Brenda

Dr Brenda Van Rooyen

Educational Psychologist

“An experienced, competent and compassionate educational psychologist and therapist, working with children, adolescents and their parents.”

About Me

With a PhD, I am an experienced educational psychologist and therapist. I offer compassionate support to children, adolescents, and their parents. I understand the unique challenges young people face in their learning and emotional development. Together, we can explore individual strengths. We will develop practical strategies to navigate school life and build confidence. My collaborative approach helps families feel heard, supporting your child to truly thrive.

Approach

Grounded in clinical experience and a compassionate stance, I work with families in Cape Town in English, offering calm, structured sessions that balance assessment, conversation and practical strategies. Sessions move at a steady, child-centred pace: brief activities or play for younger children, more reflective tasks for adolescents, and focused planning with parents to apply ideas between meetings. I use clear feedback and collaborative goal-setting so progress feels measurable and manageable. This approach tends to suit children, teens and parents seeking clear direction and gentle support.
Contact Brenda

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

In-person

Services

Services Offered:

  • Child Psych & Diagnostic Assessment

    Formal assessment of a child's psychological, cognitive, or emotional functioning to identify conditions and guide appropriate support.

  • Intellectual Psych & Diagnostic Assessment

    Formal testing to evaluate intellectual ability and cognitive functioning, often used for educational planning or diagnosis.

  • Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy designed for teenagers, using age-appropriate methods to address issues like anxiety, identity, peer pressure, and family conflict.

    Learn more about Adolescent Therapy
  • Child / Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy for children and teenagers using age-appropriate methods, such as play, art, or adapted talk therapy, to address emotional and behavioural difficulties.

    Learn more about Child / Adolescent Therapy

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Children
  • Parents

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy designed for teenagers, using age-appropriate methods to address issues like anxiety, identity, peer pressure, and family conflict.

    Learn more about Adolescent Therapy
  • Autism (ASD)

    A neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication, sensory processing, and behaviour patterns, with a wide range of presentations and strengths.

  • Child Behaviour

    Behavioural difficulties in children, such as tantrums, aggression, withdrawal, or defiance, that signal emotional distress or developmental needs.

  • Trauma

    The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.

    Learn more about Trauma
  • Learning or Development Difficulties

    Conditions that affect a person's ability to acquire, process, or apply information, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or intellectual disability, impacting education and daily life.

  • Parenting Support

    Guidance for the psychological challenges of raising children, including discipline, communication, co-parenting, and managing the emotional demands of parenthood.

  • Stress / Burnout

    The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).

    Learn more about Stress / Burnout

Professional Title:

  • Educational Psychologist

    A psychologist specialising in learning, development, and educational needs of children, adolescents, and young adults.

Credentials

Registrations

Health Professions Council Of South Africa (HPCSA); Board of Health Funders (BHF)

Psychologist

Qualifications

University of the Free State

Service Areas

Brenda van Rooyen (Educational Psychologist)

In-person

Milnerton Rural

Cape Town, Western Cape

South Africa