For specialist psychiatrist Dr Clementine Chawane, witnessing the courage of her patients has inspired a fearlessness that’s seen her step onto public stages and launch a podcast — all to extend the mental health conversation beyond the therapy room.
Her goal: to reach those still gathering the courage to ask for help. Here, she reflects on lessons in courage, growth, and self-renewal. As a panelist at the 2025 Vastly Sage Uplifting Brunch, she’ll be sharing more on the importance of mental health.
YLA: What’s an important lesson you’ve learnt in the past year?
Dr Clementine: The most profound lesson of this past year has been mastering the art of navigating dual seasons. I’ve come to understand that profound growth often demands that we hold two conflicting realities at once. This acceptance — that I can be both afraid and capable, both uncertain and moving forward — has been my most significant breakthrough.
YLA: Who or what do you think has been a major contributor to your career success?
Dr Clementine: While I am deeply grateful for my academic training, my most profound teachers have been my clients. As a psychiatrist, I am granted a sacred trust — a front-row seat to the incredible resilience of the human spirit. I have been awestruck by the courage it takes for individuals to rise, to bloom, and to dare to try again when all odds seem stacked against them.
YLA: How do you ensure you are constantly evolving and growing?
Dr Clementine: My commitment to evolution is an active, multi-faceted practice. I recognised early on that the “introverted, shy loner” identity I had claimed was a comfortable cage — one that did not align with the expansive vision stirring within me. So, I made a conscious decision to outgrow my self-imposed limits. This is supported by a robust infrastructure of growth: I am committed to my own therapy. Underpinning it all is my faith, which provides the ultimate guidance and the courage to continually become.
YLA: What’s your current favourite luxury or indulgence?
Dr Clementine: My most cherished luxury has been learning the art of receiving care. Currently, this manifests in two profound indulgences: the serene escape of a bush spa, where floating pools merge with the untamed beauty of nature, and the soul-nourishing solitude of a solo trip to the countryside. These are not mere vacations; they are sacred rituals of silence and self-replenishment. In those moments of tranquil solitude, I am not a psychiatrist, a speaker, or a caregiver — I am simply myself, being refilled so that I may, in turn, pour from a place of abundance.
