FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The assistance  our team offers covers  a wide range - we see and support  people who are facing various challenges that interfere with their ability to function. This includes:

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Adults and adolescents are referred to us when they are facing: 

• Anxiety, including generalised anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, post-traumatic stress, trauma

• Depression, including post natal depression and grief work.

• Work stress and school stress

• Relationship difficulties 

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Children could be referred for:

• Anxiety (school refusal, separation anxiety, phobias)

• Depression,

• Behavioural difficulties (aggression, lying, stealing)

• Assessments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Trauma (divorce, loss, crime,  physical, emotional or sexual abuse,  witnessing domestic violence)

An assessment is an information gathering process. This information helps us plan an effective intervention.

 

Children: 

All assessments of pre-adolescent children include:

A parent/guardian interview (to get a full history of the issue and what has been tried up to that time)

An emotional assessment of the child (an interview with the child)

Collateral information from the school (with parental consent)

A feedback session outlines the concerns that have been identified and allows a forum to discuss the therapeutic plan.

 

Adolescents:

It is important for an adolescent to be able to trust the psychologist. We usually see an adolescent prior to an appointment with parents/guardians, depending on the circumstances. We value family involvement while respecting the adolescent’s right to confidentiality.

Adults:

We usually conduct an assessment with adults during the first session.

A therapeutic plan will be drawn up in consultation with the client.

All psychologists registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa have to complete six years of study before doing their Board examination leading to their registration. In their final year they do an internship at an accredited institution.

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The first 5 years of training for all the above categories are similar.

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Clinical Psychologist, in their internship year,  work at a psychiatric hospital. The Clinical psychologists are trained to work with more serious psychopathology.

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Counselling psychologists work at a counselling institute like FAMSA, (Family and Marriage Society of South Africa), Student Counselling at universities or other Counselling Clinics. Counselling psychologists are trained to work with adjustment to life problems.

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Educational psychologists  study children of all ages and how they learn and use this analysis to identify learning, social and behavioural issues that impede children's learning. They do their internships in schools.

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There is a lot of overlap in our training but each category has a slightly different area of specialisation, as explained above. In private practice there can be a lot of overlap in the work we do.

A Registered Counsellor is registered with the HPCSA. They study a 4 year degree and do a 6 month internship. After this they write their Board examination. 

 

Registered counsellors services  were introduced to make psychological counselling more accessible to more people.  They  have a limited scope of practice but the costs are also less. Their  primary function is to prevent, promote, intervene, support and appropriately refer where necessary.  They provide  interventions that focus on support and promote the enhancement of well-being.

 

This includes:

• Screening and identification of mental health challenges

• Containment of presenting difficulties 

• Providing preventative, developmental counselling services and interventions 

• Psycho - education and training 

• Promotion of psychosocial well-being 

• Working in a context appropriate, multi - professional team 

 

Referral to appropriate professionals or other appropriate resources (know when to refer to a psychiatrist or psychologist)​​​

Psychologists work using therapy to assist people with the challenges they face. 

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A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in psychiatry and treats primarily using medication. 

 

Psychologists and psychiatrists often work closely together

Mediation involves families in conflict, working out arrangements for themselves and their children with the help of neutral and skilled mediators. The aim of mediation is to reach an agreement mutually acceptable to the parties. This is within the broad range of what a court would be likely to approve.

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Janet Bytheway and Heidi van der Merwe are accredited Family Mediators Association of the Cape (FAMAC) mediators. We can assist with mediation of care and contact plans during the divorce process. We can also assist  parents to mediate changes in care and contact arrangements or difficulties that arise in co-parenting, post-divorce. 

Facilitation was developed to reduce post-divorce/separation litigation. It offers parents a forum to discuss disputes regarding their children or maintenance after they have been divorced or separated. Facilitators are usually appointed in terms of a Court Order and are mandated to resolve disputes that arise post divorce/separation.

 

Facilitators are authorised to issue directives that are binding on both parents. These directives can only be changed by a Court of competent jurisdiction or by agreement between the parents. Facilitators are required to attempt to settle disputes by way of mediation before issuing a directive. Facilitators are also authorised to speak to all relevant parties including the children.  In some instances, it may be necessary for a facilitator to appoint an expert to complete an assessment.

 

Facilitators cannot issue directives around relocation outside the borders of South Africa.

Facilitators frequently deal with disputes regarding contact and holiday arrangements, choice of schooling or any other aspect of the children’s lives where the parents need to make joint decisions. Some Court orders also mandate the facilitator to resolve disputes around maintenance.  Facilitators, like mediators, are trained by FAMAC.

 

For more information see www.famac.co.za