Dr. Anthony R. Townsend
"We don't mean everything we say, but everything we say has meaning"
- Christopher Boulas (1996)
Dr. Anthony Townsend is a Clinical Psychologist and an accredited Neuropsychologist in private practice in Sandton, Johannesburg, and has been in practice for 10 years.
He holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology (summa cum laude) from the University of the Witwatersrand and completed his PhD through UNISA.
Anthony is Vice-Chairperson of the Society of Interventional Practitioners South Africa and is also on the executive committee of the clinical psychology division of PsySSA.
He attended the 10th and 11th Annual Neurology Courses at Oxford University hosted by the Nuffield Department of Neuroscience and holds numerous academic honours, including the prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s Medal for Academic Excellence as one of the top graduates from the University of Pretoria in 2010 and a place as a finalist for the 2011 Rhodes Scholarship. In 2016, he was nominated as one of Barclay's 100 Brightest Young Minds in South Africa.
Anthony and has worked in several psychiatric and general hospitals including Chris Hani Baragwanath Child Psychiatry Unit, the Tara H. Moross Hospital, Pretoria West Hospital and Kalafong Hospital; and currently consults for private hospitals in Johannesburg where is is also a director at Syntonic (a clinic in Saxonwold that explores innovative treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and intravenous infusion-assisted therapy).
When Anthony is not consulting as a therapist, he serves as a member of the Medical Appeal Board of South African Civil Aviation (SACAA) and a guest lecturer and researcher for post-graduate courses for the Department of Psychology at the University of Pretoria.
Anthony uses an integrative therapeutic approach that combines neuropsychotherapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and psychoanalysis, to help people master their emotional worlds, deepen their relationships and live more fulfilling lives. He works with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families from all walks of life and has special focusses on anxiety, panic attacks, depression, bipolar, personality vulnerabilities, ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, trauma and addiction.
In addition to being a qualified yoga instructor and jiu jitsu coach, Anthony is an avid traveller, wine-enthusiast and bibliophile - passions he shares with his wife, Janine. They also share the affection of a stubborn, yet extremely lovable French Bulldog named Albus.
Media Appearances & Podcasts
Publications
2019
Hogg et al. (2019), “Social Psychology - Global and Southern African Perspectives” (1st edition), Pearson, South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
Sept 2019
“Executive Dysfunction in ADHD” in Psych Science, 2(3), 4-5.
Oct 2019
“Locating Lacunae: Guidelines on the Examination of Expert Evidence Offered by Psychologists in Care & Contact Evaluations” in Clarks 6th Annual Family Law Conference.
Sept 2017
“Rewiring an (Extra-) Nervous System: A Case Study on the Neuropsychotherapeutic Treatment of Generalised Anxiety Disorder” in Neuron South Africa, 10(3), 9-12.
Jun 2017
“Deciphering Dementia & Mending Minds: Outlining the Scope of Practice & Professional Functions of Neuropsychologists in South Africa” in Neuron South Africa, 10(2), 10-11.
May 2017
“Navigating the Kaleidoscope of Conflict: Guidelines on the Role of Psychiatrists in Child Custody Evaluations” in South African Psychiatry, 11(1), 14-17.
Conference Proceedings & Public Lectures
July 2024
Presented "A Naturlaistic Follow-up Study on the Efficacy of a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy ModelI", 33rd International Congress of Psychology - Prague
March 2024
Presented Workshop, "Introduction to an Anchor Based Approach" with Dr. Hanan Bushkin.
March 2024
Presented Public Lecture “Living in Translation: A Neuropsychological Exploration of the Diagnosis & Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder”, Vista Clinic (CPD Acc.)
Oct 2023
Presented "Ambivalence as Ethical Practice: Methodologies to Address Noise & Bias in Care & Contact Evaluations", with Dr. Robyn Fasser; The 10th Annual Family Law Conference by Clarks Attorneys, Sandton, Gauteng.
May 2023
Presented Workshop, "Introduction to an Anchor Based Approach" with Dr. Hanan Bushkin.
May 2023
Presented Workshop, "Introduction to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy", Equanimity Wellness Centre (JHB).
June 2022
Presented Workshop, "Veils & Vulnerability: Diagnosis & Therapy for Narcissism",
Vista Clinic.
May 2022
Presented Workshop, "Working Through: An Introduction to Neuropsychoanalysis",
Vista Clinic
October 2021
Presented Workshop on “Advanced Practice using the Anchor-Based Approach (ABA), Johannesburg, (CPD Acc.)
August 2021
Presented Public Lecture on “Working Through: Introduction to Neuropsychoanalysis in Therapeutic Practice”, Subliminal Society, Pretoria (CPD Acc.)
July 2021
Presented Workshop on “Introducing the Anchor-Based Approach (ABA)”, Johannesburg, (CPD Acc.)
July 2021
Presented Public Lecture “On Evil & Empathy: Exploring the Psychopathic Personality Structure from Criminal Profiling to Psychotherapy”, North of the Mountain Society, Pretoria (CPD Acc.)
July 2021
Presented Conference Paper “Rewiring an (Extra-)Nervous System: A Case for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders Using Neuropsychotherapy” at the 32nd International Congress of Psychology (ICP), Prague, Croatia.
January 2021
Presented Workshop on “A Disorder of Intention, no attention: CBT for Executive (Dys)Function in ADHD, Vista Academy, Pretoria (CPD Acc.)
14-15 Feb 2020
Presented Workshop “Locating Lacunae: Guidelines on the Examination of Expert Evidence Offered by Psychologists in Care & Contact Evaluations” at The 1st Family Law Conference by Pomegranite, Cape Town, WC.
18 Oct 2019
Presented Conference Paper “Locating Lacunae: Guidelines on the Examination of Expert Evidence Offered by Psychologists in Care & Contact Evaluations” at The 6th Annual Family Law Conference by Clarks attorneys, Sandton, Gauteng.
21 Sept 2018
The ABC’s of CBT for ADHD: Managing Executive (Dys)Function in ADHD. The 19th National Congress of South African Society of Psychiatrists, Pretoria, South Africa.
19 Sept 2018
Presented Public Lecture “Rewiring an (Extra-)Nervous System: A Case for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders Using Neuropsychotherapy”, University of Pretoria (CPD Acc.)
9 Mar 2018
Presented Public Lecture “Living in Translation: A Neuropsychological Exploration of the Diagnosis & Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder”, Vista Clinic (CPD Acc.)
28 Sept 2017
Presented Public Lecture “Living in Translation: A Neuropsychological Exploration of the Diagnosis & Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder”, University of Pretoria (CPD Acc.)
6 Jun 2017
Presented a workshop entitled “Introducing a Proposed Dimensional Model of Good Parenting to Guide Intervention in Child Custody Evaluations” at the 10th AFCC Conference in Boston, USA
24-26 Feb 2017
Presented a lecture on The Role of Psychiatrists in Family Law & Custody Evaluations in South Africa at “Psychiatry in Focus” for SANOFI/Zentiva, Mount Grace, Magaliesburg
4- 5 Nov 2016
Presented a lecture on Family Law & Custody Evaluations at the Registrar Finishing School for the South African Society of Psychiatrists, Sandton
21 Oct 2016
Presented Public Lecture “On Evil & Empathy: Exploring the Psychopathic Personality Structure from Criminal Profiling to Psychotherapy”, Department of Correctional Services, Johannesburg (CPD Acc.)
28 Jul 2016
Presented a research study “Conversations on cutting our noses off to spite our faces: Introducing the concept of ‘Spite’ as a means of rethinking self-aggression in object- relations theory” at the 31st International Congress of Psychology, Yokohama, Japan
3 May 2016
Presented Public Lecture “Inside a Mind Apart: A Clinical Exposition of Psychotherapy with Psychotic Patients & the Journey Out of Madness”, University of Pretoria (CPD Acc.)
8 Mar 2016
Presented Public Lecture “On Evil & Empathy: Exploring the Psychopathic Personality Structure from Criminal Profiling to Psychotherapy”, University of Pretoria (CPD Acc.)
21 Nov 2015
Presented Conference Paper “The Revolving Door of Consciousness: Executive (Dys) Function in Adult ADHD” at South African Society of Psychiatrists, Gauteng Conference, Rosebank (CPD Acc.)
1 Oct 2015
Presented Pubic Lecture “Decoding Dementia: A Story of Breaking Brains, Mending Minds & the Rehabilitative Promise of Neuropsychology”, University of Pretoria
17-18 Jul 2015
Presented Workshop “Emotionally Intelligent Leadership: It’s Prospect & Promise” to Mastercard Foundation, Pretoria
19 May 2015
Presented Public Lecture “Starving the Self, Feeding the Trauma: An Integrative Approach to the Treatment of Eating Disorders”, University of Pretoria
24 Mar 2015
Presented Public Lecture “The Dynamics of Dissociation: A Clinical Exploration of the Trap Door of the Mind”, University of Pretoria
9 Sept 2014
Presented Public Lecture “Freudian Psychoanalysis, a Neuroscience Unmasked: Neuro-psychoanalysis, a Treatment for Psychopathology & Neuropathy”, University of Pretoria
19 Aug 2014
Presented Public Lecture “The Many Faces of Complex Trauma: Healing Experiences with Personality Disordered Patients in Psychotherapy”, University of Pretoria
17-18 Jul 2014
Presented Workshop “Emotionally Intelligent Leadership: It’s Prospect & Promise” to Mastercard Foundation, Pretoria
20 May 2014
Presented Public Lecture “The Devil in the Details: A Psychodynamic Perspective on Psychopathic Personality Structure”, University of Pretoria