Hannelie Spies - Educational Psychologist

10/11/2025

Navigating adolescence can be challenging for any family. For teens with ADHD, the hormonal changes of puberty can intensify emotions, behaviours, and even treatment responses in ways that may feel overwhelming.

I’m sharing this article because it offers a clear and compassionate explanation of what’s happening beneath the surface, and how parents and caregivers can offer grounded support during this time.

🔗 Read more here: https://www.additudemag.com/teenage-hormones-puberty-adhd/

Adolescent hormonal changes impact ADHD symptoms, behavior, and responses to treatment. Here's how to navigate the storm.

29/10/2025

Executive Functioning and ADHD
Struggling to stay organised, manage time, or follow through on tasks isn’t about laziness. It is often a sign of executive functioning challenges, something many individuals with ADHD experience.

Executive functions are the brain’s management skills, which help us plan, focus, regulate emotions, and accomplish tasks. When these skills are disrupted, everyday tasks can feel overwhelming, even when the intention and effort are there.

With the right guidance and tools, these skills can be strengthened. Using various therapeutic approaches, I help clients improve focus, emotional regulation, and self-confidence, empowering them to function better in daily life.

Support and structure can make all the difference. If this sounds familiar, it might be time to reach out.
Click here to book a consultation: https://hanneliespies.co.za/contact/

16/10/2025

ADHD often does not stand alone.
Many people with ADHD also experience anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm, challenges that can make daily life even harder to manage.

Therapy can help you understand these patterns, build practical coping tools, and create a greater sense of balance and self-acceptance.

Learn more about ADHD and how therapy can support you:
👉 www.hanneliespiespsychologist.co.za

14/10/2025

Anxiety, fears, and phobias can deeply affect your daily life, but with the right approach, lasting change is possible. 🌱
As a Registered Psychologist and BWRT® Advanced Practitioner, I work with clients to address these challenges in a gentle, effective way.
Find out more about my approach here: www.hanneliespiespsychologist.co.za

Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, Fears and Phobias?
These all take multiple forms and can be life limiting and exhausting - Take a look at our 🆕 designated BWRT website for ‘anxiety’. Contact a Registered Practitioner for more details/discovery.
🌐

💻 https://www.bwrt-anxiety.com

06/10/2025

October marks Mental Health Awareness Month. Overlooking mental health can subtly impact various facets of life, including interpersonal relationships, concentration, sleep quality, and even physical health. Stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue can gradually accumulate, influencing our cognition, emotions, and daily experiences.

Prioritizing mental well-being is fundamental. Engaging in emotional processing, seeking support, or consulting with a professional can help restore equilibrium, providing clarity and tranquility in everyday life.

I provide a secure and empathetic environment to help you navigate life's complexities, empowering you to progress with a sense of lightness and control.

Discover more: https://hanneliespies.co.za/

29/09/2025

Many individuals feel trapped because they think healing requires forgetting or that they simply have to "get over it." However, true healing is much more gentle. It involves discovering new ways to embrace your story, finding tranquility in your journey, and creating a life that feels more uplifting and hopeful.

Every little step counts. Each decision to seek support is an act of courage.
Therapy can assist you in rewriting your next chapter.

25/09/2025

Is your past still echoing in your present?

Childhood experiences shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world. Sometimes, when those early years included trauma, the impact doesn’t simply disappear as we grow up.
Here are 5 common signs that childhood trauma may still be affecting you today:
1️⃣ Strong emotional reactions to small triggers
2️⃣ Struggles with trust or relationships
3️⃣ Feeling “on edge” or hyper-alert
4️⃣ Carrying shame or self-doubt
5️⃣ Avoiding or numbing uncomfortable emotions

Therapies like BWRT, trauma-informed approaches, and compassionate counselling can help you find new ways to feel safe, connected, and in control of your life.
Visit: https://shorturl.at/8E0MP to learn more.

04/09/2025

Small Wins for Big Change for People with ADHD
Change doesn’t happen overnight and that’s okay. For many people with ADHD, setting huge goals can feel motivating at first, but it often leads to frustration and self-criticism when life doesn’t shift instantly.

The truth is, lasting growth begins with small, steady wins. Each step forward matters and deserves to be noticed and celebrated.

This article shares 9 gentle, practical tips to help you create small victories and build confidence along the way.
Read more here: [https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/small-wins-tiny-habits-adhd/]

Every revolution begins with a single action. For ADHD brains, which often endure an encouragement deficit, every step toward change deserves recognition and celebration.

29/08/2025

Healing from Trauma with BWRT®
Life’s challenges at different stages can leave deep emotional scars, whether from domestic violence, the loss of a loved one, a parent’s mental illness, neglect, or even sudden accidents.

BWRT® (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy®) is a gentle, effective psychotherapeutic approach that helps individuals process and move beyond these difficult experiences without needing to relive them in detail.
If you or someone you know is struggling with the impact of trauma, know that support is available.
Learn more about how BWRT® can help: https://hanneliespies.co.za/psychotherapy/bwrt/

21/08/2025

𝗦𝗶𝘅 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
As parents, it can be heartbreaking to watch your teen retreat behind walls of sadness or irritability, unsure of how to reach them. For teens with ADHD, the risk of developing depression is even higher, and knowing how to respond can feel overwhelming.

But there are ways to gently break through that isolation and rebuild connection, which is the bridge to recovery. With compassion, patience, and the right tools, you can help your teen feel less alone and more supported.

Here are six supportive strategies that can make a difference:
1️⃣ Offer a safe space for honest conversations
2️⃣ Listen and validate their feelings, even if you don’t fully understand
3️⃣ Be patient because healing does not happen overnight
4️⃣ Show warmth and presence in small, consistent ways
5️⃣ Notice and celebrate little steps forward
6️⃣ Don’t hesitate to reach out for professional support

You can read more about these six strategies in this insightful article: [https://shorturl.at/xK0hj]

Adolescents with ADHD and mood disorders often retreat behind walls of isolation. Break through with these six strategies.

15/08/2025

In the classroom and at home, behavioural challenges can leave parents and teachers feeling overwhelmed. Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) offers a proven, compassionate approach that focuses on teaching new skills and creating supportive environments where they can truly thrive. No blame or punishment, rather understanding, teaching, and lasting change.
Discover how PBS can bring lasting change for learners and families.
Read more: What is Positive Behavioural Support? https://shorturl.at/9G1kx

08/08/2025

𝟱 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗕𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱
➡Constant tiredness – even after proper rest
️➡Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
➡Irritability or sudden mood swings
➡Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed

When we are mentally exhausted, our minds can become trapped in destructive thought loops that further drain our energy. This is where BWRT® (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy®) can help. You don’t have to stay stuck in the cycle of exhaustion.
Learn more about BWRT® and how it can help at www.hanneliespies.co.za