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Practical Parenting

A resource for parents to learn, lead and love their children through all steps of their lives.

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Play Therapy

Helping children to achieve their full potential and parents to gain confidence, is my ultimate goal.

By using Play Therapy, I help children become emotionally and socially strong and also boost their self-esteem. This therapy also allows them to become aware of any difficulties and empowers them to use appropriate techniques and make good choices.

When parents get involved in this process, it provides them with a sense of empowerment and achievement. I teach the parents the necessary skills through guidance and tips, and by using Filial Therapy or Child-Parent Relationship Therapy.

Through commitment and involvement, children and parents alike will benefit from the progress.

EMDR is a neuro-therapeutic approach working on internal conflict caused by past trauma. Using a technique called Bilateral Stimulation, the “Adaptive Information Processing System” is activated, which moves the negative stored information to an adaptive and healthy position.

Click to read more…


Testimonials

Natacha was very helpful when I had a zoom online session with her. She listened intently and gave real practical advice regarding sibling rivalry. I appreciated that she explained the different point of view and gave tools to help manage these situations. I’ve really started looking at things slightly differently with regards to dealing with conflict and identifying the emotions behind the actions. Thank you Natacha, I really appreciate your sound advice.

- Cathrine - mother of twin girls

My 10-year-old son has been struggling with anxiety and fear since November 2019. He started seeing Natacha at her practice for his play therapy sessions on a weekly basis and we could really see an improvement in how he was learning to cope with his anxiety and fears.
When the COVID-19 pandemic started in South-Africa and the following lock-down period, we were worried about the interruption to his therapy. For a child suffering from anxiety and fear, a COVID-19 pandemic is one of his worst nightmares! We then decided to attempt an online session with Natacha via Zoom.
Being a boy of 10, he loves technology and meeting Natacha through ZOOM is one of his highlights of the week. He can now continue with his therapy uninterrupted. While the session is in his own room, he can show Natacha his toys and him being in his environment makes him more comfortable and the therapy fruitful.
One of our biggest concerns, when the COVID-19 is over, is how he will cope with the new “normal” and then possible increase in anxiety levels. These online sessions are helping him prepare for just that.

- Mom of a 10-year-old boy struggling with anxiety and fears

"I came away from my online consultation with Natacha feeling excited and hopeful.
She equipped me with thoughtful tools to help my three-year-old toddler sleep through the night. I also came away with a very helpful strategy to manage the sometimes-extreme stubbornness and tantrums that my toddler has been demonstrating.
Natacha listens carefully and offers her wisdom and insight generously. I'm grateful for my time with her."

Natasha Piedallu van Wyk

“As most people know COVID-19 has implicated your children’s therapy sessions the last month or so, lucky Natacha has come up with a great solution, she offers online sessions that are easily done via what’s app or Skype.
Rein has never met Natacha personally but has done a few online sessions with her, and really enjoys them very much, this morning he asked if he could please speak to “tannie Natacha” again. He loves learning about his emotions and often reflects on what he has learnt the past week.
I find that Rein has become much calmer since doing sessions with her and is already able to better express his feelings, he says sorry when he needs to and doesn’t become angry when it’s bedtime or when he needs to switch off the tv.

Thank you so much for the fun and support.”

Laura
Mother of 5-year-old Rein


Articles

PARENTS! How NOT to be REACTIVE!

Natacha Latouf
September 21, 2020

“Jonathan! How many times have I told you to pick up your shoes and put them in your room! I am gonna end up breaking my neck, falling…

Continue Reading PARENTS! How NOT to be REACTIVE!

RESILIENCE: bouncing back

Natacha Latouf
August 26, 2020

Have you ever felt knocked down that the walls around you feel like they are just crumbling down and you feel so despondent and vulnerable and have no…

Continue Reading RESILIENCE: bouncing back

What adults can do to teach their children that #differences matter?

Natacha Latouf
June 25, 2020

There has been a lot of tension, sadness, conflict, hatred, fear, trauma and sometimes apathy that has been taking place in the world due to DIFFERENCES. We have…

Continue Reading What adults can do to teach their children that #differences matter?

SOCIAL DISTANCING ACTIVITIES: still keeping the fun, interaction and connection going.

Natacha Latouf
June 16, 2020

Social distancing as we know it now is to prevent the spread of the virus. We have to come to accept that. But we are humans and the…

Continue Reading SOCIAL DISTANCING ACTIVITIES: still keeping the fun, interaction and connection going.


In a world where children are still learning to express their emotions, play therapy crosses the divide and helps the child to communicate with the therapist.
Parental guidance provides the springboard to moving in the right direction when you don’t know which way to turn. When situations seem desperate, sometimes a session can bring clarity on what to do next.
EMDR is an additional technique used to help children and adults alike, deal with traumatic events in their lives.

I’m here to help. Click to learn more

Natacha

Reviews

Review of a Sensory and Emotional App

Natacha
April 1, 2020

You have to get this App. It is not only something that I can use in therapy but an App you can also use in the comfort of your own home. And it is SO easy! But MOST IMPORTANTLY, it helps your child (and the parent) to understand EMOTIONS.  I have said it before to…

Continue Reading Review of a Sensory and Emotional App

App list for Lockdown

Natacha
March 27, 2020

In uncertain times, we all need a degree of certainty and structure. Our phones provide a way to communicate with family and friends but also allow us to maintain some sanity, structure and entertainment. (more…)

Continue Reading App list for Lockdown


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More to See

Life as a family in isolation

March 27, 2020 By Natacha

App list for Lockdown

March 27, 2020 By Natacha

Activity list for Lockdown

March 27, 2020 By Natacha

Chore list for Lockdown

March 27, 2020 By Natacha

IMPORTANT – Covid-19 – Contact details for South Africa

www.sacoronavirus.co.za COVID 19 National Crisis Helpline: 0800 322 322 COVID 19 National Crisis … See more about Important Covid-19 Numbers for South Africa

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activities apps cellphone covid-19 Discipline family feeling isolation lockdown meditation online consultation parenting punishment resilience reward

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Who am I?

Hi there, I’m Natacha.
Play Therapist, wife and mother.

Social Worker specialising in Play Therapy.
BA (Social Work) MDiac (Play Therapy)
Practice Number: 089 000 0347361
SACSSP: 10-19833

I received my BA(Social Work) from the University of Pretoria, and wrote my dissertation “Parenting Styles affecting the behaviour of 5 year olds” for my Masters in Play Therapy through Unisa.

I am a speaker at events and have also been featured in articles for publications.

I have a practice in the East of Pretoria, but  also do Video consultations.

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