Dedri Hamman Educational Psychologist

Dedri Hamman Educational Psychologist Assessments: Psychoeducational, Career/Subject Choice, School Readiness, Adult ADHD, Assessment Accommodations (All Curriculums). Website: www.edpsych.education

Therapy for all ages, Parent Guidance, Infant Mental Health Support

In a season where love is everywhere, it helps to remember that love is not only what we give to others. It is also how ...
16/02/2026

In a season where love is everywhere, it helps to remember that love is not only what we give to others. It is also how we care for ourselves when life feels full.

Many adults move through their days on autopilot, carrying work pressure, family needs, mental load, and constant decision-making. Over time, that “just push through” approach can show up as irritability, exhaustion, brain fog, sleep difficulties, low mood, or feeling emotionally flat. It can also affect patience, connection at home, and confidence at work.

Support does not have to wait for a breaking point. Sometimes the most responsible thing you can do is pause early, name what is happening, and get the right support in place. 💛

Happy Valentine’s Day 🤍Today can feel joyful for some, and complicated for others. It can bring warmth, but it can also ...
14/02/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day 🤍

Today can feel joyful for some, and complicated for others. It can bring warmth, but it can also bring loneliness, pressure, grief, or the feeling of being left out. All of that is valid.

A gentle reminder for today, love does not have to be loud to be real. Love can be steady. It can be respectful. It can be the way you check in on a friend, the way you repair after a hard moment, the way you set a boundary that protects your peace, or the way you choose to be kinder to yourself.

For children, love often looks like safety and consistency.
For teens, love often looks like belonging and being taken seriously.
For adults, love often looks like support, rest, and permission to ask for help.

Wherever you find yourself today, may you feel seen. May you feel supported. And may you feel reminded that you matter 🌿

Teens often cope in ways adults do not immediately recognise. They may still go to school, still see friends, still scro...
13/02/2026

Teens often cope in ways adults do not immediately recognise. They may still go to school, still see friends, still scroll, still laugh, but inside they feel overwhelmed, anxious, flat, or constantly on edge.

Our Teen Therapy sessions creates a structured, safe space where teens can talk without judgement, make sense of what they are feeling, and learn tools that actually help in real life. Support may include:

• stress management and emotional regulation skills
• anxiety support and calming strategies
• confidence and self-esteem building
• boundaries, peer pressure, and relationship stress support
• bullying support and social confidence

Where appropriate, we also guide caregivers on how to support a teen without escalating conflict at home.

If you are concerned about your teen, reaching out early is a caring step.

📞 Book a consultation at https://edpsych.education or call 079 541 1621.

Many teens shut down when the check-in feels too big, too sudden, or too intense. “Are you okay?” is well meant, but it ...
13/02/2026

Many teens shut down when the check-in feels too big, too sudden, or too intense. “Are you okay?” is well meant, but it can feel like there is only one safe answer.

A better approach is gentle and specific, and it can sound like this:

✨ Name what you notice
“I have noticed you are quieter than usual,” or “I have noticed school seems to be taking a lot out of you.”

✨ Name your care clearly
“I care about you, and I want to understand.”

✨ Ask one small question
“What has been the hardest part of your day?”
Then pause, listen, and stay with the feeling before jumping into solutions.

If your teen shrugs it off, do not take it as rejection. Many teens process slowly, and they often return later when the pressure is off. The goal is to keep the door open, consistently.

Some days, teenagers do not need a big pep talk, they need permission to have a hard day and still keep going.This quote...
11/02/2026

Some days, teenagers do not need a big pep talk, they need permission to have a hard day and still keep going.

This quote is such a powerful reminder because courage is not always visible. Sometimes it is getting through a school day that felt heavy. Sometimes it is saying “I am not okay” to someone safe. Sometimes it is choosing to try again tomorrow, even when everything feels like too much.

This week (8 to 14 February) we are holding space for teen wellbeing and safety conversations. If you are a parent or caregiver, you do not need perfect words. Calm consistency matters more. A gentle check-in, a bit of time together, and the steady message of “I am here” can make a bigger difference than you think. 💛

Children often communicate through behaviour before they can explain what is happening inside. What looks like “acting o...
11/02/2026

Children often communicate through behaviour before they can explain what is happening inside. What looks like “acting out” can be stress. What looks like withdrawal can be worry. What looks like anger can be sadness, fear, or overload.

Child focused therapy supports a child in an age-appropriate way to understand emotions, build coping skills, and feel safer inside their own world. It can be helpful when you notice things like:

• frequent meltdowns or emotional outbursts
• anxiety, worries, or fear that is affecting daily life
• school adjustment struggles or changes in confidence
• friendship stress, bullying, or social difficulty
• big behaviour changes after a life change (moving, separation, loss, new baby)

Therapy is not about “fixing” a child. It is about supporting growth, emotional safety, and practical skills that help them cope better at home and at school.

If you are wondering whether therapy could help your child, message us. We will guide you on the most suitable next step.

📞 Book a consultation at https://edpsych.education or call 079 541 1621.

Children do not always have the words for what they feel, especially in the early weeks of a new school year. A helpful ...
09/02/2026

Children do not always have the words for what they feel, especially in the early weeks of a new school year. A helpful way to support emotional development is to talk about feelings in a way that feels normal and safe, keep it short, and do it regularly, not only when there is a problem.

Try a simple Valentine’s month feelings check-in a few times a week, ideally during a calm moment (in the car, at dinner, before bed):

💚 One good thing - something that felt nice or safe
💚 One hard thing - something that felt tricky or heavy
💚 One thing you need - comfort, help, space, or a plan for tomorrow

This teaches three powerful skills. Noticing feelings, naming them, and asking for support. Over time, it also lowers emotional build-up, because children feel less alone with what they carry.

February is often seen as Valentine’s month, but for children, love is not a grand gesture. It is the everyday feeling o...
09/02/2026

February is often seen as Valentine’s month, but for children, love is not a grand gesture. It is the everyday feeling of being safe, understood, and supported, especially when the school year is still settling.

Term 1 can bring big emotions. New routines, new expectations, new friendships, and the pressure to cope can show up in ways that look like behaviour, but often feel like overwhelm underneath. A child might become tearful, clingy, irritable, or unusually quiet. You might see sleep changes, “tummy aches”, a dip in confidence, or more emotional outbursts after school. These are often signals, not stubbornness.

This month, we are focusing on support that strengthens a child from the inside out, emotional safety, coping skills, and practical routines that help children feel steady enough to learn and grow.

If you are noticing changes in your child and you are not sure what they mean, reach out. You do not have to wait until things feel unmanageable before getting support.

Message us to book or to ask a question, we will guide you towards the next best step.

By the end of January, many families are feeling the cumulative effect of returning to routine. School demands, work pre...
30/01/2026

By the end of January, many families are feeling the cumulative effect of returning to routine. School demands, work pressures, extracurricular activities, and daily responsibilities all begin to overlap. It can feel busy, noisy, and emotionally full. 💛

Families do not move through transitions individually. Emotions ripple through the household, and everyone influences how settled or strained the environment feels.

Connection matters during this phase. Small moments of togetherness, shared meals, calm check-ins, or simply being present with one another can make a meaningful difference. These moments help regulate stress and remind family members that they are supported.

Settling into routine is not about removing challenges. It is about facing them together, with care, understanding, and connection.

Family therapy offers a supportive space for families to explore communication patterns, manage conflict, and strengthen...
28/01/2026

Family therapy offers a supportive space for families to explore communication patterns, manage conflict, and strengthen emotional connection during periods of transition. When routines are demanding, misunderstandings and emotional distance can increase without support. 🌿

Therapy helps families understand each other’s needs, respond more effectively to stress, and build healthier ways of navigating challenges together. It is not about identifying fault. It is about strengthening the system as a whole.

Seeking support early can prevent tension from becoming entrenched and help families move forward with greater understanding and resilience.

📞 Book a consultation at https://edpsych.education or call 079 541 1621.

As routines become more established, families often expect stress to ease. Instead, this is the point where tension can ...
26/01/2026

As routines become more established, families often expect stress to ease. Instead, this is the point where tension can surface more clearly. Fatigue accumulates, emotional reserves run low, and everyone has been managing demands for several weeks. 🧠

Children may become more reactive, withdrawn, or oppositional. Parents may feel short-tempered, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained. These responses are not signs of failure. They are indicators that the family system has been under sustained pressure.

Understanding this phase helps families respond with compassion rather than blame. Emotional regulation, communication, and connection often need intentional attention once routines are fully underway.

Acknowledging shared stress allows families to reset expectations, strengthen support, and reduce unnecessary conflict as the year continues.

By this point in January, many adults are fully back at work, yet still feeling mentally and emotionally stretched. Emai...
23/01/2026

By this point in January, many adults are fully back at work, yet still feeling mentally and emotionally stretched. Emails are piling up, expectations are clear again, and the pace has shifted quickly from rest to responsibility. 💭

Rest changes us, and returning to structure takes time. Feeling tired, unfocused, or overwhelmed does not mean you are failing. It means you are recalibrating.

Adjustment requires compassion. Pausing, even briefly, helps regulate stress and restore clarity. Small moments of rest and self-awareness during the workday can make a meaningful difference to emotional wellbeing.

Settling back into work is not about immediate productivity. It is about rebuilding rhythm and balance in a way that feels sustainable.

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