Areas of Special Interest
Individual Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is commonly referred to as "talk therapy" and is used for older children, teenagers, students and adults. Psychotherapy is the therapeutic process in which a client and psychologist collaborate to understand the client's unique challenges and their reaction towards it. This can include difficulties with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression ad trauma, but also difficulties in relationships with other people, such as friends, teachers, romantic partners, colleagues, or one's own children.
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Psychotherapy focuses on guiding the client to recognise how they go about life and relationships, which strategies are effective and which are ineffective, and how to replace ineffective strategies to enhance their psychological well-being.
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Karin employs a very specialised form of psychotherapy called Jungian Sandplay Therapy. Years of training and experience are required to become a certified sandplay therapist with the International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST) as a sandplay therapist. I am currently registered with the ISST as a canditate sandplay therapist and also a member of the South African Sandplay Therapy Society (SASTS).
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It is important to know that psychotherapy is not a quick fix, but rather a long term commitment to one's overall well-being
BrainWorking Recursive Therapy ®
BrainWorking® Recursive Therapy is an innovative new concept of psychotherapy, and consistent with the latest Neuroscience developments, particularly Limbic system functioning.
This therapy is largely content-free, using the client’s own thought processes to effect a release from the symptomatic pattern – and there is a strict protocol which ensures maximum effectiveness and complete safety. It is particularly useful in treating trauma.
Play Therapy
"Play therapy is to children what counseling is to adults. Play therapy utilises play, children's natural medium of expression, to help them express their feelings more easily through toys instead of words" (Gary Landreth)
Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT; Landreth, 1991; 2002; 2012) is a developmentally responsive, play-based mental health intervention for young children ages 3 to 10 who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral and relational disorders. CCPT utilises play, the natural language of children, and therapeutic relationship to provide a safe, consistent therapeutic environment in which a child can experience full acceptance, empathy, and understanding from the psychologist and process inner experiences and feelings through play and symbols. In CCPT, a child’s experience within the counseling relationship is the factor that is most healing and meaningful in creating lasting, positive change. The goal of CCPT is to unleash the child’s potential to move toward integration and self-enhancing ways of being. Child outcomes following CCPT include decreased symptomatic behaviors and improvement in overall functioning.
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"Throughout their lives, most children go through difficult times, such as the divorce of their parents, trouble making friends, or adjusting to changes at school or home. Some children need more help than others to get through these times. If you or other adults in your child's life are concerned about your child's behaviour, play therapy can help. It is the most appropriate treatment for helping your child work through difficult times and helping you gain a better understanding of what your child is going through.
"Play therapists are specifically trained to provide an environment of acceptance, empathy and understanding in the play therapy room. Play therapy is not the same thing as playing. Play therapy uses the child's natural tendency to "play out" their reactions to life situations, in the presence of a trained therapist, to help the child feel accepted and understood and gain a sense of control or understanding of difficult situations." (Centre for Play Therapy)
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CCPT is usually delivered over a course of 16-20 weekly sessions of 45 minutes. Parent guidance also forms part of the therapeutic process.
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It is important to note that CCPT is not a quick fix, but rather an investment into the well-being of a child.
My Approach
The Jungian psychology approach underpins the way Karin prefers to practice, believing in each person's innate ability, whether child or adult, to make meaning of their own lives. Often meaning is created through creative means, which mere words cannot achieve. As Carl Jung said, "Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain."
The idea of therapy can be a daunting thought to some, but be assured that visiting a psychologist can provide a wonderful opportunity for self-discovery and growth if you are willing to take on the journey with its mountains and valleys.
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Karin's therapeutic approach is gentle and guiding, as she creates a free and protected space for the client (whether child, adolescent, adult or parent) to discover their unique strengths, accept their unique weaknesses, acknowledge their self-worth, and learn new ways of going about their lives.
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Karin views it as an exceptional honour to accompany clients on their journey to self-understanding, as she learns so much from each child, parent, family, student or adult she works with.
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Therapy is the most valuable gift you can give to yourself or a child.