how can I help your child or adolescent?
If you are challenged by your child's behaviour, or concerned about your child's well-being, it might be time to ask for professional assistance. Some of the more common risk factors that your child might be facing, or might have faced at an earlier stage of life, include:
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Bullying (either being bullied or exhibiting harmful behaviour to others)
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Challenging school adjustment
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Low self-esteem
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Childhood Trauma
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Antisocial Peer Group
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Insecure Attachment
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Identity development
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Single Parenting, challenging co-parenting or acrimonious parallel-parenting
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Separation and Divorce
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Parental Chronic Illness
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Death of a loved one
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Foster care placement, placement in a children's home, adoption
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AD(H)D (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), and anxiety
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Premature birth
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Genetic syndromes
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Exposure to toxins in utero
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Chronic or serious illness
All behaviour is communication, so if you are struggling to understand your child's behaviour, allow me ao help you and your child understand what lies behind the behaviour and what is needed to bring them into their true selves.
All sessions are booked at R650 per hour for children under 12, R630 for adolescents and adults and R750 for couples or families. My practice is cash-based, all clients are required to settle payment before the session. I am registered with most medical aids and will assist you where possible to claim back from your medical aid, but ultimately each client is responsible for their account.
therapeutic intervention for children (3-12yrs)
Therapeutic intervention is offered using play therapy techniques, narrative techniques, body awareness and psycho-education. Such therapy aims to enter into the world of the child and assist the child in processing past or present challenges or trauma and to develop coping mechanisms to find who they are and who they can be.
Therapy is completed in the following blocks:
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1 intake session with only the parents
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A first introductory session with the child and parent(s)
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A block of 6-8 sessions with the child (sessions are 45-60 minutes and are booked as an hour slot)
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Feedback session with parents and child (at the discretion of the social worker)
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A second block of therapy could be indicated
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therapeutic intervention for adolescents (13-18yrs)
Therapeutic intervention is offered using various techniques (including narrative techniques, body awareness, and psycho-education) while drawing on your child's inherent strength and interests. The adolescent brain is undertaking a remodelling, becoming more specialised and individualised. This process can be challenging for the adolescent as well as the adults.
Therapy is completed in the following blocks:
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1 intake session with the parents and the adolescent
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A block of 6-8 sessions with the child (sessions are 45-60 minutes but are booked as an hour slot)
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Feedback session with parents and adolescent (at the discretion of the social worker)
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A second block of therapy could be indicated
socio emotional child assessments
If you are perplexed by your child's behaviour or experience and hope to gain a better understanding and a way to support your child, a socio-emotional assessment might be the key.
A holistic view is used to assess the child’s functioning in all areas – relationships (school, peers, parents, siblings, marital), attachment, broad screening of motor- and perceptual functioning, screening for possible trauma exposure (including physical and/or sexual abuse), and personality functioning/temperament. The purpose is to evaluate different systems in the child’s world as well as in the child’s socio-emotional functioning and emotional experience of these systems.
An initial two-hour assessment is completed with the child followed by an hour of parent feedback.
These assessments are completed without first engaging the parents' perspective to safeguard against subjectivity, parents are asked to complete a comprehensive intake form as well as ask the school to provide information if applicable. Once the social worker has collated all the information from the two-hour interview with the child and the information provided, I will schedule a feedback session of 1,5 hours with the parents to discuss my findings and recommend interventions as applicable.
These assessments are charged at R3000 for the complete process.
Parent and Caregiver Training
I offer training sessions for parents and caregivers who want to better understand and support the children in their care. These sessions cover a range of topics, from child development to behavioral management. I aim to inspire parents, caregivers and teachers to be trauma informed, whole brain focused and to benefit from healthy bonds and attachments. Information is also tailored to the families needs and can include support for parents with children with ASD, AD(H)D, PDA and Attachment difficulties/disorders (adoption, foster care or safety placement included)
These are offered in blocks of 8 support and guidance sessions where we consider latest research, useful tools and your parenting approach whilst creating opportunities for application and feedback.