Men’s vulnerability is still taboo in Mzansi, especially among black communities. Thabo van Wyk from North West knew from his teenage years that unpacking emotions and mental health isn’t a shame. That understanding led him to pursue a career in psychology.
Born and raised in Itsoseng, a township in North West, Van Wyk experienced bullying from his primary school years. However, he never allowed it to define him. Instead, it motivated him.
He says attending a Christian primary school laid the foundation for his faith and reinforced the value of education from a young age.
“I believe my parents chose that school because, unlike most schools in a typical township, it was rooted in Christian values and principles, which would possibly keep me on the straight and narrow.”
Thabo van Wyk
Strong family bonds
His father, George van Wyk, worked in Carletonville in office-based roles at the mines, while his mother, Gladys, spent most of her career as a nurse. Both retired in 2020.
Van Wyk says his father was later transferred to Orkney, where he worked in the radiology department of Harmony Mines.
“Working far from home meant that I would see him only on the weekends when he came home.”
Despite this, he says, “We remain a close family and usually spend some weekends together before my siblings and I go our separate ways for our occupational endeavors.”
Finding purpose through psychology
Van Wyk tells Health for Mzansi that while trying to figure out his career path during matric, his mother introduced him to her friend, who sat down with him to explore his values and the changes he wanted to see as he grew up. That conversation led him to consider psychology.
At the time, he was a student at a boarding school in Klerksdorp. He recalls that he remained reserved during this period, suspecting that the impact of bullying played a role.
“The one aspect that stood out during this time was my development of independence, which became more pronounced when I attended university.”
Initially, he was accepted into a bachelor of science in computer science programme at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). However, he chose to instead pursue a bachelor of psychology (BPsych) degree at Eduvos – formerly known as Midrand Graduate Institute/Pearson Institute for Higher Education.
The BPsych qualification took four years to complete, and during this time, he experienced personal growth. The study of psychology requires deep introspection, and over the years, he became more confident and self-aware.
After completing his degree, he worked as a registered counsellor at a psychology practice in Potchefstroom. Working alongside a clinical psychologist strengthened his determination to become one himself.
“I applied to several universities for a master’s degree in clinical psychology, though I soon realised how competitive the field is – less than 10% of applicants are accepted, regardless of experience.”
Van Wyk was fortunate to be accepted into the master’s programme at North-West University in Mahikeng. As part of the programme’s requirements, he completed an internship at Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital. After obtaining his master’s qualification, he completed his community service at Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital.
A passion for mental health advocacy
Working in a psychiatric hospital was unlike any other environment he had worked in before, explains Van Wyk. He shares that he was exposed to acute psychiatric and mental health conditions – things he had previously only read about in textbooks.
“There was a distinction between the male and female patients I saw. The males were mostly admitted for psychiatric conditions caused by substances (substance-induced psychotic disorder), while the females presented with mood disorders (depression or bipolar mood disorder). The onset of these conditions was mostly triggered by social stressors,” he explains.
When he later transitioned to private practice, he observed that the middle to upper class had more knowledge about mental health. In some cases, they would come for consultations already assuming possible diagnoses.
“In poor communities, I observed that there is still some stigma attached to mental health, which prohibits people from learning about or seeking mental health services.”
This realisation, he says, has inspired him to work more closely with poor communities, as he finds great fulfilment in advocating for mental health and helping those who are unable to help themselves.
Currently, he works as a clinical psychologist with the Tshwane District Health Services, providing services to clinics in Pretoria West.
Alongside his public service work, Van Wyk also runs a part-time private practice in Pretoria North. His passion for learning remains strong – he completed a postgraduate diploma in public health and is now a PhD student at the University of South Africa (Unisa).
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