Meet the Clinical Team
Patience Makanza
Social Worker | Crossroads Recovery Centre Johannesburg
Patience Makanza is a Social Worker within the clinical team at Crossroads Recovery Centre in Johannesburg, with 10 years of professional experience. Her approach to addiction treatment is grounded in compassion, hope and respect, with an emphasis on understanding the individual rather than judging the addiction.
Patience believes that recovery develops through supportive relationships and a holistic understanding of each person's circumstances. She works with clients to strengthen coping skills, rebuild support systems and develop a renewed sense of purpose as they progress through treatment and recovery.
- Social Worker
- 10 Years' Professional Experience
- Johannesburg Treatment Centre
- Clinical Team
About Patience
Supporting People Through Recovery with Compassion and Purpose
Patience's professional background combines social work, education, statutory social services, employee wellness and addiction treatment.
She holds a Diploma in Education from the United College of Education and an Honours Degree in Social Work from UNISA. She graduated cum laude with her Honours degree and subsequently became a registered Assessor and Moderator in the supervision of Social Auxiliary Work.
Before working in addiction treatment, Patience gained experience across several professional environments. She worked within the examinations department at the College of Medicine South Africa between 2013 and 2017, assisted RAF clients through assessment work and served as a statutory social worker at Rata Social Services between 2018 and 2022.
Since 2022, she has also worked in the employee wellness space as an affiliate with organisations including LYRA, formerly ICAS, Trauma-Call, Momentum Health and Reality Health.
Her decision to work in addiction treatment reflects her interest in helping people improve their quality of life. She believes in second chances and in helping individuals rediscover purpose as part of their recovery.
Qualifications & Registrations
Professional Qualifications
Honours Degree in Social Work
Diploma in Education
Certificate of Competence: Assessor
Certificate of Competence: Moderator
SACSSP
Registration Number: 10-41218
BHF
Registration Number: 1050818
Career Experience
Experience Across Social Work, Wellness and Addiction Treatment
Crossroads Recovery Centre
Social Worker | Since 2022
Working within the clinical team supporting people receiving addiction treatment and recovery services.
Rata Social Services
Statutory Social Worker | 2018-2022
Professional experience working with children within statutory social work services.
College of Medicine South Africa
Examinations Department / Exams Coordinator | 2013-2017
Patience also has previous professional experience involving RAF client assessments.
Since 2022, Patience has also worked in the employee wellness space as an affiliate with organisations including LYRA, formerly ICAS, Trauma-Call, Momentum Health and Reality Health.
Clinical Experience
Areas Patience Works With
Substance-Related Addictions
- Alcohol Addiction
- Drug Addiction
- Cocaine Addiction
- Methamphetamine (Tik)
- Heroin Addiction
- Cannabis Addiction
- Prescription Drug Addiction
Behavioural Addictions
- Gambling Addiction
- Food Addiction
- Sex Addiction
Mental Health & Recovery Support
- Dual Diagnosis
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Family Counselling
- Individual Counselling
- Group Therapy
- Relapse Prevention
- Detox Support
Patient Support
Services Provided During Treatment and Recovery
Initial Assessments
Understanding each person's circumstances at the start of their treatment journey.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions focused on personal recovery goals and coping skills.
Group Therapy
Facilitated group sessions that build shared understanding and support.
Family Counselling
Supporting families to understand and participate in the recovery process.
Recovery Planning
Working with clients to develop practical, individual recovery plans.
Relapse Prevention
Helping clients recognise triggers and build strategies to manage them.
Detox Support
Supporting clients through the earlier, more vulnerable stages of treatment.
Aftercare
Helping clients plan for continuing support beyond formal treatment.
Outpatient Treatment
Support for clients continuing treatment outside a residential setting.
Crisis Intervention
Responding to urgent situations that arise during the treatment process.
Treatment Philosophy
Treating the Person as a Whole
“I believe in holistic care where the treatment of addiction addresses the whole person, including emotional, physical, social and spiritual needs.”
Patience describes her approach to addiction treatment as holistic. For her, recovery is not limited to stopping substance use. Treatment also involves considering a person's physical health, psychological wellbeing, relationships and sense of purpose.
Her approach connects therapeutic support with coping skills, mindfulness and appropriate medical care. She believes that addressing trauma, stress and other underlying difficulties associated with addiction can help create a stronger foundation for longer-term recovery.
Patience also emphasises that setbacks should be understood within the broader recovery process, rather than automatically being regarded as failure.
Areas of Support
Addiction and Recovery Needs Patience Commonly Works With
What Patients Can Expect
A Calm, Judgement-Free Starting Point
Patience describes the first counselling interaction as a calm and judgement-free environment where patients have an opportunity to introduce themselves and discuss what they are struggling with.
Her wider treatment philosophy emphasises respect, cultural humility and working collaboratively with clients rather than viewing addiction as a moral failure. The objective is to understand the person's circumstances and support progress towards healthier coping strategies, stronger relationships and renewed purpose.
Family Involvement
Recovery Does Not Happen in Isolation
Patience considers family involvement an important part of recovery where appropriate. Her approach includes frequent family updates, group family sessions and virtual family support meetings held every fortnight.
This creates an opportunity for families to better understand the recovery process and participate in structured support around the person receiving treatment.
Learn About Crossroads RecoveryFrom the Clinician
Patience's Perspective on Recovery
What would you say to someone considering rehabilitation?
Patience encourages people considering rehabilitation not to allow stigma to prevent them from seeking help. Her view is that rehabilitation may provide considerably more support than someone expects before entering treatment.
What is most rewarding about working in addiction recovery?
For Patience, one of the most rewarding aspects is seeing the growth that can occur in a person throughout treatment.
What qualities are important during recovery?
Empathy, patience and resilience.
Professional Interests
Areas of Continuing Professional Interest
Professional Affiliations
Memberships & Professional Bodies
Communication
Languages Spoken
Communication and cultural understanding can contribute to building a supportive therapeutic relationship.
Beyond Clinical Practice
Outside Her Professional Role
Outside her professional work, Patience identifies family, community work, volunteering and travel among her personal interests.
Questions with Patience
Getting to Know Patience's Approach
Patience takes a holistic approach that considers the person as a whole rather than focusing only on substance use.
Her primary areas include drug, alcohol, pharmaceutical/prescription drug and gambling addictions.
Patients can expect a calm, judgement-free environment where they can introduce themselves and begin discussing the difficulties they are experiencing.
Where appropriate, family involvement can include regular updates, group family sessions and fortnightly virtual family support meetings.
Patience encourages people not to allow the stigma surrounding rehabilitation to prevent them from seeking support.
Seeing the growth that can occur in a person throughout treatment.
Patience highlights empathy, patience and resilience.
Patience reports keeping informed through research, websites, blogs and news sources.
“Acceptance of setbacks is key in recovery; relapse does not equal failure.”
Patience Makanza Social Worker, Crossroads Recovery Centre Johannesburg
Crossroads Recovery Centre
Part of the Johannesburg Clinical Team
Patience works as part of the clinical team at Crossroads Recovery Centre's Johannesburg treatment centre. Her work sits within the broader multidisciplinary treatment environment supporting people affected by addiction and their families.
Take the Next Step
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