Educational Psychology

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Who can benefit from Therapy?

Individuals who are experiencing difficulties with relationships

friends, parents, teachers etc.

Individuals who have experienced trauma

hijacking, armed robbery etc.

Individuals who are suffering from depression or anxiety

Individuals who are presenting with behavioural difficulties or who are acting out

Individuals who are experiencing difficulties with eating or sleeping

Individuals who have experienced bereavement, loss or parent’s divorce

Individuals who present with anger issues

Individuals who are struggling with low self-esteem

Play Therapy

Play therapy is done on a weekly basis, in a one-on-one setting.  The approach is usually non-directive and open ended and play is the child’s means of communicating what they are feeling, experiencing or struggling with.  The therapist performs a supportive, empathic, understanding function, reflecting the themes that are emerging during the sessions.

Parent feedback is usually done once every 6-8 weeks in order to involve the parents as they are an important part of the process.  Other approaches can also be useful as with Parent-Child work, where the parents and child are seen together in order to address issues that are affecting the family unit, such as eating and sleeping difficulties.

Assessments

Emotional assessments consist of an initial parent intake to get important background information, 4-6 individual sessions with the child and then a parent feedback session to share what has emerged from the sessions.  These assessments are helpful in order to assess the child’s current emotional state and any issues they might be struggling with.

Psychoeducational assessments involve an in-depth investigation into a child’s emotional, educational and cognitive functioning.

Special Interest

I am an Educational Psychologist who has been in Private Practice for over 20 years. I am also a qualified teacher and loved teaching Physical Education, English, and Life Orientation for 6 years before leaving teaching to do my Master’s in Educational Psychology. 

I am passionate about the emotional well-being of children, adolescents, and their families and helping them to optimize their development and to reach their true potential.

I am also incredibly passionate about Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and I am privileged to be working with these majestic creatures as part of my therapeutic team, at our NPO called Heart’s Haven Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Academic Support Centre in Linbro Park.

I also have a special interest in parent-child therapy, in which the primary goal is to support and strengthen the relationship between a child and his or her parent, in order to repair the child’s sense of safety, to foster more effective communication skills between child and parent, to facilitate a deeper understanding of what the child is feeling and communicating through their behaviour and to ultimately improve the child’s cognitive, behavioural and social functioning within the family system. 

We also have a very experienced Assessment Team that specialises in all types of Assessments, including School Readiness Assessments, Full Psychoeducational Assessments and Assessments for Concessions and Accommodations for Learners.

Our qualified therapists…

Mandy Laskey

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Physical Education (Wits)
  • Honours in Psychology (Unisa)
  • Masters in Educational Psychology (Wits)

Experience:

Mandy started her studies with a Bachelor of Physical Education at The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).   After graduating she taught physical education, Guidance and English at Fairways Primary School.  Whilst teaching she completed her Honours in Psychology through UNISA and then left teaching when she was accepted to do her Masters in Educational Psychology, again at Wits.

After completing her Master’s degree she began her internship at The Johannesburg Parent and Child Counselling Centre, where she gained valuable experience.  She also worked at First Step Recovery Centre for three years, which gave her insight into addiction and therapeutic approaches to recovery.  She has been in private practice since 2004 and works with infants, children, adolescents and parents.  She conducts play therapy, adolescent counselling, psychoeducational and emotional assessments and parent counselling.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US…

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!

082 926 6002‬

mandylaskey@mweb.co.za

We are an integrated team with a common vision:
Helping your children discover their path!