Welcome

Ilse Jordaan is a clinical psychologist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). She has over 20 years’ experience in private practice and works with adult individuals of all ages, as well as with couples.

Consultations are offered from practice rooms in Stellenbosch and Cape Town (Gardens), with sessions available both in person and online.

Profile

Therapeutic Approach

Psychodynamic psychotherapy forms the basis of the therapeutic approach. This depth-oriented model focuses on exploring the underlying, often unconscious patterns that influence emotional experience, behaviour, and relationships. Drawing on psychoanalytic traditions, it is understood that many current psychological difficulties are shaped by earlier life experiences and unresolved emotional conflicts.

Why choose psychodynamic therapy?

Individuals may notice recurring patterns in relationships, ongoing difficulties with anxiety, depression, or self-doubt, or a sense of feeling stuck without a clear explanation. Psychodynamic therapy does not focus solely on symptom relief; rather, it seeks to understand the underlying causes of emotional distress. This approach supports lasting psychological change by addressing:

How therapy works

Psychodynamic therapy is a collaborative process. Within a safe, non-judgemental, and reflective therapeutic space, individuals are invited to speak freely and explore thoughts, feelings, memories, and dreams. The therapeutic work focuses on bringing unconscious material into conscious awareness, where it can be examined, understood, and integrated. Through this process, individuals may gain insight into how early experiences have shaped their sense of self and ways of relating to others, and how coping strategies that were once necessary may no longer be helpful. As awareness deepens, new and more adaptive ways of relating to oneself and the world can develop.

What to expect

Beginning therapy is a significant step, and it is natural to feel uncertain about the process. Psychodynamic therapy offers a thoughtful and supportive framework, providing space to explore the inner world at a pace that feels manageable and respectful. During sessions, individuals are encouraged to speak openly about whatever comes to mind, including thoughts, emotions, memories, dreams, and experiences that may feel difficult to articulate. Over time, recurring patterns often emerge—such as ways of relating to others, self-perception, and responses to emotional pain. These patterns are explored collaboratively, including those that may exist outside immediate awareness. This therapeutic process can lead to relief, greater clarity, and emotional growth. The insights gained often result in enduring changes in how individuals experience themselves and their relationships.

Frequency and duration

Psychodynamic therapy may be offered in either a short-term or longer-term format, depending on the nature of the difficulties, individual needs, and therapeutic goals. Short-term work is typically more focused and time-limited, addressing specific concerns or life transitions, while longer-term therapy allows for a deeper and more sustained exploration of longstanding emotional patterns and relational dynamics. Sessions are usually held once weekly or fortnightly. Continuity and consistency are central to the therapeutic process, as they allow trust and depth to develop over time—key elements in meaningful psychological change. A reliable and steady therapeutic space supports the exploration not only of current life events, but also of emotional experiences, relational patterns, and processes that emerge within the therapeutic relationship itself, enabling access to deeper psychological layers that support both short- and long-term change.

The therapeutic relationship

Central to psychodynamic therapy is the relationship between therapist and patient. This relationship is not merely a container for the work, but an integral part of the therapeutic process. Within the therapeutic relationship, familiar patterns of relating—such as ways of trusting, protecting oneself, reacting emotionally, and managing closeness—often emerge naturally. By attending carefully to what occurs within the therapeutic space, it becomes possible to understand how past relationships have shaped emotional life and how these patterns continue to operate in the present. The therapeutic relationship is grounded in trust, confidentiality, and emotional safety. As a genuine working relationship develops, individuals are supported in revisiting painful or unresolved experiences and experimenting with new ways of being in relationship. This relational process facilitates healing and deeper self-understanding, both within therapy and beyond.

Counselling versus Psychotherapy

Counselling generally focuses on specific problems and aims to provide practical solutions in the short term. Psychotherapy is a deeper, exploratory process that addresses unconscious conflicts, long-standing emotional difficulties, and repetitive patterns. In psychodynamic psychotherapy, the emphasis is on understanding and working through the root causes of symptoms, supporting meaningful and lasting change rather than temporary relief.

Fields of Interest

Confidentiality, Boundaries, and Third Parties

This practice adheres to a strict ethical code that ensures confidentiality and protects patients’ rights. All information shared in therapy is treated as strictly confidential and is not disclosed to third parties without explicit written consent. Exceptions are rare and apply only in circumstances where there is a legal or ethical obligation to act, such as serious risk of harm to the individual or others, or safeguarding concerns involving a vulnerable person or child. Wherever possible, such matters are discussed with the patient beforehand. Psychotherapy is conducted within clear and consistent professional boundaries, including session structure, fees, and appointment times. These boundaries create a secure and reliable therapeutic environment and also provide meaningful opportunities to explore relational expectations, emotional safety, and interpersonal patterns. Emotional responses to boundaries—such as frustration, anger, disappointment, or dependency—are viewed as valuable material for therapeutic exploration rather than difficulties to be avoided. Such responses often reflect deeper relational themes and can offer important insights. Communication with third parties (such as family members, employers, or other professionals) does not typically occur unless it is clinically appropriate and has been carefully considered and discussed with the patient in advance. The therapeutic role is to support patient autonomy rather than to mediate or report to others.

Scheduling Appointments and Cancellation Policy

Appointments may be scheduled telephonically or via email. As most daytime hours are spent in consultation, it is important to leave a detailed voicemail when contacting the practice telephonically. Responses are typically provided by telephone or email between consultations. Each appointment time is reserved exclusively for the individual patient. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Late cancellations or missed appointments are charged in full, regardless of the reason, as the time cannot be reassigned at short notice.

Contact details

E-mail: ilsejordaan@iafrica.com
Tel: 021 886 9950

HPCSA Number: 0091332
Practice Number: 0214582

Stellenbosch office

203 Valerida Centre
C/o Suidwal and Piet Retief Street
Stellenbosch
7600

Cape Town office

6 Bellevue Street
Gardens
Cape Town
8001