Dr Kate Leinberger

Psychologist

Verified

“Life can be hard. Growth happens when you decide that facing what scares you is worth it. Therapy allows you to step back from the day-to-day and give voice to that which quietly informs life. While pain typically motivates the decision to start therapy, it often becomes part of living a rich and full life. In fact, little is more satisfying than growth. Talking to someone who has no personal investment in your life allows a rare, honest perspective.”

About Me

I trained in California and completed my doctorate in Texas. My career began in a lock-down psychiatric hospital in San Francisco. The experience was rich, to say the least. I stayed five years. I met fascinating, colorful and deeply troubled people. A Post Traumatic Veteran Unit in Texas was a window in to a painful world of front-line trauma. I then taught mindfulness and meditation at the University of California, Davis. I'm an ex-professional swimmer. I've found that my athletic career informs my work. High level competition calls for discipline, resilience and tenacity. As does the inner journey. I've practiced in Cape Town for 12 years now.

Approach

Integrating mindfulness, cognitive, behavioral and body oriented approaches are game-changing. Understanding why you're the way you are is critical, but needs to be complemented with present-oriented practice. The integration allows access to wisdom. What is mindfulness? It's a practice which honors the power in presence. It allows letting go of the illusion of what you think your life should be. This enables one to experience the richness of life, as it is. Mindfulness highlights the impermanence of thoughts and emotions and cultivates respect for the wisdom in our bodies. It allows access to “the bigger picture” even when in the grips of powerful emotion. Thoughts and emotions can then be experienced in a less-threatening manner allowing for healthier choices. It encourages self-compassion, a powerful ingredient in facilitating change. Exploring identities, beliefs and patterns which inform your choices and values. Often these constructs were established to protect and cope and may now be holding you back. The freedom in releasing irrelevant constructs is profound. While my training is science-based, I resonate with Eastern modalities. Of course, learning to take ourselves less seriously is half the battle.

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Basic Information

Cape Town, South Africa

In-person & Online

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Services

I work with adolescents & adults. While in-person in best, online is a good second best. I particularly enjoy working on ... how to accept yourself - and Life - in the face of what it's thrown at you. Sports-related challenges (I was a professional athlete), relationship and life adjustment (break-up & divorce, work & career distress, empty nest syndrome), mindfulness & meditation, building resilience and assertiveness. , important questions such as, “Is this all there is?”, depression or low-mood, anxiety, stress management, mind-body medicine - including chronic illness (I kicked-the-butt of a debilitating autoimmune condition), Loss, and low-self-esteem. I teach an epic 8-week Introduction to Mindfulness & Meditation group course.

Services Offered:

Individual Therapy
One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.
Learn more about Individual Therapy

Works With:

Adults
Groups
Individuals
All ages

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Young Adult Issues
The unique psychological challenges of emerging adulthood (18–25), including identity formation, independence, relationship navigation, and finding direction.
Learn more about Young Adult Issues
Spiritual Exploration
Questions of meaning, purpose, faith, and spiritual experience as they relate to psychological well-being and personal identity.
Self-Esteem
A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.
Learn more about Self-Esteem
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
Bipolar
A mood disorder involving episodes of mania (abnormally elevated mood and energy) alternating with episodes of depression, affecting judgement, sleep, and daily functioning.
Learn more about Bipolar
Body Image
How a person perceives, thinks, and feels about their physical appearance. When persistently negative, it can drive distress, avoidance, and disordered eating.
Learn more about Body Image
Bulimia
An eating disorder involving repeated cycles of binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise) driven by fear of weight gain.
Learn more about Bulimia
Chronic Illness
A long-term health condition (e.g., diabetes, autoimmune disease, chronic pain) that persists over time and affects physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Learn more about Chronic Illness
Depression
A mood disorder marked by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and changes in energy, sleep, or appetite that impair daily functioning.
Learn more about Depression
Divorce Coping
The emotional upheaval of separation or divorce, including grief, anger, identity disruption, and the challenge of restructuring family life.