About Syntonic

Dr Anthony Townsend is a clinical psychologist with a master’s degree (summa cum laude) and a PHD in clinical psychology. He practices integrative psychotherapy, also offering specialist neuropsychological and forensic assessments. His therapeutic approach is compassion-focused and blends supportive, insight-oriented and evidence-based behavioural paradigms to offer a unique blend of practical change and deep healing. Anthony is a lecturer and post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Pretoria with a special focus on psychedelic-assisted therapy. In addition to being a qualified yoga instructor and jiu jitsu coach, Anthony is an avid traveller, wine-enthusiast and bibliophile - passions he shares with his wife, Janine. They also share the affection of a stubborn, yet extremely lovable French Bulldog named Albus.

Dr Joanna Taylor qualified as a doctor in 2003 and did her internship at Baragwanath in internal medicine, surgery, and paediatrics. In 2005 she did Community Service at Tintswalo Hospital in Limpopo, gaining intensive experience in all aspects of medicine and surgery, including community health outreach and psychiatry. After taking some time off to spend time with her daughter, born in 2006, she started her psychiatry training on the Wits registrar circuit in 2007, spending the majority of her time at Sterkfontein and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospitals. Dr Taylor also has a BA from UCT in English Literature and political philosophy. Dr Taylor has predominantly been in private practice since 2013, a most unexpected turn in her career plans, and has relished the challenges and rewards of independent practice and longstanding patient relationships. She has preferred to remain a generalist, due to a love of diagnosis, but particularly enjoys treating ADHD, bipolar mood disorder, and psychiatric presentations related to hormonal health. She has devoted weekly time in the past ten years to honing her psychotherapy skills through supervision. Dr Taylor has served two roles in SASOP: the psychotherapy portfolio in the Southern Gauteng subgroup and currently is on the national SASOP Exco of the Interventional Psychiatry special interest group, with the portfolio of “chemicals”. Dr Taylor is enjoying the steep learning curve and expansion of treatment options made available by the new interventional psychiatry landscape. She has been following the research and developments for many years and is finding the implementation of these modalities rewarding and elucidating.