Dr Justine Dreyer
Specialist general psychiatrist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
I completed my medical degree (MBChB) at the University of Pretoria in 2010, and worked with in- and out-of-hospital patients in general medicine, surgery, community and emergency settings before specialising in psychiatry. These experiences, spanning primary through to tertiary level healthcare, continue to inform my medical grounding and diagnostic approach.
I obtained a Diploma in Mental Health in 2015 through the Colleges of Medicine (CMSA). Subsequently, I completed my postgraduate psychiatric training through the University of Pretoria, obtaining a Fellowship of the College of Psychiatrists of South Africa (FCPsych) in 2018 and a Masters in Medicine in Psychiatry (MMed) with distinction in 2019. My training spanned acute, community, secondary and tertiary mental health services in the public sector. Tertiary training at Weskoppies and Steve Biko Academic Hospital exposed me to multidisciplinary care for serious mental illness and substance use disorders within a biopsychosocial framework. My research on dual diagnosis rehabilitation was published in the South African Journal of Psychiatry.
My public-sector experience both during my training and thereafter in the Garden Route, highlighted the limitations of fragmented services – particularly between mental health and substance use care -and the importance of resource awareness, strong treatment networks, and evolving services in response to patient needs. These insights continue to inform my clinical practice.
I am currently in part-time private practice in George, South Africa, working primarily with adults and older adolescents. I treat most psychiatric conditions, and commonly see individuals with mood and anxiety disorders, stress- and trauma-related presentations, ADHD, substance use disorders, and psychiatric complexity in the context of medical illness such as chronic pain conditions. I also provide assessment for adult autism spectrum presentations with- and without intellectual disability. I publish patient information articles and resources here.
My approach centres on aetiological formulation and the identification of modifiable risk factors, an approach that reflects psychiatric complexity, aligns with broader medical understanding, and supports realistic recovery-focused care. I integrate biological, psychological, and social understanding within a past–present–future framework. In other words, I consider underlying vulnerabilities, current stressors, and forward-looking goals, alongside the interaction between brain and body processes, psychological patterns, relationships, and life context.