About
Hi there, I’m Penny
I am a certified play therapist and a licensed counsellor registered under the Association of Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP).
My approach to working with clients is scaffolded by my professional background in education, and extensive training in mental health. While the child is usually the central client, I value the role of the adult caregivers as the keys in leading change and growth.
Every child is unique, and therapy needs to be customised to suit each case. While play therapy sessions offer a space for children to process their challenges, I also provide practical support for parents and teachers who may be struggling to manage challenging dynamics at home or in the classroom.
I firmly believe that if a child COULD do well, they WOULD do well. There are always reasons as to why they are struggling. I work collaboratively with parents and teachers in understanding underlying drives behind behaviour and finding ways to reduce stressors and support healthy development.
Qualifications
Penelope earned her two-year postgraduate specialisation through Play Therapy International and her master’s degree in counselling psychology through Yorkville University in Canada, prior to which she completed a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Penelope has completed over 500hrs of supervised clinical work and has worked therapeutically with children and families around the world. Penelope has been practicing as a licensed Counsellor and Play Therapist in South Africa since April, 2022.
She has experience counselling adults and adolescents, mostly she focusses on working with families and with children aged 3-14.
Why my work is important
In today’s fast-paced and stressful world, children, parents, and educators face unprecedented challenges. Traditional control-based methods of managing behaviour (such as yelling, punishment, rewards and threats) are increasingly recognised as ineffective and detrimental to the emotional well-being of children.
Fear-based interventions to behaviour often rupture our precious connections with children and can teach them unhelpful coping tools and impede their relational abilities later in life.
My approach draws from modalities that recognise the important role our nervous systems play in driving behaviour and provides insights and strategies to support children and adults through their difficulties.
Understanding the role of the nervous system is crucial in being able to identify the underlying messages behind the behaviour and builds the self-awareness and strength required to overcome obstacles.
Through my dedicated practice, I aim to make a significant impact on the lives of those I work with, championing a more empathetic and scientifically informed approach to optimal child development and education.
