Frances Kaplan Educational Psychologist

17/02/2026

🚨 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (of great importance and mild desperation) 🚨

Dear humans of the internet,

We have a small situation.

There are some truly wonderful younger neurodivergent kids who need support…
and there are not enough hours in the day or therapists in the building.

So we’re sending out a slightly dramatic, slightly hopeful call for help.

We’re looking for an Associate Psychologist who:

✅ Is registered (or registration-eligible) with the HPCSA
✅ Has a genuine interest in working with younger neurodivergent children
✅ Is comfortable with play-based, child-centred therapeutic approaches
✅ Understands anxiety, emotional regulation, and big feelings in little bodies
✅ Practices from a neurodiversity-affirming, respectful framework
✅ Has patience, flexibility, and a well-developed sense of humour

Bonus points (not compulsory, but we’ll secretly be delighted):

✨ Experience with neurodivergent children (autism, ADHD, sensory differences, etc.)
✨ Confidence working with parents and caregivers
✨ Ability to tolerate glitter, noise, tangents, and the occasional existential question from a 6-year-old
✨ Enjoys collaborating in a warm, multidisciplinary team
✨ Emotionally intelligent, curious, and kind

Probably not your dream role if:

❌ You prefer rigid, highly structured, silent environments
❌ You dislike toys, imagination, or children explaining Minecraft in great detail
❌ You believe compliance is more important than connection

If you’ve ever thought:
"I’d love to do work that matters, while occasionally being handed a plastic dinosaur during a profound therapeutic moment" — we should talk.

📍 Frances Kaplan & Associates Inc. at The Neurodiversity Hive, Brooklyn, Pretoria

📩 frances@ndhive.co.za or 083 676 1462

20/01/2026

When I opened my practice in 2017, in the granny flat of my brother’s house, I never imagined I’d one day be part of something like this.

From the very beginning, I was met with generosity, guidance, and support, alongside moments that required real sacrifice and enormous leaps of faith. None of this was linear or guaranteed.

When I look at this team and reflect on the work we do, I feel a deep, steady pride. Not the loud kind, but the kind that honours the journey, the risks taken, and the people who walked alongside me at different points along the way.

I feel immense gratitude. For the hive we’ve built, for the humans in it, and for the work that continues to matter so deeply.

12/01/2026

ADHD Barbie better come with a spinning chair!

11/01/2026

New Psychologist? Let’s talk billing.

ICD codes, procedure codes, invoicing, claims, switch services and the practical stuff they don’t teach you at varsity.

A low-cost, practical training to help you start your practice with confidence, not confusion.

R100
24 January '26
Online
No Recording
WhatsApp or E-mail to register
083 676 1462 / info@ndhive.co.za

04/11/2025

The holidays can be a time of joy, connection, and rest, but for many neurodivergent families, they can also bring disruption, sensory overload, and stress. Between changes in routine, travel, unfamiliar environments, and social expectations, even the most wonderful time of the year can feel overwhelming.

Join us for a gentle, affirming workshop where we’ll explore how to create a holiday season that feels safe, meaningful, and genuinely joyful for your neurodivergent family.

Together, we’ll discuss:

🌲 Why changes in routine and environment can feel destressing for autistic individuals

🎁 How to manage gifts, surprises, and sensory overload in a way that honours everyone’s needs

🕯️ Practical ways to maintain regulation, connection, and calm

💬 Strategies for communicating support needs with extended family and friends

❤️ Creating your own family traditions that feel authentic and sustainable

This is not about perfection, it’s about finding connection, comfort, and joy in ways that work for you.

Let’s reimagine the holidays, together.

25/10/2025

16/10/2025

Recognising your neurodivergence is the beginning of a marvelous adventure, but my question following a feedback session is always: "So what?"

What does this mean for you?
What does this mean for work?
What does this mean for home?
What does this mean for school?
What does this mean going forward?

The purpose of assessing is to answer questions and put in place support. It may also mean working through some deep-seated trauma. Sometimes, it shifts your entire world view, rewriting your past, present, and future. While that sounds scary, it's often the birth place of forgiveness, connection, and belonging.

15/10/2025

I see how fearful clients are when coming in to be assessed. They are worried that I will find something wrong with them, or that I won't understand. They write out pages of information to jog their memory, and they send me numerous e-mails with evidence of their lived experience.

But a good assessor isn't looking to make you less. We are simply trying to answer questions that you have, for example, "why am I struggling so much?"

I love stories, and I pick data from your narrative. Sure, I'll add some questionnaires and ask for reports from your youth. But the real nuanced data, come from hearing you tell your story.

#

14/10/2025

Allow me to reintroduce myself.

13/10/2025

For the uni students, pushing to get those group projects done!

You're amazing, you've got this, just keep swimming!

11/10/2025

08/10/2025

A huge thank you to Gina for researching and writing this post. Admittedly, I'm not strong with the financial side of an Autism diagnosis, but this article is most helpful in assisting parents navigate ways to recover some costs involved in supporting an autistic child.