I’m a medical doctor that has worked exclusively in mental health for 11 years now. I love the opportunity to spend meaningful time with each patient, understand the complexity of their experiences, and support them on a path toward recovery and long-term well-being.

After completing my medical degree, I spent two years in public-sector medicine before moving into my area of greatest interest—mental health. A rare placement in a psychiatric hospital during my community service year confirmed my passion for psychiatry. I completed the Part 1 specialist examinations and went on to train for four years in both tertiary and community psychiatric services across Cape Town. In 2020, I stepped out of the specialist programe to focus on my own mental health and to be more present with my young daughter.

I work with a broad range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, burnout, PTSD, mood disorders, and psychosis. I have a particular passion for supporting mothers through the perinatal period and throughout the evolving stages of motherhood, as well a mom of two who has struggled with peripartum mental health myself, I have a particular passion for women navigating peri-menopause and menopause. 

My approach is holistic, considering biological, psychological, and social influences. I collaborate closely with psychologists, occupational therapists, counsellors, and other allied practitioners to create tailored, comprehensive treatment plans.

I remain committed to ongoing learning through regular academic conferences, clinical lectures, peer supervision, and specialised training. Recent additional courses include ADHD prescribing and perinatal prescribing. I am also actively involved in professional special interest groups focused on women’s mental health, ADHD, interventional psychiatry such as ketamine treatment, and neurodiversity.



In my personal time, love spending time braaing in our garden while the kids play,  or meeting up with friends over a cup of good coffee or glass of wine with a view. I’m also known to indulge in some good series or music (and yes, I’m still a Swifty)

Dr Kirsten Whitlock is a General Practitioner with a deep focus on mental health, from her foundational training at Wits Medical School to practical experiences at Paarl and Stellenbosch hospitals, where she honed her expertise across a spectrum of mental health conditions, including substance use, psychosis, and personality disorders.

In 2023, Dr Whitlock expanded her scope to include anxiety, ADHD, depression, and trauma-related conditions through her practice in Newlands and a Diploma in Mental Health. She values a holistic approach, integrating various therapies to support mental well-being. Dr Kirsten has also worked under Dr Lené and become experienced and skilled in managing infusion therapies for treatment resistant depression over the last 2 years of practice. 

In her own time time she enjoys running on the mountain with her dog, or cuddling up with a library book and some Rooibos”

Dr Shea Walls is a general practitioner with a deep interest and love for mental health as well as primary health care. She completed her medical studies at UCT and trained as an intern at Paarl Provincial Hospital. It was during internship where she developed a love for psychiatry, treating both in- and outpatients across a variety of mental health conditions.



She completed her community service year at multiple different clinics in the rural North West area of Tswaing where she gained further appreciation for the importance of well-functioning primary/GP level care.
It was in this year that she completed her Diploma in Mental Health.



She has spent further time honing her generalist skills working at a Cape Town based general practice as well as a home based palliative care service. Shea strives for holistic, compassionate and empathic healthcare and is passionate about improving access to mental health care services. She has a special interest in depression, anxiety and OCD in young adults, but enjoys working with all ages.



In her spare time, Shea can be found running, adventuring with her dogs or listening to music.

Dr John Wulz is a general practitioner who focusses on mental health management, as well as emergency medicine and NGO work for patients with substance use disorders. After completing his medical training at the University of Witwatersrand and obtaining a Diploma in Mental Health, Dr Wulz was drawn to psychiatry’s unique challenges and rewards. Dr John has been working in the mental health departments of various academic and district hospitals for 8 years and in private practice with Dr Lené part-time since 2021.

His career, enriched by diverse clinical experiences across South Africa, focuses on collaborative care and the profound impact of altered states of consciousness on mental health. Dr John is an inclusive practitioner who works with a wide variety of conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD and other mood disorders. He is also has a special interest in development of psychedelic assisted treatments and helping patients more safely explore these options for themselves. Information sharing only, no psychedelic treatments are provided by the practice, other than ketamine infusions according to South African Psychiatric Guidelines.