PLAY THERAPY (3-10 years)
For our younger children, they may be presented with developmental or social-emotional challenges. Play therapy will help to address any concerns through the intervention of play. This therapy is non-directive in nature and young children learn, all while doing so through play. Play Therapy may assist your child struggling with the following social-emotional difficulties;
- bullying and interpersonal/peer difficulties
- noted concern with changes in behaviour
- children who have childhood illnesses
- divorce and separation
- trauma
- bereavement
- abuse and sexualised behaviour
- anxiety
- adjusting to changes
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY
OLDER CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS (AGES 11-18)
Our older children and adolescents today, live in a society whereby they are faced with many social-emotional, as well as developmental or physical changes they may be faced with. They are at a stage in their life whereby, trying to establish who they are and how they fit in. This may present as a challenge and often overwhelming. Individual psychotherapy provides a safe space for self-exploration.
Difficulties adolescents may be facing:
- Relationship difficulties
- Family relationship difficulties
- Parental divorce
- Aggressive behaviour (Anger)
- Eating difficulties
- Bullying
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Identity confusion
ASSESSMENTS
FULL PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS INCLUDE;
- Cognitive assessment
- Emotional assessment
- Academic/educational
The benefit of this assessment, is to provide a holistic understanding of your child. The assessment will give insight into your child’s current cognitive abilities, Evaluate their reading age, spelling age, reading comprehension age as well as mathematical age in comparison to their chronological age and to ascertain if there are learning delays.The assessment report offers a comprehensive understanding of your child, as well as how to remediate or further enrich your child to meet their full potential. Recommendations will be given to the child, parents and school in order to work systemically at the best interest of the child.
SCHOOL READINESS ASSESSMENTS
This caters for children who are in Grade R and are preparing for Grade the following year. The assessment evaluates and identifies any delays or areas that may need further attention in order to cope with the demands of formal primary schooling. It is recommended that this assessment be done half way through their Grade R year in order to allow for sufficient time to either remediate or enrich the child’s development.
IEB, IB AND GDE ACCOMMODATION ASSESSMENTS
Special accommodations may be granted for learns who struggle academically and are needing some additional assistance during their academic journey. A formal assessment is required to apply for the accommodations during the learner’s Grade 11 year in preparation for their Grade 12 and final year of schooling. Some accommodation may include the following;
Extra time (5/10/15 minutes per hour)
- Spelling exclusion
- Reader
- Scribe
- Full amanuensis
- Assistive devices
- Enlarged print
UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATIONS
Learners who have been previously granted accommodations at a school level, may need this to be continued into University. Furthermore, Tertiary education may present with new learning challenges that weren’t present at school, and a learner may need a learning intervention at this level to best assist them in reaching their full potential. Universities may require an updated assessment report as well as specific assessments. Find out from your University what their process and requirements are.
CAREER AND SUBJECT CHOICE ASSESSMENTS
Learners in Grade 10, Grade 11 or Grade 12 who are unsure of which career to pursue, may require and benefit from a comprehensive career guidance assessment. The findings of the assessment will allow you to make an informed decision, as well as provide referrals to professionals in the suggested career, in order to gain first-hand experience and input into the chosen career.
PARENT GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
PARENTING PLANS
Separation and divorce is a difficult time for a family and especially on children. Parenting Plans are aimed to assist the processes in an amicable manner, while always placing the child/children’s best interests first. Parents work with Claire in mediation, in developing a parenting plan that acts as legally binding contract, once registered with the family court or family advocate. To gain more understanding into this process and how it works, contact Claire directly.
PARENTAL GUIDANCE
Throughout all the services Claire offers, she acts at the best interest of the child, and feels that it is a vital process to work closely with families and schools. Parental/guardian(s) involvement in the therapeutic process is key to addressing the identified concerns, and Claire will help to guide and offer support through the therapeutic journey.
Seeking Parental Guidance & Practical Tips
- Behavioural problems (acting out, clinginess)
- Dealing with anger
- Understanding and managing you’re your child’s ADHD
- Dealing with friends and socialisation
- Relationships with siblings, parents, teachers and other significant others
- Preparing your child for change or transition – such as a new school, relocating, new member in the
family, hospitalisation - Effective Discipline
- Dealing with a strong-willed child who is the boss
- Building our child’s self-esteem and resilience
- Addressing stress
- Regression (your child regressing to baby behaviour)
- Bullying behaviour (the bully or being bullied, cyber-bullying and social media)
ACADEMIC LEARNING SUPPORT
Sessions are aimed at better understanding the child/adolescent’s learning style/s. Individualised study skills programmes are developed to assist the learner in implementing healthy study, and learning habits. Sessions are interactive and proactive in their approach, and much focus is placed on changing the child’s negative perception of studying. Specific skills that will be taught and applied directly to their school content include;
- Organisation and time management
- Note taking and use of a study file
- Study methods based on learning style
- How to approach test and exam papers
- Performance anxiety
FORENSIC PSYCHO-LEGAL INVESTIGATIONS
In a South African context, psycho-legal assessments or investigations, may be conducted by psychologists registered with the HPCSA. Such investigations are administered to provide an expert opinion on a particular area of functioning. Examples of psycho-legal assessment include:
Child Custody Evaluations
– Sexual abuse allegation
– Care contact and residency
– Relocation
When requesting a psycho-legal evaluation, please email us directly to enquire about the process and contracts for psycho-legal investigations.
PARENTING PLAN AGREEMENTS
PARENTING PLAN AGREEMENTS
- A parenting plan is a legally constituted document provided for in the Children’s Act 2005
of South Africa. A parenting plan is an agreement between the co-holders of parental rights and responsibilities towards their child and at the best interest of their child/ren. The parenting plan becomes a legally binding document and regulations for both parents, once it has authorised by the Child’s Court of Family Advocate Register. - A parenting plan can be drawn up;
- When a relationship has ended. However, it is recommended that it drawn up as part of
a divorce settlement concerning the care, contact and maintenance of the child/ren. v When one or both parties/parents are experiencing difficulties in exercising their
responsibilities and rights and request for a formal process to be implemented.
- When court ordered.
- When requested by both legal representatives dealing with parenting contracts or
divorce.