FAQ

Frequently asked questions and answers about Educational Psychology and The Resilient Family Practice

Do you claim directly from my medical aid?

Yes, we have the capability to claim and will only do so if the system can verify your membership and benefits. I submit the claims via a 3rd party medical switching facility. If this is not the case you pay me on the day of service delivery. You will be responsible for the account unless paid by the medical aid. You will receive your account for submission to your medical aid via email within 24 hours of your session. Please submit it for reimbursement.

What happens if I have to cancel an appointment?

It sometimes happen that an appointment have to be cancelled or rescheduled; kindly ensure that you do so at least 24 hours prior to your appointment. It will allow me to accommodate someone else in that time slot. If you do not cancel, I will unfortunately have to bill you for the missed appointment. As medical aids do not pay for missed appointments, you will be personally responsible for the account. You will also not be able to claim back from your medical aid.

How do I pay for consultations and/or assessments?

There are two ways in which you can pay for consultations or an assessment. Firstly, you can pay in cash on arrival; please note that I do not have a card machine, and there is no ATM in the close vicinity; also, ensure that you have the correct amount with you as I won't be able to give you change. The second option is to do an EFT for the session or the assessment into the following account:
C. Du Plessis,
Standard Bank,
Branch Code 051001,
Account Number 625847490.
Kindly forward your proof of payment to info@resilientfamily.co.za prior to the appointment, or bring it along to the appointment.

What about confidentiality?

I will only break my confidentiality if you are a threat to yourself or someone else as this is what is required of me by law and the ethical code of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. I will inform you thereof before I do it. Also, if I am subpoenaed by the court I have to present them with what they require. Once again, I will inform you thereof prior to handing it over.
Whatever we discuss during sessions is confidential and will remain between us unless you decide to share it with someone. Only I have access to your file as I keep it locked in a secure place.

What about confidentiality if my teen sees you for therapy?

The same rule applies to adolescents as to adults. Whatever your teen and I discuss is confidential and will remain between us unless she decide to share it. Only I have access to her file and I keep it locked away in a secure place.
I will only break my confidentiality if she is a threat to herself or someone else. Then, I am required by law and the ethical code of the Health Professions Council of South Africa to disclose the information. I will inform you and your child thereof before I do it. Also, if I am subpoenaed by court, I have to present them with what they require. Once again, I will inform you prior to handing it over. I will be able though to give you information if she consents to it. I will also be able to tell you whether we are making progress or if I suspect a difficult week ahead. No detail will be shared.

Can information be shared with other professionals such as a neurologist, psychiatrist or teacher?

There may be times, especially after an assessment or as part of the therapy process, that it might be helpful to discuss or disclose information to the school or other specialists such as a neurologist or psychiatrist. You will be required to give me written instruction to do so. This can be via e-mail or letter. A telephone call will not be acceptable. I will not initiate disclosure of information without your written instruction. Also remember that if you want to claim back from medical aid or use your account for tax purposes, the ICD-10 diagnosis and treatment codes will be available on your invoices.

How do I know it is time to see a psychologist?

If you have been wondering if you need to see someone, it might be a good indication that it is time. This usually happens when a situation or problem causes significant distress in your life. You might feel overwhelmed or you have been stressed for a long time. You might have feelings of sadness and helplessness. Friends, family or colleagues might notice that something is bothering you; a good friend might actually tell you outright that it is time to see someone. They might even indicate to you that they are tired listening to your complaints! There might even be a change in your behaviour where you eat less, or overindulge, you overuse or abuse alcohol or medication and your sleeping patterns have changed.

Is my problem not too insignificant to see a psychologist?

Not only people with massive problems visit a psychologist. Sometimes you have a need to grow as an individual, to understand yourself better or just to deal with the stresses of everyday life. It is wonderful to be able to talk to someone who can help you to look at things with different eyes. It can be such an enriching experience. It can improve your sense of well-being and your relationships in general!

I am scared you will think badly of me if I share my innermost secrets with you.

We all carry good and dark stuff inside. That is how we were created. No-one is just good or just bad. The most important thing is that you get to know yourself, get a better understanding of yourself and embrace both good and dark as it makes you who you are. Through better understanding and integration you can manage an improve your life significantly. I have a great appreciation, compassion and respect for my and everybody elses humanity. Don't be scared to share. This is your time to heal and grow!

How many sessions of therapy will be needed?

The aim is to help you in a timely manner and it depends on the problem(s) that are being explored. Some clients benefit from one or two sessions and feel that they have achieved what they wanted to. With other clients, it takes time to get to the bottom of the matter. If a problem presented over a long period of time, it might take longer to address it in therapy. Usually twelve sessions will bring about significant changes. Other problems might need twenty sessions and some clients might have to stay a bit longer.

I worry about my toddler's new behaviour! Will you be able to help?

It is always best to start with you as the parent as you know your child best. Together we will decide what needs to be done. There is often much you will be able to do to address your little one's worrying behaviour, once we have discussed certain strategies and you have implemented it. You might see a significant change in your toddler's behaviour. Where necessary I might suggest some play therapy sessions with your child or even with you and your child.

What is play therapy?

Play is the universal language of children. Through play we get to know more about the inner life of a child. Play therapy can afford children from 3 years to 12 years old, the opportunity to deal with things that are bothering them as they are well equipped to express themselves through play. In the hands of a psychologist or qualified play therapist, play therapy can facilitate healing for children who went through stressful or traumatic experiences. It gives the child an opportunity to express and explore his feelings in a safe environment. It provides your child with an opportunity to find solutions to problems and can be very empowering for the child. It can also help to facilitate new positive behaviours.

When does a child need a school readiness assessment?

An assessment is done to give me important information about the functioning of your child. A school readiness assessment assist in making sure that your child will flourish in grade one. You want to set your child up for success during his twelve year school career, and it is important to make sure that everything in place to deal with the demands of grade one. Some children might need help to come into their own. By doing the assessment I will be able to tell you which steps need to be taken to help your child to get ready.

My child is really battling at school. How can I help my child?

It is important to understand your child's strengths and weaknesses well. By doing an assessment will be able to give you information on how your child can be helped so that school becomes a better place. I will look at your child's intellectual functioning, establish where your child is with regards to reading, writing, spelling and maths and which areas need attention. I will also look at your child's emotional well-being so that we get a holistic picture of how your child is doing intellectually, scholastically and emotionally. Once we have the information, a plan of action or therapy plan can be developed that will address your child's specific needs.

My teen is really very difficult. Will therapy help?

Adolescence is a tough time. Teens feel pressure from all sides: high school is demanding, peer pressure and fitting in is on top of the priority list and they fight for autonomy and independence. Furthermore, growth take place and hormonal changes are at the order of the day. Your teen must make hundreds of decisions and some of these are tough! Some days they are responsible and modern citizens and other days just plain difficult. This is also a time when parents feel excluded from their child's life as you are the last person to hear the news! It will be great for both parents and teen to talk to someone who understands their needs and can assist to manage this challenging time. We still want parents and their children to have quality in their lives and to have good memories of this time. Therapy will be a great idea.

My teen really battles with tests and examinations. Is there anything that can be done?

There are many reasons why children experience examinations as very threatening. He can suffer from an anxiety disorder, feel unsure about how to study the work, perhaps he fell behind with class and school work or he might not know how to attack a test paper. Alternatively your child might need special assistance (concessions) for examinations. This we have to apply for from IEB or GDE once we understand, have diagnosed and can motivate the area(s) of difficulty. All of the above are enough to shatter your child's confidence and self-esteem. The good news is that all of these can be addressed in some way to make test and examination time more manageable. It will also be good if you know how to support your child.

My child needs to choose subjects for grade 9 and I don't want to make a mistake

This is indeed an important decision that you and your child need to make. It can be very helpful to have your child assessed so that you understand your child's potential, personality and interest better. It is never a good idea to require from your child what you want. It should always be in the best interest of your child. If we work with your child's strengths, good and informed decisions can be made. You are already setting your child up for success or failure.

When should we start with career choices with our child?

First of all, career choice is not an incident, it is a process. You are already busy preparing for career choices when you choose your child's high school and subjects. It is best to start with serious career guidance in grade 10. Do not expect the school to do this for you, unless it is a specialised service that they offer. It can be very helpful to start with assessments in grade 9 and to do further exploration during the whole of grade 11. It will help to motivate your child as he will know where he is going to. Also, it will allow him to visit colleges, universities and companies that can assist with his career path. It is important that your child embark on a journey of personal and career discovery final decisions are made.

We are going through a difficult time as a family. Will family therapy help?

During family therapy the family has an opportunity to explore difficulties in a safe and secure environment. The Psychologist can contain the family and help them to explore the issues so that everybody's needs are taken care of. It also helps the family to deal with the proverbial "elephant in the room" - something that the whole family experience as a problem but we are too scared to discuss it with each other out of fear that feelings will be hurt or major explosions will take place. It can be a very enriching experience for families as they learn more about the emotional landscape of each other, learn how to problem solve in a constructive way and help each other to implement new strategies.

Our family went through cancer and it is a tough time for all Will therapy be helpful?

Cancer is not for the faint hearted and when member of the family is diagnosed with cancer, it changes the whole family for ever. It can be very helpful to talk to someone who can assist both the patient, carer and the children. It can assist in lowering anxieties and be of great support during challenging times when the patient is sick, goes through treatment or is difficult to have around. It is good that you are not alone and that you will be assisted emotionally and through practical support.

Practice

Ethics

General Psychology

Educational and Child Psychology

Family Psychology