Can an Educational Psychologist Help My Child?
Having problems with your young child or teen? Been told that you should probably take them to see an educational psychologist? Are they displaying the classic signs of ADHD, do they get frustrated when they try to express themselves, or is their speech limited? Did you know that 50% of children and adolescents with ADHD also have some type of learning disability (LD), such as dyslexia or auditory processing disorder?
Children today are faced with so much more than what we were when younger. Yes, the world has changed and our children are exposed to far worse external and internal struggles than before. The reality is life as a child or teen is so much harder – not only are there environmental factors and unhealthy food choices at play, but there’s also academic and peer-pressure, competition, bullying, stress, and anxiety and depression.
The abovementioned aren’t the only issues that could be affecting your young child or young teens learning abilities – things like autism, birth defects, trauma, developmental disorders, and chronic illnesses also play a huge role in holding children back. Just like adults, sometimes young children and teens also need a bit of help and while hearing that your child should see an educational psychologist may be a hard pill to swallow for you, it could be the best thing for them, and here’s why…
What is an Educational Psychologist?
The branch of psychology that deals with the scientific study of human development and learning – educational psychology is incredibly beneficial for providing a solid foundation for a successful lifelong education and adult life. With the aim of uncovering, developing, bettering and even rectifying learning disabilities and temporary obstacles, an educational psychologist is extremely effective in helping young children and young adults who specifically struggle with ADHD, anxiety, autism, depression, dyslexia, emotional behavioural disorders, hyperactivity, and children with moderate learning difficulties.
Drawing from and contributing to constructivism, functionalism, gestalt psychology, humanistic psychology, information processing, operant conditioning and structuralism, an educational psychologist will focus on fine motor skills, visual-perceptive skills, cognitive skills and sensory-processing deficits to assess, theorise, recommend, develop, and administer appropriate therapies and strategies. When it comes to children, it’s very important to understand that the sooner their difficulties are isolated, identified and dealt with, the better their self-esteem and self-confidence will be and the better their adult lives will be.
If you reside in the Gauteng region and are in search of an exceptional educational psychologist to assess and assist your little one or older child then make an appointment with Dr Tienie Maritz. In practice for over twenty years, Dr Tienie Maritz is a renowned psychologist in Pretoria with a PhD in regression and hypnotherapy, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational psychology. While it is a known fact that psychological services are expensive and can easily run into the thousands – we claim directly from your medical aid. However, should you not be on a medical aid, we are open to negotiating payment terms at your first session.
For more information on our practice and fees, feel free to contact us anytime.
