I look forward to walking this journey with you—towards insight, healing, and better mental health.
About
Dr Michelle King- Psychiatrist
Practice number 0281573
MBChB MMed(Psych) MECI PG Dip Interdisciplinary Pain Management
PG Dip Palliative Medicine- with distinction
I am a South African trained psychiatrist having completed my training in 2007. Since then, I have studied further in early childhood development, chronic pain management and palliative medicine.
At present, I am the sitting president of PAINSA, a chapter of the International Society for the Study of Pain (IASP).
My approach to helping patients with chronic pain goes beyond just prescribing the right medication for the type of pain you’re experiencing. I believe in a holistic and compassionate approach that focuses on understanding why you have chronic pain and what can be done to improve your quality of life.
This means looking at the bigger picture—how pain affects your body, mind, emotions, and daily functioning—and empowering you with tools and strategies to take back control. I work closely with the Pain Collective to ensure you have access to a full multidisciplinary team, including physiotherapists, psychologists, and other specialists, so that your care is collaborative, personalized, and comprehensive.
Mental health matters
I treat a wide range of mental health conditions across the lifespan—from children and adolescents to young adults, adults, and older individuals. My practice includes the assessment and management of ADHD, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, and dementia, among others. Each person’s experience is unique, and I take the time to understand not only the symptoms but also the context in which they occur. My goal is to provide thoughtful, individualized care that supports mental well-being at every stage of life.
DBT Skills Groups
While working with my patients and their families, I realised that what was often missing was the skills to cope and navigate life, as well as the skills to manage extreme emotions. This was something that medication was not going to fix.
Being able to offer online DBT skills groups can now fill that gap. Groups are for teens age 15-18, people living with chronic pain and adults struggling with their mental health.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
As a psychiatrist with 18 years of clinical experience, I’ve walked alongside many people living with chronic pain — each with their own story, challenges, and resilience.
Pain is complex. It’s not just physical; it affects how you think, feel, move, connect, and make sense of yourself. Over the years, I’ve seen how traditional treatments often miss the emotional and psychological weight that chronic pain carries.
My work blends medical knowledge with psychological flexibility — integrating psychiatry, mindfulness, and behavioural science to help you move from struggling with pain to living with it.
This group draws on that experience — combining evidence-based ACT principles with the compassion and understanding that come from two decades of working with people in pain.
Online ACT groups offer something unique: connection and accessibility without the barriers of travel, physical fatigue, or scheduling stress.
When you live with chronic pain, even small tasks like getting dressed, driving, or sitting for long periods can take a toll. The online format allows you to participate from the comfort of your own home, adjusting your environment to suit your body’s needs — whether that’s lying down, using heat packs, or keeping your camera off when you need a break.
But beyond convenience, online groups create a surprising intimacy. You meet others who get it — who understand the invisible exhaustion and frustration of living with pain. Together, we practice mindfulness, share strategies, and gently build new ways of responding to pain and life’s challenges.
It’s a space that blends professional guidance with human connection — where you can learn, reflect, and grow, at your own pace and within your own capacity.
