About Dr Christine Laidlaw
PS 0112887 | PR 0829269
Clinical Psychologist (MA.ClinPsych, NMMU, cum laude, PhD, Unisa)
I am an HPCSA registered Clinical Psychologist in private practice.
I completed my undergraduate BA degree and Honours Degree in Psychology at Stellenbosch University. During my training, I worked as a lay counsellor for five years. I have also worked as an Assessment Specialist for Adcorp Talent Resourcing conducting psychological assessments for government departments and private companies. I completed my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology (cum laude) at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth gaining experience at the university clinic and private psychiatric hospital.
My year of Community Service was based at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria working with adults and adolescents as well as families.
From 2012, I was an academic lecturing in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Africa and an Associate Professor from 2020, alongside part-time private practice.
Since 2023, I am now in full-time private practice seeing individuals across the lifespan. Currently, I am still involved in part-time lecturing on psychotherapy and psychopathology to master’s students at various universities in-person and online as well as postgraduate research projects.
I believe in tailoring therapy to meet the needs of the individual, couple, family, or group.
The psychotherapy process can assist with the following:
- Depression and Bipolar Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders (incl. Separation Anxiety)
- Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-eating)
- Substance-related problems and self-harm behaviours
- Trauma and Abuse
- Personality Disorders
- Relationship problems and conflicts (couple, family)
- Loss and Bereavement
- Work-related stress and issues
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Parent-Child relational difficulties
- Separation / Divorce (e.g., Reunification therapy between parent and child for court purposes)
- Personal Growth and Development
My therapeutic approach is drawn from a number of theories and therapies including the following:
- Relational Psychoanalytic Therapy
- Client-centred Therapy
- Ecosystemic Therapy
- Jungian Sandplay Therapy
- Transactional Analysis
- Family Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Prepare/Enrich Programme for Couples
- Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples
- Child-centred Play Therapy (from age 3 years old)
- Play Therapy based on Theraplay Principles
I also offer an eight-week course for parents in an individual or group format utilising the international Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P) Programme which focuses on enhancing the parent-child attachment.
