Natasha Smit - Clinical Neuropsychologist

Natasha Smit - Clinical Neuropsychologist Clinical Neuropsychologist based in Stellenbosch, Western Cape.

๐Ÿซถ~ Melody Godfred
07/03/2026

๐Ÿซถ
~ Melody Godfred

๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—›๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐˜€ ๐—ฏ๐˜† ๐—ก๐—ฒ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜๐˜†๐—ฝ๐—ฒ ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿผ(Tiny tweaks with big impact - for busy households)Parenting Hack: Neurodivergent (Autis...
05/03/2026

๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—›๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐˜€ ๐—ฏ๐˜† ๐—ก๐—ฒ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜๐˜†๐—ฝ๐—ฒ ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿผ
(Tiny tweaks with big impact - for busy households)

Parenting Hack: Neurodivergent (Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia etc.)
#๐Ÿฎ: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐˜‚๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ช๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐˜„

Many neurodivergent kids arrive home from school like a coke bottle thatโ€™s been shaken all day.

Theyโ€™ve spent hours managing things most people donโ€™t see: sensory input, social navigation, transitions, focus, and self-regulation. By the time they get in the car or walk through the door, their nervous system is often running on empty.

Thatโ€™s why something small like
โ€œPut your bag awayโ€ or
โ€œHow was your day?โ€
can suddenly trigger a meltdown.

๐Ÿ’ก Tiny Tweak:
Give your child about 45 minutes of regulation time after school.

No questions.
No instructions.
No problem-solving.

Just a smile, a snack, and space to decompress (quiet play, screens, movement, or alone time).

When their nervous system settles, they have far more capacity for connection, conversation, and cooperation.

Remember: many neurodivergent kids are effectively taking extra subjects at school โ€” managing sensory input, navigating social dynamics, and working much harder to stay regulated.

Regulation first. Expectations later.

04/03/2026

Weโ€™re really looking forward to this one!

๐€๐ƒ๐‡๐ƒ: ๐–๐ข๐ซ๐ž๐ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐Œ๐จ๐ซ๐ž.

If youโ€™re parenting it, living it, or teaching itโ€ฆ
this conversation is for you.

Weโ€™ll be unpacking the ADHD brain with Liette Wood (Neuropsychologist) and translating it into practical, real-world tools with Ale Radmore (Psychologist & Executive Functioning Coach).

๐Ÿ—“ Saturday, 28 March
โฐ 09:00 โ€“ 11:30
๐Ÿ’ฐR400pp
โ˜• Coffee included, of course.
(Spaces are limited)

๐—ž๐—ก๐—ข๐—ช ๐—ฌ๐—ข๐—จ๐—ฅ ๐—•๐—ฅ๐—”๐—œ๐—ก ๐Ÿง Stress shrinks thinking capacity (temporarily).Brain fact:When the brain senses threat, the amygdala sw...
03/03/2026

๐—ž๐—ก๐—ข๐—ช ๐—ฌ๐—ข๐—จ๐—ฅ ๐—•๐—ฅ๐—”๐—œ๐—ก ๐Ÿง 
Stress shrinks thinking capacity (temporarily).

Brain fact:
When the brain senses threat, the amygdala switches on survival mode. In that moment, the prefrontal cortex โ€” the part responsible for reasoning, planning, decision-making and emotional regulation โ€” takes a back seat.

Translation?
When weโ€™re stressed, overwhelmed, or in meltdown mode, we literally canโ€™t think clearly.

This happens in adults.
It happens in children.
It happens in marriages, friendships, and workplace conversations.

โœจ Use it wisely:
Donโ€™t try to solve big problems or have important discussions in high-stress moments.

First regulate.
Then reason.

Calm the nervous system with deep breathing, grounding, connection, or simply creating a sense of safety. Once the brain feels safe again, clear thinking returns โ€” and problem-solving becomes possible.

Regulate โ†’ then relate โ†’ then resolve.

๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—›๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐˜€ ๐—ฏ๐˜† ๐—ก๐—ฒ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜๐˜†๐—ฝ๐—ฒ ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿผ(Tiny tweaks with big impact โ€” for busy households) #1 General Parenting Hack: One of th...
01/03/2026

๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—›๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐˜€ ๐—ฏ๐˜† ๐—ก๐—ฒ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜๐˜†๐—ฝ๐—ฒ ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿผ
(Tiny tweaks with big impact โ€” for busy households)

#1 General Parenting Hack:
One of the most effective parenting strategies to strengthen attachment is to give your child just 20 minutes of undivided attention every day.

Research shows that consistent, focused presence builds trust, safety, and resilience โ€” even in the busiest households.

No phone. No TV. No instructions. No questions.
Just be there, in their space, doing something they choose.

๐ŸซถConnect > Correct
28/02/2026

๐Ÿซถ
Connect > Correct

Emotions Need Connection, Not Correction

A child sits on the floor crying after being told itโ€™s time to leave the playground.

The first instinct might be to correct the behavior, reminding them of the rules or rushing them along.

But beneath the tears is disappointment, not defiance.

Instead of correcting, the caregiver sits beside them and says, โ€œYou really wanted more time to play.โ€

The childโ€™s sobs soften as they feel seen and understood.

A hand on the back and a calm presence help their nervous system settle.

Only after the child feels connected can they hear what comes next.

โ€œLetโ€™s take one last deep breath together, then weโ€™ll go,โ€ the caregiver offers.

The transition becomes smoother because the emotion was met with empathy first.

Connection creates safety, and safety allows cooperation to follow.

When emotions are honored instead of corrected, children learn they are not alone in their feelings.

๐—ž๐—ก๐—ข๐—ช ๐—ฌ๐—ข๐—จ๐—ฅ ๐—•๐—ฅ๐—”๐—œ๐—ก.Your brain mirrors the nervous system around you ๐Ÿ‘ฅBrain fact:Brains co-regulate. We borrow each otherโ€™s ...
26/02/2026

๐—ž๐—ก๐—ข๐—ช ๐—ฌ๐—ข๐—จ๐—ฅ ๐—•๐—ฅ๐—”๐—œ๐—ก.

Your brain mirrors the nervous system around you ๐Ÿ‘ฅ

Brain fact:
Brains co-regulate. We borrow each otherโ€™s nervous system states.
A dysregulated brain can activate stress in others โ€” adults, children, or peers.
Children borrow adult nervous systems.
A dysregulated adult brain activates a childโ€™s stress system.

Use it:
Lower your voice. Slow your pace.
Your calm is neurological input for everyone around you.

Forgive yourself for not knowing earlier what only time could teach.Especially when it comes to brain wiring.To parentin...
25/02/2026

Forgive yourself for not knowing earlier what only time could teach.

Especially when it comes to brain wiring.
To parenting.
To understanding behaviour through a nervous system lens instead of a discipline lens.

We cannot apply insight we didnโ€™t yet have.
We cannot respond with regulation we hadnโ€™t yet learned.

Growth often comes after the hard seasons.
After the missteps.
After the burnout.

What you know now changes what you do next.
And thatโ€™s enough ๐Ÿ’›

๐—ž๐—ก๐—ข๐—ช ๐—ฌ๐—ข๐—จ๐—ฅ ๐—•๐—ฅ๐—”๐—œ๐—ก.The brain chooses immediate reward over long-term benefit ๐Ÿ†Brain fact:The dopamine system is wired for n...
23/02/2026

๐—ž๐—ก๐—ข๐—ช ๐—ฌ๐—ข๐—จ๐—ฅ ๐—•๐—ฅ๐—”๐—œ๐—ก.

The brain chooses immediate reward over long-term benefit ๐Ÿ†

Brain fact:
The dopamine system is wired for now, not later.
Instant gratification activates reward pathways faster than future success.

Why this matters:
Scrolling beats studying.
Chocolate beats long-term health.

Itโ€™s biology โ€” not moral weakness.

Use it:
Pair effort with immediate reward.
Study + a good cup of tea / coffee.
Exercise + podcast.
Cleaning + favourite music.

21/02/2026

Our February event was a huge success! We had so much fun learning about how to work best with children who have PDA. Thank you, Natasha, for sharing your knowledge with us!

Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed, rushed, or behind?The solution isnโ€™t more time โ€” itโ€™s more of what matters most....
17/02/2026

Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed, rushed, or behind?

The solution isnโ€™t more time โ€” itโ€™s more of what matters most.

You donโ€™t find time.
You choose it.

Research suggests the average person spends:
โ€ข 706 hours per year on social media (โ‰ˆ 4.5 months of 8-hour workdays)
โ€ข 2,737 hours per year watching TV / binge-watching series

We often say, โ€œI just donโ€™t have time.โ€
But the truth is โ€” time is being spent somewhere.

The real question is:
Does how Iโ€™m spending my time reflect what I value most?

Tiny Tweak:
Choose one small daily ritual that reflects your priorities.
20 minutes of uninterrupted connection with your child.
A walk without your phone.
A slow cup of coffee before the day begins.

Not more time.
More intention.

Because what we repeatedly choose becomes the life we build.

A drizzly Cape Town morning, strong coffee, and an incredible group โ€” diving into a conversation on Pathological Demand ...
13/02/2026

A drizzly Cape Town morning, strong coffee, and an incredible group โ€” diving into a conversation on Pathological Demand Avoidance.

Thank you to the Western Cape Paediatric Practitioner's Group for intentionally creating spaces that equip and encourage reflective practice.

Grateful to have been part of it!

Address

Helshoogte (R310) Banhoek Vallei, Kylemore
Stellenbosch
7599

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

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