I was born and brought up in South Africa but have lived in the UK for many years. I worked in Medicine in Newcastle Upon Tyne before moving to London where I trained in Psychiatry initially in the Psychiatry of Older Adults with Professor Tom Arie before transferring to The Maudsley where I had the chance to develop my career with several distinguished and iconic colleagues including Professor Michael Shepherd, Felix Post and Dr Henri Rey. This training offered not only opportunities to better understand the interplay of genetics and environment but allowed for a grounding in various psychotherapies and pharmacological strategies which inform my work even now. My early research interests included Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia but as a Consultant I was fortunate to be able to pursue a wider remit including for a while a small Mother and Baby Unit, Rehabilitation Psychiatry, Day Hospital Psychiatry and Liaison Psychiatry. At the time I worked both in out-patients and also had a busy in-patient unit. Working in a culturally diverse arena in East London suited my interest in cross cultural issues and I have enjoyed the challenge to better understand the impact of culture, class and religion. I believe a healthy mind inhabits a healthy body and in my work life balance, travel, theatre, tennis, and gardening play an important part in maintaing my equilibrium.Diseases, Medical Tests and TreatmentsI have an interest in all aspects of out-patient psychiatry including the generality of mood disorders, depressive and anxiety disorders and early onset psychosis. My focus also includes Bipolar Spectum Disorder, Paranoid Illnesses and Obsessional Compulsive Disorders. Although not specialised in Addiction I do offer assessment and advice on Alcohol issues and Precription and Non Prescription Drug issues. Where appropriate I work collabotatively with families and partners which can involve family therapy and a psychotherapeutic approach sometimes but not always in combination with drug therapies. I worked in the NHS for over 36 years and have been working exclusively in private practice for a further 8 years. I have considerable experience in working with psycho-social issues, transcultural issues and trauma including complex early life trauma as well as more recent traumatic events such as bereavement. I have an interest in helping my clients to make sense of their inner and outer worlds and clarifications can involve an understanding of biological,social and personal interactions. I work closely with colleagues who offer additional and complememntary therapies such as Cognitive behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness and Eye Movement Desensitisation.