Each day I learn things from the people I work with, I am humbled, proud, moved, and inspired by the experiences they have had and their bravery to heal. This is the core of my practice. I am not the expert in the room – my patient is. It is their mind, their life, their internal world that we are working with. Therefore, they are in control of the direction, pace, and depth of the exploration we do.
I often return to the idea of Wilford Bion, that the mother initially takes in what the baby cannot understand or comprehend and then returns it to the baby in a way that is identifiable and understandable. This process is echoed in the therapy room. Patients come in feeling and experiencing things that are unfathomable and indigestible, as a psychologist I am able to offer a safe space for us to look at these experiences and return them to the patient in a way that is digestible and relatable.
To do this, the therapeutic relationship is vital to my practice. I value the opportunity to sit with a patient and find comfort in the quiet moments, offer safety and no judgement, and hold whatever they need to express.
Therapy is not ‘rainbows and ponies’, it can be difficult and scary. I encourage my patients to face these challenges knowing that every step is investing in themselves, and they are worth that investment.
My practice offers three general services:
- Psychotherapeutic services: this is therapy for individuals, couples, or families. I work with children under 5 years all the way to adults. I tailor my approach to each patient’s needs and preferences.
- Psychoeducational assessments: these assessments look at the cognitive, executive, emotional, academic functioning of an individual. This allows me to see a holistic view of how they are functioning in their environment, which leads to recommendations on how to support or intervene where necessary.
- Psychoeducational workshops: I create workshops and talks for children, educators, or parents on different mental health topics. These are aimed at increasing awareness and developing skills for the different populations, in order to further empower them.
Name of Entrepreneur: Amy Caitlin de Wet
Name of Business: Amy de Wet Educational Psychologist
Area: Alberton, Johannesburg
Email Address: info@amydewetpsyc.com
Website: www.amydewetpsyc.com
Cell number: 072 605 8955