Jennifer King
Educational Psychologist & PlayTherapist
Educational Psychology is…
Educational Psychologists have a special interest in learning and development, and how this affects an individual’s overall functioning. They are trained to assess cognitive, academic, personality and emotional functioning, and apply psychological interventions to enhance learning and development. This can be achieved through psycho-educational assessments, or through therapeutic interventions, such as play therapy for younger children and talk therapy for adolescents.
In addition Educational Psychologists are trained to offer guidance and support to parents and families in terms of parenting and discipline difficulties as well as emotional difficulties that can sometimes be experienced. This type of support can be offered though individual sessions with the parenting unit or through group support sessions.
Interventions that are provided…
Play Therapy
Play is the natural means through which children learn, explore their worlds, communicate and express their feelings. Play therapy offers a child the opportunity to work through their emotions with the help of the Educational Psychologist in a safe and contained environment. This form of individual intervention means that the child has their own private space and someone who is there just for them. Play therapy can be one of the many gifts that parents can give to their children when they are struggling with their emotional world. Children learn to express their thoughts, feelings and behavior in constructive ways, to make healthy decisions and to accept responsibility. Play therapy involves the support of the parents and regular feedback sessions, which is a vital part of the process. Parent guidance often forms an important part of the therapy process.
Adolescent Talk Therapy
Adolescence is a developmental period that brings about many significant changes in both the adolescent’s life and within the family unit. The physical, emotional and social changes experienced during adolescence can at times feel overwhelming. Educational Psychologists offer a safe and containing space though which adolescents can process the emotional struggles they may be experiencing. This may assist them in expressing their thoughts and feelings in a more constructive and healthy way.
Parent Guidance and Support
- General Parent Guidance
Becoming a parent is a significant milestone that brings about many significant changes to parents; on both an individual level and to the parenting unit as a couple. The responsibility to mold a life is often daunting. The aim of parent guidance is to offer a support structure to parents. In addition, these sessions assist parents with additional tools for supporting, managing and guiding their child into becoming a well rounded adult.
- Parent Guidance for Single / Co-parenting families
The responsibility of molding and shaping a life can be daunting. Embarking on this journey as a single parent, or finding a path in co-parenting, separated, divorced and blended families can offer its own set of challenges. Support and guidance on the best way to parent children through these changes and challenges is beneficial to both the adults and the children within the family.
- Parent Guidance for Parents of Special Needs / Significantly Ill Children
Parenting children that have special needs or who suffer from a significant illness is often stressful for the family unit. Parents often need to focus much of their attention on the individual child and may have little time and energy left for themselves, their partner or other children within the family. In addition, coming to terms with a diagnosis can often be emotionally taxing on the whole family. Having a space to work through these emotions in a safe and supportive environment can offer relief to parents and families. Within a group context, parents often gain support from the other group members and may feel less isolated though the experience.
Child and Adolescent Assessments
Assessments are used for a variety of purposes, depending on the individual needs of the child or adolescent. Assessments provide valuable information about an individual’s current level of functioning, and their strengths and growth areas. Recommendations and interventions for the school and home environment are based on the unique needs of each child.
- Psycho-Educational Assessments
These are comprehensive assessments which focus on cognitive, emotional and academic functioning. They are useful for diagnosing a child’s relative areas of strength and for highlighting areas where further development may be necessary. The results provide an overall picture of a child’s current level of functioning. Interventions are suggested based on the interpretation of the results, which aim to address the individual needs of a child.
- School Readiness Assessments
This type of assessment focusses on a child’s level of readiness for Grade 1. It provides an understanding of any strengths and difficulties a child may have, in order to ascertain and advise parents on school readiness. Recommendations can be obtained to determine the type of support a child may require to promote school readiness.
