Parents
Becoming a parent has a tremendous impact on many aspects of our selves and our lives, despite it being a common phenomenon. We could go through this experience without doing much preparation, and likely be just fine. However, some circumstances may wake us up to deeper care for ourselves, and for our children and partners.
This care could take the form of either desiring a more conscious parenting experience, or you may be forced to do so by parenting challenges such as intense sadness, unusual anxiety, uncontrollable frustration, or even all of these emotions intertwined. The needs of parents are multifaceted, and thus various forms of parenting support are available.
This care could take the form of either desiring a more conscious parenting experience, or you may be forced to do so by parenting challenges such as intense sadness, unusual anxiety, uncontrollable frustration, or even all of these emotions intertwined. The needs of parents are multifaceted, and thus various forms of parenting support are available.
Services Available to Parents
The interventions I offer are mainly based on the principles of attachment theory, which primarily aims to facilitate a fulfilling connection between the parent and child. The impact of these interventions, however, continue into the rest of childhood and adulthood. A healthy bond has a pervasive impact on various facets of your child's functioning and behaviour.
My main interventions are:
My main interventions are:
- Babies in Mind talks,
- Parent-infant psychotherapy,
- Parent-child psychotherapy,
- the Circle of Security Parenting Workshop Series,
- Parenting and discipline guidance for children with challenging behaviour, and
- Mindful Birthing Antenatal Workshop and support.
Babies in MindBabies in Mind is all about getting the help you need during the wonderful but challenging first few years of your child's life. 'Feeding issues', 'sleep problems' and 'crying' usually bring the most stress to parents and their babies. They are the classic sanity wreckers. A Babies in Mind practitioner can help you with these and other sanity wreckers like 'high need' babies and inform you on postnatal depression. The focus of this program is on understanding the psychological and emotional needs underlying your child's behaviour. The program can be attended as a whole, or talks may be attended individually.
Your baby's experiences now form the basic foundation of his or her mental health. There is a lot you can do to strengthen this foundation. The workshops are conducted in addition to the reading of the book 'Babies in Mind' (by Jenny Perkel), on which these workshops are based. You can read more at www.babiesinmind.co.za. |
Circle of Security - ParentingAs a Registered Circle of Security (COS) Parenting Facilitator, this program is offered over an 8 week period either to one or both parent/s, or in a group format with various parents. The program assists the parent to gain a deeper understanding of attachment-based parenting, as well as the means to implement this way of thinking about parenting you infant and toddler. It is conducted without the presence of the children, as a major component of the training involves reflective work on the part of the parents. Parents are empowered to practice the learned principles with their children.
"The Circle of Security is a relationship based early intervention program designed to enhance attachment security between parents and children. Decades of university-based research have confirmed that secure children exhibit increased empathy, greater self-esteem, better relationships with parents and peers, enhanced school readiness, and an increased capacity to handle emotions more effectively when compared with children who are not secure." (Read more at www.circleofsecurity.net.)
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Antenatal Workshop
The Mindful Birthing Antenatal Workshop is a one day workshop presented by myself and a registered midwife. Pregnancy and childbirth is a major rite of passage in all population groups. With the astonishing advances in medicine, this life experiences has become increasingly medicalised. For some groups, this has led to dis-empowerment of women and families during the pregnancy and birthing experiences, and a significant decrease in investment in the preparation for these transitions.
Our hope is to complement the medical model by equipping you with the tools to be both mentally and physically prepared for the pregnancy and birthing experience. The focus will be both on emotional and cognitive preparation for pregnancy and parenthood and the physical aspects of the antenatal experience. We have not only incorporated the latest research and contemporary resources, but also our own experience both professionally and personally. This course is committed to preparing you for demands of pregnancy, birth and the first few weeks with your infant. What to expect:
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Parent-infant or Parent-child Therapy
When aspects about you as parent, your child, or the both of you get into the way of a meaningful and effective connection, psychotherapy and guidance with both you and your child in the session may be considered.
Relationship struggles can manifest in various different ways, and can range all the way from struggling to cope with sleep problems, to accepting your child as your own and feeling like you love her or him. If you are unsure about whether parent-child therapy is the right option for you, please feel free to email me or book and appointment, and we can assess the suitability of this form of therapy for your struggle in your relationship to your child. ResourcesBelow are resources you can download to gain a better understanding of an attachment-based approach to parenting. You are also welcome to contact the Centre directly.
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