Dr Kobus van der Walt | Specialist General Psychiatrist

Specialist Psychiatric Services Somerset West

Evidence-Based, Ethically Grounded, Clinically Accountable

I offer evidence-informed psychiatric care from my practice in Somerset West, combining comprehensive diagnostic assessment with tailored treatment planning.

Where clinically appropriate, I integrate advanced interventional therapies to support individuals living with complex, persistent, or treatment-resistant mental health conditions.

My services are structured to deliver results-focused care — from foundational assessments to specialised therapies such as TMS Therapy, IV Ketamine, and home-based sleep studies. I work collaboratively with each patient to develop a sustainable and ethical path toward recovery.

Out-patient Psychiatry Consultations

Out-patient psychiatry visits provide a structured and supportive space for comprehensive mental health care. An initial consultation typically involves a thorough assessment of your mental health history, current concerns, and relevant personal, medical, and social context.

This forms the basis for collaboratively developing a tailored treatment plan, which may include:

Psychiatric medication
Referrals for psychotherapy or allied health support
Further diagnostic investigations, if needed

Ongoing follow-up appointments focus on monitoring your response to treatment, reviewing any new information or test results, and adjusting the approach based on your progress and experience. These visits aim to ensure that your treatment remains responsive, effective, and aligned with your recovery journey.

Interventional Therapies

Advanced, evidence-based therapies are available for individuals experiencing complex or treatment-resistant mental health conditions. These interventions are delivered in a structured, clinically supervised setting and form part of a personalised care plan developed in collaboration with each patient.

Learn more about each therapy below.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a safe, non-invasive, and medication-free therapy for individuals struggling with mental health conditions — particularly those who have not responded well to medication or who prefer a drug-free alternative.

It is an evidence-based, clinically approved treatment for:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Anxiety disorders

TMS holds regulatory approvals in multiple countries, including the FDA (USA), CE (Europe), and SAHPRA (South Africa).

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a safe, non-invasive, and medication-free therapy that uses gentle electrical currents to enhance brain activity and support mental well-being.

It is particularly effective as a maintenance therapy following TMS, helping to sustain treatment effects for conditions like depression and anxiety. It also provides an affordable, home-based option for continued neuromodulation.

tDCS is being actively researched for additional indications, including:

Cognitive enhancement
Chronic pain
Stroke recovery
Tinnitus
Neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease

With its portable and well-tolerated design, tDCS offers a promising solution for individuals seeking drug-free, innovative approaches to managing psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Our practice is currently collaborating with Sentiverse to import and distribute tDCS in South Africa.

Please register to keep up to date about availability of tDCS devices in South Africa.

Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS)

Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) is a safe, non-invasive, and medication-free therapy that stimulates the vagus nerve through the skin using small, portable devices such as the Parasym and GammaCore Sapphire. By activating this important nerve, tVNS helps regulate the body’s stress response and restore balance between brain and body functions. It is approved in some regions for conditions such as:

Migraines
Cluster headaches
Anxiety

tVNS is also being actively researched for a range of emerging indications, including:

Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Inflammatory and autoimmune disorders
Tinnitus
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Long COVID symptoms

As a well-tolerated, drug-free option, tVNS may be used on its own or alongside other therapies in a home-based format, giving individuals access to cutting-edge care from the comfort of home. Our practice collaborates with Sentiverse, to support access to tVNS devices and integration into psychiatric care.

IV Ketamine (IVK) Therapy

Intravenous Ketamine (IVK) Therapy

IV Ketamine (IVK) therapy is an innovative intervention within general psychiatry, offering new hope for individuals with treatment-resistant mental health conditions. Originally developed as an anaesthetic, ketamine therapy is now recognised for its rapid-acting antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects, often helping where conventional treatments have not succeeded.

It may benefit individuals experiencing:

Depression
Anxiety
Post-traumatic stress
Chronic pain

In lower, carefully titrated doses, ketamine therapy may also facilitate psychotherapeutic insight and emotional processing, may open new pathways for healing and transformation.

In my practice, out-patient ketamine therapy is delivered in a safe, structured, and professionally supervised setting, aligned with established clinical guidelines and ethical standards.

Each treatment is tailored to the individual, with close medical and psychological support to ensure safety, appropriateness, and effectiveness.

Home-Based Sleep Studies & CPAP-Titration

A Home-Based Sleep Studies & CPAP-Titration offers a comfortable, accessible way to assess your sleep quality — from your own bedroom.

If you experience daytime fatigue, poor concentration, or heavy snoring, you may have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a common condition involving breathing interruptions during sleep.

Through a simple, overnight test, I provide accurate, convenient diagnostics in the home environment. If significant OSA is confirmed, I offer:

CPAP titration testing
Personalised mask-fitting services

This integrated approach promotes better sleep, mental clarity, and overall health — all managed privately within my Somerset West psychiatric practice.

We offer overnight sleep studies and CPAP-titration testing to individuals across South Africa.

Devices are user-friendly and delivered directly to your home, with collection arranged via courier.

Throughout the process, we provide online support and structured clinical reporting — shared with you and your referring healthcare provider.

These therapies are not offered in isolation, but form part of a broader, integrated approach to care — one that respects the complexity of mental health and the uniqueness of each person’s journey.

Grounded in ethics and guided by evidence, each intervention is thoughtfully considered in the context of your broader treatment plan, and delivered with care, clarity, and clinical responsibility.

Augmented Psychotherapy

Integrating TMS, tDCS, tVNS, and IV Ketamine into psychotherapy services offers psychotherapists a powerful way to enhance treatment outcomes using safe, non-invasive, and medication-free neuromodulation tools.

These interventions can improve:

Emotional regulation
Cognitive flexibility
Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders

TMS, tDCS, and tVNS can augment the effects of psychotherapy without requiring medical prescriptions or complex setups, offering psychotherapists evidence-based tools to support clients who:

Prefer drug-free options
Have not responded fully to standard therapy

Scope of Practice

As a general psychiatrist, I am qualified to assess and treat a wide spectrum of psychiatric conditions.

For those conditions that require specific interventions that I do not offer, I can provide an assessment and, where appropriate, refer on to a higher or more specialised level of care.

Take the First Step

If you would like to learn more or arrange an appointment, you’re welcome to get in touch.

Consultations are available via referral or direct enquiry.