Vernon Shunmugam

As a registered Clinical Psychologist, my approach to therapy is centered on creating a collaborative and safe environment in which we can explore and navigate your unique journey toward healing and growth. I aim to build a therapeutic alliance that fosters trust and mutual respect, ensuring that you feel supported throughout the process.
I am primarily trained in systemic psychotherapy, and I adopt an integrative, holistic approach, tailoring interventions to suit the individual needs of each patient. This flexible approach allows for the consideration of both the psychological and broader life context, promoting more effective and lasting change.
My professional experience spans across diverse clinical settings, including work at a psychiatric institution and a tertiary medical hospital, where I provided psychiatry liaison services, DBT, group and individual therapy. I am currently practicing within a specialised psychiatric institution, where I focus on general mental health, adolescent care, and dual diagnosis treatment.
I am committed to providing evidence-based, compassionate care to help you overcome challenges and achieve your mental health goals.
“What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.” – Plutarch
Areas of interest
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Substance Use and Addiction
- Adolescents and Adult psychotherapy
- Play therapy
- Family and Couples Therapy
- Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessments
- Male Mental Health
- Sexual Health
- Marital Conflict
- Parental Alienation and Child Custody
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
- Interactional Pattern Analysis
- Forensics
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)(Unisa) – Registered Social Worker
- BA honours Psychology (Unisa)
- MA Clinical Psychology (Unisa)