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Anina Amorim Penas

Clinical Psychologist

Anina practices in Stellenbosch and the Northern suburbs of Cape Town, offering individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy to individuals aged 18 and above. 

Areas of Special Interest

Mood disorders, Loss and Bereavement, Anxiety, Trauma, Development and adjustment across the lifespan, Personality functioning and related problems, gender identity.

Anina has experience in multidisciplinary teams at community, district, and secondary healthcare levels, as well as tertiary educational institutions. She has gathered clinical experience through contact with diverse cases complicated by the multiple socioeconomic, political, and health issues replete in South African society. Over the years Anina has worked towards finding a theoretical foundation that serves her patients optimally. Through the influence of her own continuing personal psychotherapy and supervision, she continues to deepen her understanding and application of psychoanalytic theory. 

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a talking therapy. It is based on the theories of Sigmund Freud, and other theorists who were largely influenced by Freudian theory. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy´s focus is on the exploration of a patient’s inner experience, as reflected in the events and experience of life. Patterns carry over from significant and influential events and relationships of the past. These patterns may eventually also become evident in the context of the therapeutic relationship, which allows them to be worked on with more immediately.

 

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy sessions last for 50 minutes. Treatment length may vary, from a few sessions to years, depending on patient needs and resources. Patients are usually seen individually, on a weekly basis, ideally at the same time, and in the same room. This consistency helps people get the most out of their process.

 

Anina aims to provide a safe, non-judgemental space where a patient can talk about themselves and what troubles them. Doing this helps to create awareness of patterns in what we do or say that may be contributing to problems. Although it’s helpful to talk, talking and thinking about emotional problems can at times be difficult. Anina undertakes therapy with empathy, the needs of the person she sees foremost in her mind. She is passionate about understanding and working through the factors underlying and informing mental and emotional distress with her patients.

 

The efficacy of psychoanalytic psychotherapy has been well documented. As a modality it can relieve troublesome mental and emotional symptoms, cultivate clarity about what helps and what doesn’t, help a person to identify and bring about changes in their life, and can help a person to come to terms with what can and can’t be changed.

 

Psychotherapy can be regarded as an investment in your self, bringing lasting change and well-being. 

Services

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