Christelle Duckitt Educational Psychologist

30/11/2025

ASH, THE NEXT AI “THERAPIST” About to Hit SA. 🤖💬 (and she is really good at her job)

If your tween or teen has ever yelled “You don’t get me!” 😅… this one’s for you.

More kids are turning to AI chatbots for emotional support before coming to us, their parents. The newest superstar? Ash, a TikTok-style “AI therapist” with 8 million downloads in just a few months and heading to SA soon!

What is Ash? 🌸

Ash is part of Character AI. Simply put that is a chatbot dressed up as a relatable “person” (big sister, gamer brother, soft-spoken aunt). It offers 24/7 therapy-style chats for about R200/month.

Why teens love it:

• No judgement
- The illusion of privacy
• No waiting lists
- No awkward human moments 🙃

What impressed us at Klikd:

• Ash is good at what 'she' does - accurate emotional validation that feels scarily human
• Ash was created using well-researched CBT techniques that challenge unhelpful thoughts. We did a trial run with a few 'problem scenarios (anxiety, social drama, exam stress) and 'she' was OUTSTANDING!
• It remembers past chats -yes, really - checks in on you every few days around your 'issue'.

But there were some red flags ⚠️

• Ash only pushes real-life help if your child uses high-risk language.
• Ash can become an emotional hiding place for teens.
• Ash has some sneaky upselling loaded after a few days of using it💸

Three Quick Conversation Starters 🗣️💛

Try these with your child:
• “Have you or your friends used apps like Ash?”
• “Why does talking to AI sometimes feel easier than talking to people?”
• “When is a chatbot helpful, and when do you think a real person is better?”

The Klikd Verdict 💬

Ash offers comfort and clever tools but the real healing still comes from human connection (funny that!).

Stay in the loop. 💛
Sarah & Pam

29/11/2025

💜💙 Why some autistic young people ask their parent to speak for them 💙💜

I wanted to share something I see all the time- both as a Grandmother and in my work, and I know many of you will relate…

You’re stood there, someone asks your young person a question… about their day, an achievement or something similar and they immediately turn to you and say,

“You tell them?”

And you’re left wondering, Why? They know the answer 🤔

Here’s the truth 👇

For many autistic young people, speaking in certain situations can be really challenging …

Their brain is already juggling masking, reading the room, managing sensory overwhelm, predicting people’s reactions, fatigue … and then someone adds a social demand on top.

That question becomes too much 😔

So asking parent /carers (or their safe person) to speak is actually them saying:

“I can’t do the social bit right now… please help me.”

💙 Being put on the spot, with all attention on them
💜 Worry about getting it wrong or sounding rude
💙 Can’t find the words when pressure hits
💜 Feel unsafe after past experiences of being misunderstood and rejected
💙 Having already spoken about this too much already
💜Worried about the response they may receive

They use you as their emotional buffer so they can stay regulated 🙏🏼

And honestly? It’s completely okay.
You’re their safe place 🧑‍🧒

The goal is never to force them to speak.
It’s to help them feel safe enough to speak when they’re ready.

If this is your young person, you’re not alone, and there’s nothing “wrong” with them. Their brain is just working incredibly hard behind the scenes.

Sending love to all the parent/ carers who quietly step in and hold space for their young people until they can do it themselves.

Patsy x 💜💙

20/09/2025

20/09/2025

09/09/2025

https://forms.gle/8HAAXPtVKhaicTAV9

📚 Studie Metodes Werkswinkel Aangebied deur Christelle Duckitt (Opvoedkundige Sielkundige) & Leerondersteuners Datum: Saterdag, 25 Oktober 2025 Tyd: 09:00 – 13:30 (ligte middagete ingesluit) Plek: Wellington, Suid-Afrika (nog te bevestig) Koste: R600 per ouer & kind (saam bywoon) ⚠️ Slegs i...

15/07/2025

Parents PLEASE check your children’s phones. It is a dark and dangerous world out there and they know just how to connect to your child and build their trust.

💥 What Just Happened Today Online — And What You Need to Do About It?!!

Yesterday, a ground-breaking urgent court order was granted against Meta yesterday, with thanks (and huge Kudos) to our friends at the Digital Law Company.

Why?

Because multiple anonymous WhatsApp channels were being used to share explicit “leaks” — including s*x tapes and nudes of minors, many of which were solicited via Instagram and spread via WhatsApp.

Some of the posts claimed kids had STDs, HIV, or racked up so-called "body counts."

The damage? Devastating.

Children were named and shamed
Parents reported it in multiple schools.

Two attempted suicides have been linked to the exposure

🧑‍⚖️ The court has now ordered Meta to:
✅ Delete the WhatsApp and Instagram accounts
✅ Disclose the identity of the person behind the leaks

A landmark moment for digital justice.

But also a brutal reminder: this is the world our kids are online in — whether we like it or not.

So What Now, as a Parent?

1️⃣ Check your child’s WhatsApp
Seriously. Look at what groups they’re in. Ask what “channels” they follow. See what’s being shared. If you’re met with resistance — that’s a flag in itself.

To do this, open Whatsapp, Click “Updates” Icon in the bottom left hand corner. There you will find the “Channels” your child is following - open them up to see the content that may be hiding in plain sight. It could be pornographic, it could be solicitous, it just be unpleasantly vulgar or threatening. Hopefully it is none of the above, but check you must.

2️⃣ Talk about strangers online
This isn’t just about creepy DMs. It’s about what can happen when someone earns your child’s trust… and then turns it into currency.

📣 Not every online stranger is a “predator.” Some are classmates. Some are ex-friends. Some are influencers pretending to be 14. Your child needs to know how to spot the difference — and what to do when something feels off.

You’ve got more power than you think.

This isn’t about spying. It’s about staying connected, having hard conversations, and showing your child that they don’t have to navigate this alone.

You’ve got this 💪
Sarah & Pam
Klikd