Catherine van Rensburg -- Clinical Manager
BA (Hons)(Psych)(Rhodes) MA (Clin Psych)(Pret) Grad Dip Psychotherapy (CBT)(Singapore)

Catherine has a broad base of experience in Clinical Psychology, both in South Africa and abroad. She began her training at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital where she worked as an Intern Clinical Psychologist, and later as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. This included lecturing in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pretoria, supervision and training of Intern Clinical Psychologists, and consultations at Pretoria Academic Hospital. Her experience covered assessment and treatment of adults, medico-legal referrals and work with children and adolescents. Part of Catherine’s professional life has been in private practice, mental health and community services, and in the field of Employee Assistance Programmes. From 1997 – 2000 she was employed in a group psychiatric practice at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, and completed training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy at the National University of Singapore. Before joining Riverview in August 2009, she worked in Moscow for a short time.

André Brink
Clinical Psychologist (BA Psych Hons (Stellenbosch) MA Clin Psych (Rhodes))

André was part of the Riverview team from 2002 until 2007 and, following a three year sabbatical, rejoined the team in 2010. André draws from a range of therapeutic systems including psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and family-systems work.

David Blackbeard
BA, HDE, BA Hons (Natal) MA Clin Psych (UKZN)

David joined the Riverview team in 2007. He trained at McCord Hospital, Durban in 2005, completed community service at Estcourt District Hospital in 2006, and worked in an Oxfam behaviour change project in 2007. His strategic systems approach draws from a range of psychotherapeutic approaches. Prior to his professional training as a clinical psychologist, David worked for ten years as an educator and school counsellor, and was involved with lecturing and professional mentoring with the Faculty of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. David has presented and published papers in the area of gender and health promotion, including the Psychology Society of South Africa Conference of 2009 and the South African Journal of Psychology in 2007. David is in the process of completing a PhD as part of the South Africa-Netherlands Partnership for Alternative Development (SANPAD) masculinity research project.

Maryke Page
Counselling Psychologist. B.Soc.Sc Hons (psych) Bloem; MA (Councel Psych) US

Maryke started her career at the department of Correctional Services. She originally joined Riverview in 2003, opened her own practice in 2007 and recently rejoined the team in 2010. She draws from a range of therapeutic systems including cognitive behavioral therapy and adopted principles of Theophostics

Dr R van der Merwe
B.Med Sci; M.B.,ChB (Pret), A.T.L.S.; A.C.L.S; A.P.L.S.

Rouleaux has been practicing for the past 26 years gaining experience in all
aspects of General Practice, both rural and urban. He has extensive hospital
experience as Superintendant Emergency Care and Surgical procedures. He has
been in Underberg since 2009 and has developed a keen interest in
psychiatric medicine.

Sr Jo Roberson
Nursing Services Manager (R/N R/M)

Jo joined Riverview in 2003 and heads up a dedicated team of nurses as well as co-facilitating Relapse Prevention.

Gill Williams
Pastoral Care/Spirituality (Professional Nurse)

Gill is a qualified nursing sister with experience in Christian counseling. Gill has completed levels 1 and 11 in Christian Counselling through Phillippi Trust. She has been in her current position since 2003, offering pastoral care, Christian ministry and exploration of wider spirituality to clients.

Janette van der Spuy
Educational Psychologist (BA SS, NHOD, B.Ed (Psych) (RAU), M.Ed (Psych))

After spending 15 years as an educator, Janette decided to pursue her interest in addiction based work. She is currently furthering her studies in Clinical Psychology. Janette helps to facilitate the life skills programme as well as heading up the Relapse Prevention Programme.

Marian Acker
Clinical Nutritionist (BSc.Hons(Med) Nutrition and Dietetics, UCT, SA)

Marian worked as a dietician in Government Hospitals and in general practice, before joining the team of Riverview Manor in 2006, to pursue her passion for working with people with eating disorders and addiction.

Jo Brown

Jo has worked for 10 years in Government settings - of which 5 were in a Psychiatric hospital and the other 5 were in General hospitals and community – dealing with Psychological, Neuro and Paediatric cases. Thereafter she had her own private practise for about 4 years, working in the same fields. The last 7 years she was overseas where she taught English with an emphasis on life skills. Interests and hobbies - Outdoors, crafts, cooking/baking and most sports.

Terry Wilson
Hospital Manager (MICB Payroll (SA))

Terry joined Riverview in January 2002, and is responsible for managing the financial, administrative, HR and general hospital functions.

Additional information for healthcare and allied proffessionals

Mention the words addiction, dependency and eating disorders among professionals in the healthcare and allied fields, and most will recall the trials, tribulations and frustrations they have faced when dealing with these patients.

Breaking through denial, coping with addicts’ manipulation and family’ co-dependence are a few of the related problems which discourage professionals from treading this, often unfamiliar ground.

Through the dedication and commitment of an experienced team of therapists supported by an infrastructure and therapeutic environment with no equal, I believe that Riverview Manor has achieved widespread recognition and acclaim from our results over the past ten years.

At Riverview Manor we recognise addiction as a disease and treat it as such.

Although this ‘biological model’ of addiction is explained to patients, we stress that this is the client's own personal responsibility to translate abstinence into a life-style of sobriety. Through the medium of a tried and tested ‘Step Programme’ - which is integrated into the overall therapeutic programme, patients are taught to acknowledge their own role in the recovery process.

Because addiction is a multifaceted disease, it is essential to develop a therapeutic approach that is capable of meeting the varied needs of these patients. At Riverview Manor, we are able to take patients through controlled detoxification in a sophisticated, clinical high-care setting, and under the same roof, addressing psychological and spiritual needs through individual and group therapy.

As long as the sources of substance abuse, eating disorders, stress, anxiety and depression continue to thrive in the prevailing climate of our times, Riverview Manor offers a unique opportunity to anyone earnestly seeking to restore meaning, purpose and dignity to their lives.