Welcome to my practice. I am an ASCHP (SAQA registration ID 984; NQF registered designation) registered Specialist Wellness Counsellor and an Educational Therapist. Specialist Wellness Counsellor A Specialist Wellness Counsellor is a member with an applicable postgraduate qualification on NQF level 8 and at least 100 hours of practical experience. Specialist Wellness Counsellors serve to enhance the total wellbeing of their clients by making use of a systems approach to counselling – working towards achieving wholeness within the integrative unity of body, mind and spirit. The level of counselling is that of primary health care. Specialist Counsellors specialize in one or more of the following areas of counselling/coaching: Individual counselling, marriage counselling, life style coaching, counselling for problems, trauma counselling, drug and alcohol abuse counselling, HIV/AIDS counselling, counselling for gambling research in the domain of counselling, addiction, bereavement counselling, Psychodynamic, Person Centered, Systemic, Existential as well as Behavioral therapies, hospice counselling and support and assistance in human development. The Specialist Wellness Counsellor is competent to lend comprehensive and specialised counselling support towards the improvement of the quality of life by assisting client’s in resolving conflicts, improving relationships, sorting out general problems, coping with life’s challenges and finding inner peace. Educational Therapy There seems to be a logical assumption that if you get a degree in educational psychology that this would enable you to be an educational therapist. As with many assumptions, this is partially true, but not fully accurate. There is significant professional preparation required to be an educational therapist or learning specialist. Educational therapists often combine degrees in both education and psychology and may have professional backgrounds that unite a variety of undergraduate, master and or doctoral degrees. How is Traditional Tutoring different than Educational Therapy? Tutoring tends to be offered by content-based teachers that are trained in the field of study. Tutors assist students with academics and homework and help them to learn or relearn academic content that is difficult or not taught. They tend to be experts in particular subjects such as math, writing, social studies, and the sciences. Therefore, tutoring requires a limited skill set when compared to educational therapy. It should be noted, however, that some tutors do have an understanding of some educational therapy principles and may be able to help kids with learning challenges to address other school-related issues. What Does an Educational Therapist Do? An educational therapist combines educational and therapeutic approaches for evaluation, remediation, case management, and advocacy on behalf of children, adolescents, and adults with learning disabilities or learning problems. Educational therapy is a form of remedial treatment used to help individuals with learning challenges, learning differences, and academic self-confidence issues. These professionals have extensive training and are versed in helping students with learning disabilities, gifted students, as well as those with social and emotional challenges surrounding their learning difficulties. In addition, they may conduct multi-sensory instruction, cognitive remediation (strengthen weak areas of cognition), student advocacy, as well as remedial support in other academic areas such as reading, writing, math, and other subject matter.