Liam Erasmus | Clinical Psychologist

Therapy FAQs

If you need urgent emergency support, contact any of the following 24-hour toll-free numbers:

  • SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline | 0800 567 567
  • Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Helpline | 0800 12 13 14
  • Cipla Mental Health Helpline | 0800 456 789
  • Lifeline National Counselling Line | 0861 322 322

This will vary based on the nature of the problem you need help with. A ‘short’ course of therapy can comprise anything between 10-15 sessions, and may be indicated for difficulties with adjustment, anxiety, or an isolated episode of depression. A longer course of therapy may be necessary for problems which are persistent. Long-term therapy can occur over several months or even years.

While most of the things you discuss with a psychologist remain confidential, you should be aware of the following limitations: 

  • If I believe that breaking confidentiality in a sensitive and ethical manner is required to prevent you or someone else from coming to harm, I will disclose only that which is required to prevent such harm from occurring.
  • I am legally required to report the abuse of a minor, either to the South African Police Service, the Department of Social Development, or a social work agency.
  • Submitting claims for prescribed minimum benefits to medical aids will require disclosure of your diagnosis.
  • In certain cases, it may also be necessary to discuss details of your treatment with other medical professionals involved in your care, such as when making a referral to a psychiatrist.
  • I may seek professional psychological supervision to ensure that you receive the best treatment possible.

Sessions are charged at medical aid rates. For clients not submitting through medical aid, a fixed fee is applied.

This varies based on the medical aid and type of plan. You are encouraged to contact your medical aid to enquire what services they cover.

I will claim from your medical aid on your behalf if you meet the requirements for prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs).

Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) are legally mandated cover for certain conditions from all medical aids. This means that if you have a diagnosis that falls under your medical aid’s PMB cover, they will pay for the cost of sessions – although they may only cover a certain number of sessions.

Utilising your medical aid’s prescribed minimum benefits may impact other areas of your life, such as your life insurance policy or your immigration application.

Assessment FAQs

Your legal counsel should contact me at liam@erasmuspsychology.co.za with a description of the particulars of the case and the referral question they would like answered.

I have a special interest in performing the following categories of assessment: 

  • Criminal Law (assessing criminal capacity, capacity to stand trial, and capacity to consent during criminal investigations)

  • Family Law (assessing residence, care, and contact arrangements during divorce and separation)

  • Third Party Claims (assessing the presence and severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) for claims from the Road Accident Fund)

  • Neuropsychology (assessing and intervening with the impact of TBI, stroke, and other illnesses or injury on individual functioning)

If an assessment is not indicated on the above list, contact me with a brief description of the assessment question and I will inform you of my suitability and availability.

While it varies based on the nature of the case, the assessment process is aimed at generating a thorough understanding of who you are and how you function. It is thus by necessity a lengthy process.

 

The assessment will start with an interview of 1 to 4 hours in duration, which may be split up over multiple days. I will then conduct at least one collateral interview with a person who knows you well, like a family member, friend, or your employer. I will also ask to be furnished with all relevant collateral documentation, such as medical reports.

 

Thereafter you will be asked to undergo a battery of psychometric or projective tests to help gain insight into your personality, behaviour, and functioning. These can be lengthy and may be scheduled to occur over separate days to avoid fatigue. Once this process is completed and the report has been compiled, I will schedule a feedback session in order to explain the results.

Make sure that you are well-rested. Have a satisfying breakfast and pack some snacks in case you get hungry. Ensure that you have adequate time and no other distractions to attend to on the day.

Report-writing is a lengthy process which involves integrating and interpreting data from multiple different sources. As a result, I aim to deliver the final report within one month of the date of final assessment.

Once your legal counsel has contacted me with a referral brief, I will provide a quote based on the particular assessment question. The cost of an assessment is based on the estimated number of hours it shall take to complete.

 

Please note that 50% of the agreed-upon figure shall be payable upfront, and the remaining 50% upon delivery of the assessment report. Court appearances are not included in the quote and are charged by the day.

No. Assessments are performed at full cost to the individual requesting them.