I am an independent psychiatrist at Akeso Crescent Clinic in Randburg. Here I see outpatients and
admit patients suffering with various mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, bipolar
disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders etc. The clinic has specialised units for adolescents,
eating disorders and addictions.
I work with a team of excellent psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, nurses,
dieticians, physiotherapists, biokineticists, neuropsychologists and neurophysiologists to give
patients a holistic approach to mental wellbeing. Medicine for psychiatric conditions is very
important and is often the first major step in helping someone out of a severely distressed state, but
it isn’t everything. Most of my patients know that I spend a third of the time talking about medicine
and two thirds of the time talking about how they’re coping at work, with their families, how they’re
looking after themselves, working towards their life goals etc. I utilise many psychotherapeutic skills
in my practice such as supportive therapy, psychoeducation, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and
Brain Working Recursive Therapy (BWRT).
I run a tight ship, with strict rules and boundaries, thorough assessments and detailed explanations
to my patients and their families. I believe there is only one way to do things, which is the right way.
I am still never afraid to say and do difficult things if it is in the best interest of my patients.
The greatest challenge in psychiatry is that it is not an exact science and people therefore disregard
their symptoms and don’t seek treatment. Although we don’t have the luxury of a scan or a blood
test to diagnose most psychiatric conditions, we listen, we take detailed histories, look at genetic
predispositions to illnesses and assess the impact of these symptoms on one’s daily functioning. The
brain is an organ in our bodies and is therefore prone to disease and illness just like any other part of
the body. Mental health struggles are real and medically-based and have nothing to do with one’s
willpower or personality. Psychiatric conditions are the leading cause of disability worldwide and it is
my intention to help people stop stigmatising themselves, their colleagues, their employees and
their loved ones and get help before their illness disables them.
Practice Details:
Dr Ryola Singh
Akeso Crescent Clinic
Randburg
087 098 0457 (ext 5462)
ryolasingh.practice@gmail.com