What is a Psychologist?
What is an Educational Psychologist?
An Educational Psychologist is concerned with helping children or young people who are experiencing problems within an educational setting. The aim is to enhance their learning and overcome educational challenges.
Challenges may include:
- social problems
- emotional problems or
- learning difficulties.
Educational Psychologists’ may work with individual clients (children and parents) or groups, for example, teachers and schools.
Educational Psychologists are trained in Play Therapy – a specific counselling approach in which games, toys and mediums such as clay, drawings and paint are used.
Play helps children to express their emotions, thoughts, wishes and needs. This technique allows a child to use play to communicate at their own level and pace, without feeling interrogated or threatened.
What is a Child Psychologist?
Child Psychology is an area of specialisation that focuses on the mental, social and emotional development of children. Typically, psychologists working with children look at development from birth to adolescence.
Child psychologists may work with a range of clients including infants, toddlers, children and teens (as well as parents or primary caregivers).
In short, psychologists working with children focus on:
- developmental issues
- cognitive issues
- social issues
- emotional issues.
In South Africa, the HPCSA has no registration category for Child Psychologists, but Registered Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychologists may choose to specialise in working with children.
What is a Counselling Psychologist?
A Counselling Psychologist focuses on providing therapeutic treatments to children and adults who experience a wide variety of symptoms.
Through therapeutic interventions, Counselling Psychologists facilitate personal and interpersonal functioning and overall well-being.
This can focus on:
- emotional concerns
- social concerns
- occupational concerns
- developmental concerns
- organizational concerns.
The approach a therapist takes depends on a wide range of factors including his or her educational background, training and theoretical perspective.
What is a Clinical Psychologist?
Clinical Psychology is a branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness and behavioural problems.
While both clinical and counselling psychologists perform psychotherapy, those working as clinicians typically deal with clients suffering from more severe mental illnesses.
A Clinical Psychologist works with people suffering from mental illness such as:
- psychological trauma,
- eating disorders,
- sleep disorders,
- clinical depression,
- bipolar disorders,
- anxiety,
- phobias,
- psychotic disorders.
What people say about us
I just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful work that you've done over the past year. We're so happy that he has come out of his shell and is now interacting so well with familiar and unfamiliar people.
I must admit, I first came to the centre reluctantly, and was not very enthusiastic about starting therapy. Now…. I look forward to my regular sessions. I absolutely LOVE my “pre – therapy” coffee and catch-ups with the Practice manager, who is the life and soul of the centre.
As a parent it has been such a good experience dealing with a team who are so warm and caring, and yet very professional!! My child’s attitude to coming to the centre speaks for itself.
Had an incredible experience at this practice. The psychologist was authentic, efficient and the help I received was life changing. I would not hesitate at recommending this centre. Everything you could need and more!