Dr Barbara Pierce

Adult Psychiatrist

MBChB (UCT)
MRCPsych (UK)
CCT (UK)

Dr Pierce is a general adult psychiatrist who has a special interest in helping adults suffering from serious and enduring mental illnesses such as Bipolar Mood Disorder, Depression, Anxiety disorders, Adult ADHD, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Postnatal disorders, and Personality disorders.

Dr Pierce completed her MBChB degree at the University of Cape Town and subsequently worked in paediatrics for 2 years in rural hospitals in Kwa-Zulu Natal, completing her Diploma in Child Health. She then emigrated to the UK where she spent the next 9 years working in London and specialised in General Adult Psychiatry, gaining international experience in working with adults suffering from severe and enduring mental illnesses. After falling pregnant with her first child, she and her husband returned to Johannesburg in 2007.

Since her return to SA, Dr Pierce worked at Tara the H. Moross Centre, a specialist state psychiatric hospital in Sandton, where she was the consultant psychiatrist in charge of the busy adult outpatient department. She was also a joint appointee with the University of the Witwatersrand and was closely involved in the teaching and examining of medical students and psychiatric registrars as they rotated through their training in psychiatry.

In October 2013, Dr Pierce moved to running her own mental health centre, the Bona Dea Centre, together with her colleagues: Justine Loewenthal, a Registered Counsellor and EEG Technician and Trix O' Callaghan, a Counselling Psychologist and Imago Relationship Therapist. This centre is based at 17 Moray Drive in Bryanston, Sandton.

You should consider seeing a psychiatrist if:

• You are unsure what is troubling you and want to know if you are suffering from a mental illness that may require medication;
• You are unsure if you have a physical health problem or a mental health problem;
• You think you would benefit from medication to help you to feel emotionally better;
• You have been started on a psychiatric medication, such as an antidepressant, by your GP/gynae/physician etc, and would like this reviewed by a specialist in mental health;
• You think you may need admission to hospital as you are emotionally exhausted and not functioning in your daily life, especially if you are suicidal and seriously contemplating ending your life;
• You have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Mood Disorder or Recurrent Depressive Disorder. Such mental illnesses absolutely require psychiatric medication and cannot be adequately helped by therapy alone;
• You have been attending therapy sessions with your psychologist and they have recommended medication to further help you.