Psychology in Johannesburg

Psychology is a scientific discipline that studies the mind and behavior. It seeks to understand the mind, how it works, and how it affects behavior. It encompasses the environmental factors, social pressures, and biological influences that affect how people think, feel, and act. Since it is a broad and diverse field, there are numerous different subfields and specialty areas within psychology. Some of the major areas include clinical psychology, biological psychology, cognitive psychology, and developmental psychology.

A specialist or expert in psychology is called a psychologist. Licensed psychologists have professional training and clinical skills to do psychological testing, perform counseling and psychotherapy, and provide treatment for mental disorders. They are qualified to help people learn to cope more effectively with mental health problems. However, they are not medical doctors. This means that psychologists typically cannot perform medical procedures or write prescriptions. A psychologist will work in association with a psychiatrist or other medical doctor who provides medical treatment for mental illness, while the psychologist provides psychotherapy. 

There are numerous different styles of therapy, but the psychologist will identify the best approach to address the person’s problem that fits the characteristics and preferences of the patients. Some common types of therapy are behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapies, integrative or holistic therapy, and humanistic therapy.

Psychologists can help a wide variety of people and treat many types of problems. They can help those with mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and phobias. Psychologists can also help with rehabilitation and adjustment to chronic illness or disability. In some cases, people also talk to a psychologist to help overcome addictions, cope with stressful situations, or navigate through short-term problems, such as grieving the death of a family member or feeling overwhelmed by a new job. 

How Long Should I Stay in Johannesburg?

You usually do not need to stay in Johannesburg any longer than you want to after each treatment session. However, since psychotherapy usually requires more than one session, you can choose to stay in Johannesburg until you complete all of your sessions, so you do not have to travel multiple times. Some types of psychological treatment last only a few sessions, but others can take months and even years.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time depends on your specific condition. Most of the time, no recovery time is needed after a psychological test or treatment. You should be allowed to resume your normal routine and even go back to work immediately after. If the treatment makes you feel exhausted, you can take the rest of the day off. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your psychologist will give you a set of aftercare instructions. The instructions are specifically designed for your individual case and are aimed to prevent relapse. You may also be recommended to live an active and healthy life, such as exercising regularly and to eat a healthy diet. 

What's the Success Rate?

Psychology is always growing and evolving. New discoveries and applications of psychology are always being uncovered. This helps psychology tests and treatments to become more successful, accurate, and safe. Today, psychologists can use evidence-based techniques to make treatment more efficient and effective. With psychology, people can improve their decision making, behavior, and stress management based on understanding past behavior to predict future behavior. Psychological treatments can have some side effects, such as becoming sad or fearful, an increase in anxiety, negative changes in the family, or relapse.  

Are there Alternatives?

There are numerous types of mental health professionals you can see to help with mental health problems. You can choose to see a psychiatrist, licensed mental health counselor, mental health nurse, or clinical social worker. In many cases, these mental health professionals work together to deliver the best treatment plan.

Psychology in and around Johannesburg

About Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the most populous as well as the largest city in South Africa. There is a lot to see and do in Johannesburg. Home to the Apartheid Museum, it is the perfect place for anyone who loves history and wants to learn more about the country’s past. There are also MOAD and MuseuMAfriCA that exhibit the city’s art and history. Other than the museums, the metropolitan city has a number of other things to do, such as enjoying Gold Reef City, shopping in its many markets, and visiting The Cradle of Human Kind.

Today, people have found a new reason to visit Johannesburg: medical tourism. Although it is not as widely known as other medical tourism destinations in other parts of the world, the city has seen a steady rise in medical tourists. The urban city features public and private medical centers with the highest standards, well-trained medical practitioners, and cutting-edge technology. Most of the medical centers have English speaking doctors, nurses, and staff, so there is no language barrier for foreign medical tourists. Plastic surgery, particularly tummy tuck, is one of the more popular procedures since it is much cheaper here than in Western countries.

Popular Areas in Johannesburg

While Johannesburg is not a popular tourist destination, there are a number of things to see and do in the city. The city is mostly known as Nelson Mandela’s home and has an array of astonishing museums. Those who love history and want to learn about the country’s struggle will enjoy the Apartheid Museum. It exhibits the story of apartheid through photographs, film footage, clippings, newspaper, and artifacts. Mandela House in Soweto Street is also worth a visit. It was once Nelson Mandela’s home. The museum showcases photographs, paintings, as well as awards and recognitions earned by Nelson Mandela. 

One of the most popular places is the Lion Park. The safari park offers an amazing chance to watch lions and several other animals up close. There are also other activities such as animal interactions and hand-feeding a few animals, such as ostriches and giraffes. Other than the Lion Park, Pilanesberg National Park is famous among wildlife enthusiast. The national park is filled with opulent ecosystem and wildlife. Tourists can experience a safari and spot lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, zebras, and over 300 bird species in their natural habitat. 

Johannesburg is popular for its art and you must visit the Maboneng Precinct where you will find art-studios and shops selling art pieces. Wits Art Museum is another great place to admire African art. If you want to know more about the culture, Lesedi Cultural Village is the best place to go. Here, tourists can learn more about traditional South African culture and a chance to encounter people of Zulu, Pedi, Ndebele, Xhosa, and Basotho origin. Other places including SAB World of Beer, Gold Reef City, Holly Hill, Market Theatre, Constitution Hill, and Mary Fitzgerald Square are also a must-visit. 

Weather and Climate in Johannesburg

Johannesburg experiences a subtropical highland climate. The summer, which runs from October to April, is characterized by hot days with thundershowers in the afternoon and cool evenings. The temperature is mostly mild during the summer. January is one of the hottest months, with an average maximum daytime temperature of 25.6 °C. The summer has an extreme UV index, sometimes reaching as high as 14-16. Therefore, tourists must wear sun-protective clothing and apply sunscreen during the day to avoid sunburn.

In the winter, the city enjoys sunny days and cold nights. This season is dry, and the average maximum temperature is around 16 °C. In June and July, the temperature can drop to 4.1 °C and occasionally drops below freezing at night. The freezing temperature causes frost, but snow is rare. It is advisable to bring warm clothing during this season.

Getting Around in Johannesburg

International visitors usually arrive at O. R. Tambo International Airport, also known as Johannesburg International Airport. It is Africa’s busiest airport and the primary airport that serves domestic and international travel. The airport connects South Africa with various cities all over the world, including London, Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Singapore, and Sydney. It is the hub for South Africa’s largest domestic and international airlines, South African Airways. Budget airlines such as FlySafair, Mango, and Kalula operate flights from this airport for an inexpensive travel option. 

Johannesburg has a vast public transport system. The Gautrain rapid-rail is safe and fairly easy to navigate. The rail also links the city center with O. R. Tambo International Airport. For efficient transport, tourists can opt for the Rea Vaya bus service that has a circular route through the city and is useful to explore the City Center at a reasonable cost. Many locals will use the minibus taxi network, but it can be pretty confusing for foreign tourists. Passengers need to know a route to their destination, hail the minibus taxi from the street, and once they have arrived at their desired destination, they need to make a hand signal to stop the minibus. 

Metered taxis are available but can be quite expensive. The taxis are mostly found outside hotels. Since there are only a few places to hail a taxi in the street, the best way to hail a taxi is by phone. Be careful because many taxis do not use meters so tourists would need to negotiate the price before getting in. The most reliable metered taxis are Orange Cabs, Quick Cab, and Zebra Cabs. Uber is also available for safer, quicker, and more affordable transport.

Tourist Visas in Johannesburg

All visitors who wish to enter South Africa must hold a passport valid for at least 30 days after the expiration of their intended visit and must have at least two unused pages. Passport holders of more than 60 countries can enter and stay for up to 90 days in the country without a visa. Other nationals not listed in the visa exemption agreement must obtain a visa to the nearest South Africa embassy or consulate. The South Africa Immigration Department also offers Medical Treatment Visa for medical tourists.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The local currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). 1 USD is equivalent to 14 ZAR.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are available at every commercial center. Most hotels, restaurants, and shops accept credit cards (especially MasterCard and Visa). However, be sure to always carry some cash since there are several cases of credit card fraud. Tourists must tip car guards, but should not tip minibus taxi drivers. For bars and restaurants, 10% to 20% of the bill is acceptable.
3. Local Language: Most people will speak more than two languages, including Nguni, Sotho, English, Afrikaans, and Tshivenda.
4. Local Culture and Religion: More than 50% of the population follows Christianity and more than 20% are not affiliated with any religion. There are small groups of Muslim, Jewish, and Hindus. 
5. Public Holidays: There are around 12 official public holidays in the city such as Good Friday, Freedom Day, Heritage Day, and Christmas Day.