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AKARETSA logo

A practice built on care, not volume.

AKARETSA was founded on the belief that mental health care should feel human. Empathy, clinical excellence, and the time it takes to truly understand someone. We're a small, intentional practice committed to doing fewer things, better.

Our story

How we began

AKARETSA was born from a simple observation: too many people leave therapy feeling like a number, not a person. Dr. Khomotjo Matjila founded the practice in 2016 after a decade in public and private psychiatry, determined to create a different kind of space.

The name AKARETSA comes from Sepedi, meaning "to share" or "to distribute." It reflects our belief that healing resources - time, attention, expertise, compassion - should be shared generously, not rationed. Mental health care should not feel transactional.

What started as a solo practice in a small Bryanston office has grown into a multidisciplinary collective. Today, we're six clinicians - psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists - united by a shared commitment: to practice slowly, listen deeply, and hold space for the full complexity of being human.

We're not a wellness brand. We're not optimizing anyone. We're clinicians who believe that care - real, unhurried, attentive care - is what changes lives.

Line illustration of a brain becoming a dove
AKARETSA illustration on a deep blue background
Embossed AKARETSA mark in pale blue
About us

We believe care should feel like coming home.

AKARETSA is a collective of therapists, counsellors, and clinicians dedicated to making mental health care more humane - slower, warmer, more honest. We hold space for the full weight of being a person.

Meet the team →
Dr. Khomotjo Matjila, founder

Dr. Khomotjo Matjila

Specialist Psychiatrist

o

16+ yrs

Specialist psychiatry experience

Specialist-led

Psychiatric care

FC Psych(SA)

Specialist qualification

What we stand for

Our clinical practice is guided by these core commitments.

Time over throughput

We don't overbook. Sessions run their full length. We build in buffer time so you're never rushed.

Evidence + intuition

We're trained in research-backed modalities, but we also trust clinical intuition and lived experience.

Cultural humility

We recognise our own blind spots and commit to ongoing learning about race, class, gender, and power.

Holistic care

Mental health does not exist in isolation. We consider context: social, economic, relational, physical.

Transparency

Clear expectations, clear policies, clear communication. No jargon, no gatekeeping, no unnecessary mystery.

Accessibility

We offer flexible scheduling, both in-person and virtual sessions, and thoughtful matching that starts with listening.

The way we work

Six small commitments we keep.

Our practice is shaped by a few quiet rules - values you'll feel in every conversation, every room, every email back.

Held with care

Warmth as practice, not performance.

A space to land

Quiet rooms for noisy minds.

Slow growth

Healing on its own timeline.

Honest light

Evidence-led, never clinical.

Real conversation

No scripts, no posturing.

Walking with you

Direction, not prescription.

A note from our founder

"You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously."

Dr. Khomotjo Matjila · Specialist Psychiatrist & Founder, AKARETSA

Contact the practice

Reach out, gently.We'll meet you there.

Contact the practice to enquire about availability and next steps for an appointment.

Phone

+27 (0) 10 101 1400

Location

10 Homestead Avenue, Bryanston, Johannesburg

10 Homestead Avenue, Bryanston, Johannesburg
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10 Homestead Avenue, Bryanston, Johannesburg, South Africa