Dr. Melanie du Preez Clinical Psychologist | Life Transformation Coach
I've spent 26+ years as a registered clinical psychologist, working primarily with:
Trauma and Complex PTSD
Anxiety disorders (all types)
Eating disorders (I'm one of fewer than 5 Maudsley Method/Family-Based Treatment certified therapists in South Africa)
Neurodiversity (ADHD, autism, AuDHD)
LGBTQ+ mental health (identity exploration, coming out, minority stress, internalized stigma)
Depression and mood disorders
My therapeutic approach draws from BWRT® (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy), DBT, ACT, and trauma-informed modalities. I'm also certified in pro-ana awareness and responsible AI use in mental wellness.
In January 2026, I completed Life Transformation Coach certification with Burk Esterhuyse at Transformation Coaching Academy, which includes:
NLP Practitioner (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) – July 2025
Negative Emotional Therapy Practitioner™ – January 2026
Life Coach – January 2026
Mental Health Coach – January 2026
Emotional Wellbeing Coach – January 2026
This training allows me to bring clinical precision to coaching conversations—addressing anxiety, trauma, burnout, relationship challenges, neurodivergence, and LGBTQ+ mental health through practical, evidence-based strategies.
I'm a clinical psychologist registered in South Africa with specialized training in areas most therapists don't touch:
Eating Disorders: One of fewer than 5 Maudsley/FBT-certified therapists in South Africa. I work with the medical realities of eating disorders, not just the psychology.
Neurodivergence: ADHD, autism, AuDHD – in adults who've spent decades masking and wondering why life feels harder than it should.
Evidence-Based Therapies: DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), BWRT (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy) – tools that actually create change, not just insight.
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria: The emotional pain nobody warns you about with ADHD.
Productivity for Neurodivergent Minds: Strategies that work WITH executive dysfunction, not against it.
I've trained mental health professionals globally and taught 8,000+ students through online courses. I write, teach, and create resources for people who need real help – not inspiration quotes and toxic positivity.
Author of The Jigsaw Mind series. First book: Puzzle Pieces – Why Smart Women Miss Their ADHD for Decades.
I don't do toxic positivity. I don't tell you to "embrace your superpower" or "turn your struggles into strengths."
ADHD isn't a superpower when you're sitting in your car for 20 minutes trying to make yourself go into the grocery store.
Autism isn't a gift when social interactions leave you completely depleted for days.
Eating disorders aren't solved with affirmations.
Here's what I do instead:
I give you clinical accuracy combined with lived experience. I explain what's actually happening in your brain, nervous system, and body. Then I teach evidence-based strategies that work in real life – not just in research studies.
I acknowledge that some days your brain won't cooperate, some strategies won't work for you, and some things genuinely suck about being neurodivergent or dealing with mental health challenges.
And I help you build a toolkit anyway. Because understanding your patterns and having real strategies beats suffering in confused silence.
No inspiration quotes. No "just try harder" nonsense. Just honest help from someone who gets it – both clinically and personally.