Dr. JC Coetzee is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. He has been conducting teaching, training and research activities in the fields of psychiatry and clinical psychology since 2001. Dr Coetzee has given scientific presentations on personality assessment, psychopathology, existential psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Dr. Coetzee consults in person as well as through video conferencing and has conducted therapeutic work with people from many nationalities and cultural backgrounds including the UAE, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho, the United States of America, Canada, Russia, China, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Dr. Coetzee’s varied experiences conducting research, treating patients, training professionals, and working with the public have given him insights into cognition, emotion, and behaviour, enhancing his understanding of the human condition.
Approach to Psychotherapy
Dr. Coetzee seeks to reduce the intensity and frequency of his client’s emotional pain and suffering and self-defeating behaviours. He helps clients to develop skills to achieve their goals and life satisfaction, with a strong emphasis on cognitive-behavioural theory (CBT) and techniques integrated within a Christian worldview perspective. He uses these and other techniques specifically suited to the individual. His approach helps clients understand their spiritual identity and efficiently overcome current problems, whether they are critical (acute) or long-standing (chronic) issues. In addition, Dr. Coetzee also places emphasis on how personality traits impact interpersonal relationships and he helps clients identify personality traits and alter behavioural patterns that contribute to relationship difficulties.
Scientifically based methods are emphasized and when empirically supported treatments do not exist, clinical judgment and reliance on theory is used to provide clients with customized and comprehensive treatment of his or her specific conditions.
Dr Coetzee focuses on the present, while helping clients to understand how historical events and relationships may still be influencing their thoughts, behaviours, and feelings today. Active methods of coping with the here-and-now are emphasized.
Clients can quickly learn cognitive and behavioural skills that allow them to deal more effectively with their life circumstances.
Cognitive Behavioural Theory
His approach to most problems is rooted in Cognitive-Behavioral Theory (CBT). Simply put, he addresses the whole person by assessing and treating:
- Cognitions – what we think
- Behaviours – what we do and say
- Emotions – how we feel
- Relationships – how we interact with others
Please contact Dr. Coetzee if you have any questions regarding his approach.
I have been practicing in the field of clinical psychology since 2001. I have been affiliated to the University of Pretoria’s Department of Psychiatry and have been conducting teaching, training and research activities in the fields of psychiatry and clinical psychology since 2003. My main work focus is the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. I also work extensively with relationship counselling for couples where I focus on identifying and altering maladaptive behavioural patterns that contribute to conflict in a relationship.
Health Professions Council of South Africa Board of Psychology
New Zealand Psychologists Board
Australian Psychology Board
Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapies (AACBT)