aid?
    It is important to contact your medical aid to find out what your benefit for psychotherapeutic services is. In general, medical aids pay for psychotherapeutic services from the member’s Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB, see below) or the Medical Aid Savings Account (MSA).
  • What are Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB)?
    These benefits are defined as a golden standard to make sure that all medical aid members have access to certain minimum health services. Please contact your medical aid to double check their policy on PMB and which diagnostic codes are covered.
  • What is the practice's cancellation policy?
    The practice very committed to serving clients and to strive to accommodate all clients by making appointments available as soon as possible. When an appointment is reserved for you, the practice requires 24 office hours notice if you need to cancel your appointment. Please note that sms or whatsapp (text message) cancellations will not be accepted. The practice understands that emergencies happen, and will be happy to consider those situations.

    The mobile text messages you receive as a reminder of your appointment are only courtesy messages and the practice cannot be held responsible if you do not receive or read the message.
  • What is the practice's termination policy?
    The relationship between yourself and the practice staff is one of trust. If anyone of the parties to this relationship breaches the trust, or feels that the trust is no longer there, the other party is within rights to walk away from the relationship.

    The practice is also entitled to terminate the relationship in circumstances where you, or your family or friends, are abusive towards staff, where you withhold important information, where you fail to co-operate (e.g. to keep your appointments and adhere to treatment), or when you refuse to follow instructions (and refuse to sign an indemnity to that effect), or where you do not adhere to the rules of this practice (which include failure to honour your financial obligations to the practice).

    Should our relationship come to an end, the practice will provide you with a letter of termination, and/or suggest another healthcare provider, should you request so.