Het jy of iemand ná aan jou ‘n psigiese siekte? Joernalis Pieter van Zyl praat oor sy boek, “Verhale van hoop: só help jy jou geliefde en jouself”, vir mense wat met ‘n uitdaging soos depressie, angsversteuring, opgaarsindroom of obsessief-kompulsiewe versteuring saamleef. Hy vertel waar die aangrypende verhale in sy boek vandaan kom; van sy eie pad met angsversteuring, major depressie en ‘n lewensmaat met bipolariteit; en hoe die navorsing en praktiese raad in sy boek uit sy eie dringende behoefte aan hulp gebore is.

Being a father can be complicated, especially when you’ve known “fatherlessness.” Even boys who live with their fathers often have little opportunity to experience the meaning of manhood first-hand. The consequences include the universal wound many men carry, father hunger, and a deep sense of loneliness. Here are some practical ways to address these issues and to foster fathers’ connection with their children.

Many couples long for a baby but are struggling to fall pregnant. Counselling psychologist and hypnotherapist Karin Steyn clarifies the Fertile Body Method, a holistic approach to male and female infertility including psycho-education, lifestyle considerations, hypnosis, visualisation and other forms of support. A couple’s relationship is strengthened and their fertility goals and expectations of parenthood are explored in a safe environment.

There’s a reason why babies are called bundles of joy, but while motherhood is a great privilege it can also feel like an enormous responsibility, especially for moms set on “getting it right”. Three warm-hearted women - a psychologist, social worker and clinical social worker - with children and grandchildren of their own offer aha moments, sensible approaches and practical tips that have helped them negotiate parenthood.

Maatskaplike werker Annette de la Porte het nie net werkservaring van depressie nie, maar het 34 jaar met depressie in die huis saamgeleef. As jy oor iemand besorg is en self swaarkry, is Annette se verduideliking van wat in die brein gebeur, die simptome en die behandeling van depressie inssiggewend. Sy gee praktiese raad oor die emosionele en ander gevolge vir die persoon met depressie sowel as vir die huismense, en hoe om dit te hanteer.

Although the safety and well-being of both Mom and Baby remain the foremost concern during childbirth, parents now have more choices: where their child should be born, who to include in their birth team, and what type of birth they prefer. Counselling psychologist and hypnotherapist Karin Steyn discusses the advantages of HypnoBirthing®, an approach to natural birth involving deep relaxation, releasing fear, tapping Nature’s own anaesthesia during labour, and “breathing down” you baby instead of “pushing”.

In baie lande word ‘n natuurlike geboorte toenemend as die beste opsie vir ‘n gesonde ma met ‘n normale swangerskap beskou. Is dit veilig – en is dit gewens? Geboorte-opvoedkundige Cozette Laubser belig die voorwaardes vir en voordele van ‘n bevalling sonder mediese ingrepe, onder die oog van ‘n opgeleide vroedvrou. Sy bespreek die ideale geboorteomgewing, die geboortespan, die rol van hormone in die kraamproses, die “fetus ejection reflex” en natuurlike en farmaseutiese maniere om pyn te beheer.

We are all affected by the death of a loved one, but children can be particularly vulnerable. Clinical psychologist Shelley Hall explains how to support a grieving child and which signs could indicate that professional help is required. Recounting the case of an 8-year-old who witnessed her father shoot her mother and grandparents, Shelley illustrates the efficacy of BrainWorking® Recursive Therapy.

Ons kan kinders nie weghou van die dood nie: hulle kom dit in rekenaarspeletjies en die media teë. Volwassenes is dalk ongemaklik met die onderwerp, maar sodra ‘n kind direk geraak word, het ons die regte woorde nodig. Alta Bence van die CHOC Childhood Cancer-stigting gee riglyne oor hoe om die dood te verduidelik, ons eie hartseer te deel, wanneer ‘n kind ‘n oorledene se liggaam moet sien, en hoe om ‘n kind met ‘n terminale siekte te begelei.  

The Corona pandemic has increased the incidence of anxiety, whether generalised or more specific - such as performance anxiety. Clinical social worker Morag Scordilis uses case studies to illustrate how children, teenagers and adults can benefit from BWRT® and why it is a fast, cost effective solution.

Developmental specialist dr. Melodie de Jager introduces a free, weekly blog for the woman who wants to be a mother but doesn’t know where to start. “The Art of Co-creating” will also interest dads, grandparents, and anyone fascinated by the science behind the shaping of a baby. Melodie tells Mariette about fictional characters Zani and Jake’s compelling journey - navigating their emotions, seeking clarity, and making choices informed by scientific research on preconceptual care, prenatal development, birth, and other key subjects.

Do you know someone who is particularly choosy about food, avoids crowds in shopping malls, struggles with eye-hand coordination, or has difficulty functioning in an open-plan office? The cause could be sensory integration dysfunction or SID. Occupational therapist Charlene Cruickshank describes sensory discrimination and modulation, the two extremes of poor sensory processing, and how this disorder is identified and treated.

Of jy nou voltyds werk, enkellopend is, en kinders het of nie – die lewenspas is vinnig. By tye raak die eise eenvoudig net te veel. Kliniese sielkundige dr. Wilmien Human gesels eerlik oor maniere om ons balans te behou, en oor kopskuiwe wat ons kan help om ons eiesoortige, gesonde “supervrou-rol” te skep.

Hoe gemaak met die groot persentasie kinders in ons land wat nie ‘n pa in die huis het nie? Jaco van Schalkwyk van The Character Company verduidelik wat dit verg om ‘n seun informeel of deur ‘n organisasie te mentor, hoekom positiewe manlike rolmodelle so nodig is, die vyf waardes wat mentorskap kan versterk, en hoe enkelma’s ondersteun kan word.

Face profiling is a startlingly accurate assessment tool that tells us a lot about our true self. Now add brain profiling, which sheds light on our brain preferences, and the road to goals such as working more efficiently or attaining a healthy weight suddenly opens up.  Face profiler and personal development coach Marthie Maré tells Mariette how this works.  

Some children’s defiance has a neurological basis - it could be Oppositional Defiance Disorder, or ODD. A general practitioner with a special interest in neurological conditions describes what ODD is, which signs to look for, how it is diagnosed, and how it can be treated. Parents of children with ODD require additional support.  

Haal die angel uit huiswerk met hierdie praktiese wenke wat jou kind se breinfunksie, ontwikkelingsvlak en behoefte aan positiewe versterking in ag neem. ‘n Kundige gee raad oor wanneer en hoe om pouses in te bou en wat om te doen as huiswerk te veel raak . Loer veral na die pret wat julle met spelling kan hê!

Hou jou tiener se impulsiewe optrede en gretigheid om nuwe dinge uit te toets - veral in ’n groep – jou snags wakker? Daar is ‘n wetenskaplike verklaring vir tieners se avontuurlus en oopheid. Lees hoe jy jou kind kan ondersteun.

Hoe omskryf ons eensaamheid en watter faktore kan daartoe lei? Moet jy bekommerd raak as jou kind knaend eenkant is? Wanneer moet jy ingryp, en hoe kan jy help? Sandy Lewis van Akeso Psigiatriese Klinieke gee raad.

From IUD’s to the morning-after pill ... Dr. Jireh Serfontein, sexual health physician, offers her advice on different forms of birth control and their effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages.