Our team of experts
are here for you
Papillon focuses on purpose-driven healing
Our goal is simple: to assist people struggling with mental illness to create and live worthwhile lives. To do that, we provide the tools you need to function at an optimal capacity.
Our reintegrative approach to treatment ensures our residents can live in the real world and tackle life’s challenges head-on, without feeling overwhelmed or out of control.
Our team of experts offer a holistic solution to mental illness treatment. This includes, but isn’t limited to, psychiatry, neuroscience, spiritual practices, science-based nutrition and cutting-edge psychological approaches. When combined, it ensures lifelong transformative changes in our residents.
Your Team
of Professionals
Dr. Nava Reddy is a psychiatrist with extensive experience in clinical, academic, and forensic psychiatry. She earned her MBBCh from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1993 and completed a Fellowship in Psychiatry in 2006. She served as Principal Medical Officer at Elizabeth Donkin Hospital and worked in the UK at St Andrews Healthcare’s DBT Unit. Since 2011, she has run a private practice in Port Elizabeth, also training psychiatric registrars and medical students. Her work includes outreach, long-term care, DBT, and medico-legal assessments. She holds a special interest in Quantum Physics, Consciousness, and Energy Medicine.
Jay’s background for the past three years has been in NPO operations and facilities management. He speciality lies in the rights and reintegration of diverse populations. Jay is passionate about service and works with the treatment team to bring about the best experience for clients. Jay has 18 years of hospitality management expertise that are utlised well at Papillon. Jay is entrepreneurial in nature and so connects well with the service orientation of Papillon. He also managed a well-known sober house before starting at Papillon. Jay deeply understands the importance of compassionate support. Passionate about mental health awareness and de-stigmatization, Jay brings lived experience and empathy to his work. He strives to create a safe, inclusive environment for healing, growth and recovery.
With 33 years experience as a clinical social worker in mental health and 17 of these at Helen Joseph Hospital, Freda is well equiped to assess clients wanting to be in the Papillon programme. Freda has a passion for working in the mental health arena and believes in an “out of the box”, holistic approach, to guide individuals and families to become the best version of themselves. Freda has an experienced outlook on mental health and knows that there is no one who cannot be helped, just the way we help, changes. Freda is there to guide families on length of stay for their loved one as well as the individualised care plan that Papillon specialises in.
Ndimphiwe, having graduated with distinction in social work, began his career in crime prevention and addiction recovery. His commitment to helping individuals reach their full potential is central to his approach as a systemic therapist. Drawing on relational-cultural therapy, he emphasizes the importance of fostering and maintaining healthy relationships in the recovery process. Ndimphiwe holds a Master’s in Clinical Social Work, with specializations in Medical Family Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, and Bowenian Therapy. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Work, with a focus on developing mental health interventions that enhance accessibility and outcomes across various communities.
Zinhle is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) – working predominantly from a psychodynamic paradigm, Zinhle also has strong CBT skills – her technique is dependent on what the client requires.
Her particular interests include working with difficulties with emotional stability, self-harming behaviour, identity issues, gender and sexuality, trauma, and depression. Zinhle is dedicated to clients connecting with themselves in unique and transformative ways.
Humayra earned her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree in 2018,
graduating cum laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She has since
gained extensive experience in psychosocial settings across South Africa,
specializing in functional assessments, vocational rehabilitation, group
therapy, and person-centered care. A passionate mental health advocate,
Humayra empowers clients to navigate life’s challenges while fostering
resilience and honoring their individuality.
Victoria Britten achieved a B. Cur (Cum Laude) nursing degree from the University of Johannesburg. She is a knowledgeable and hard-working advocate for individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Amongst her many responsibilities, she ensures that residents’ medication is administered according to the psychiatrist’s prescription. She also explains the purpose of each medication and its possible side-effects. Throughout her nursing duties, Victoria’s kind and caring nature helps to maximise treatment outcomes.
Alisa has a BA honours degree in African and Asian Art history and Archaeology from SOAS, University of London. She has worked in the community art sector since 2005 and trained as a Community Art Counsellor in 2011. She has been with Papillon for over a decade as an art facilitator and is currently doing her Art Therapy Masters degree through the University of Johannesburg.
Danieyella works in gentle, mindful ways combining somatic approaches and transformative, playful creative work. She has experience in the NGO and disability sectors, as well as in substance recovery. Her training is trauma-informed but she also believes in the unique power of drama therapy to enable clients to re-story, re-enact and re-work old patterns experientially, opening them up to transformation and new possibilities.
Dominique utilises various styles of yoga, she has been practising for over 30 years. Her passion for yoga grows every time she gets on the mats! She believes it’s a great learning experience and allows one to get into touch with oneself. In this busy material world, we often forget that the most important thing in our lives is ourselves, and this includes our body. For Dominique yoga is the best way to connect body and mind.
Dr Joffe qualified as a general practitioner at the University of Witwatersrand in 1995. She completed her internship at Johannesburg Hospital. She has worked in family medicine for almost 25 years and has been a part of the Randburg community during this time which, she describes, as a privilege. Dr Joffe has a passion for medicine and believes in a holistic approach to health. She has a special interest in mental health and paediatrics.
Kelly is a registered dietitian with the HPCSA and ADSA. She completed a BSc at Wits University in 2008 and she completed her Bachelor of Dietetics at the University of Pretoria in 2011. Kelly gained experience in the government setting at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. In 2015 she started her own business and has been in private practice since then. Kelly is currently practicing from Life Fourways Hospital, Morningside Mediclinic and is a consultant dietitian to Livewell Dementia Home and Papillon Recovery Centre.
Robert creates the menu at Papillon in
consultation with our nutritionist. He is
responsible for producing the Gut-Health
diet program, which changes seasonally.
Robert passes on his knowledge to the
clients when they are ready to reintegrate.
He provides worthwhile recipes and
balanced nutrition plans for residents.
Philippa has over 20 years’ experience in diverse areas such as training, communications, content development and change management. She worked at Papillon Recovery Centre in 2021 as the Communications and Reintegration Manager and returned in 2025 to her current Office Administration Role. Philippa has a BA LLB and English Honours from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is a qualified Assessor and Facilitator and holds an Advanced Diploma in Project Management from Cranefield College.
You can’t compare our experiential programme with any other South African psychiatric institution’s offering. Ours is unique, much like the people who call Papillon home. This approach to the individual determines our tailor-made treatment plans. During their time at Papillon, residents learn a new way of being in the world that is positive and supported by our free aftercare.
We talk with Love and Respect.
Don’t take our word for it. Listen to what our clients have to say
