Mrs Belinda Aspoas

Educational Psychologist

Verified

“I’m Belinda Aspoas, an educational psychologist. With over a decade of experience, I work with children, adolescents and adults who are experiencing anxiety, depression, or other difficulties that make life feel challenging. My aim is to provide a warm, supportive space where you can feel heard and understood, and where we can begin to make sense of what you are experiencing. Together, we can explore the difficulties you are facing and work towards finding ways of feeling more settled, confident and able to cope. I also offer psychoeducational assessments for children and adolescents. These assessments can help us better understand a young person’s strengths, needs and learning profile, and can provide valuable guidance about the support that may be helpful in their schooling environment. If you feel that you, your child, or your adolescent might benefit from this kind of support, please feel free to get in touch. We can arrange an initial meeting to talk about what is bringing you in and explore what kind of support might best meet your needs.”

About Me

I believe that making sense of our thoughts, feelings and experiences can help us understand how our past has shaped us, while also freeing us from being bound by it. With greater self-understanding, we can begin to navigate our difficulties in new ways and move towards greater emotional well-being. Sometimes, when we are feeling very low or hopeless, life can feel like wandering through a desert, searching for water but finding none. The therapeutic journey does not always make it immediately clear where that water will be found. At times, we may even be led astray by mirages, things that seem to offer relief, but ultimately do not. Yet, in my experience, those who have taken this journey with me have, in time, found their water. In view of this, I strive to offer a warm, safe and supportive space where people can feel heard and understood. Together, we can begin to make sense of what they are experiencing, while also recognising their individual strengths and exploring areas where they may want to grow. My hope is that, through this process, people can develop a greater understanding of themselves and find new ways of navigating the challenges they face.

Approach

I believe therapy is a collaborative process, and that the work should feel both thoughtful and purposeful. Sessions move at a pace that feels manageable, balancing gentle curiosity with a clear sense of what we are working towards. Together, we can begin to untangle worries, understand changes in mood, and make sense of the difficulties you may be experiencing. I am interested not only in what is happening in the here and now, but also in what may lie beneath the surface. Sometimes, the ways we think, feel and relate to others have their roots in earlier experiences, and these patterns can continue to shape our lives without us always being aware of them. Exploring these connections can help us develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and create new possibilities for how we respond to the challenges we face. In my Johannesburg practice and online, I work in English and draw on reflective conversation and, where appropriate, play and creative ways of exploring experiences. With children and adolescents, play can provide a natural way of expressing and understanding feelings that may be difficult to put into words. My hope is that therapy becomes a space where you can feel understood and supported, while also having the freedom to explore parts of yourself that may be difficult to make sense of on your own. Together, we can work towards greater self-understanding, finding new ways of thinking about your experiences and, ultimately, feeling more able to navigate life with confidence and resilience.

Contact Belinda

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Johannesburg, South Africa

In-person & Online

Services

Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy offers a space to slow down, reflect and begin to make sense of the thoughts, feelings and experiences that may be troubling you. I work with children, adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, loss, or other challenges that may be affecting their sense of well-being. Together, we explore not only what is happening in the present, but also whether earlier experiences or patterns in relationships may be influencing how you feel and respond today. Developing a deeper understanding of ourselves can help us make sense of difficulties that may otherwise feel confusing or overwhelming, and can open up new ways of thinking, feeling and relating to others. Play Therapy: For children, play is often their most natural way of communicating. Feelings and experiences that are difficult to put into words can emerge through play, allowing us to gain a better understanding of what a child may be experiencing beneath the surface. Play therapy provides a safe and accepting space in which children can express themselves, work through difficult experiences and develop ways of understanding and managing their feelings. Through the relationship and the play, we can begin to understand a child's emotional world, as well as their strengths and areas where they may need support. Parental Guidance: Parenting can be deeply rewarding, but it can also feel confusing and overwhelming, particularly when a child or adolescent is struggling emotionally or behaviourally. Parental guidance provides an opportunity to think together about your child, their behaviour and the difficulties you may be encountering. We can explore what may lie beneath a child's behaviour, how family relationships and experiences may be affecting them, and how you might respond in ways that support both your child and yourself. The aim is not to provide a formula for parenting, but to develop a deeper understanding of your child and to help you feel more confident in responding to their individual needs. Psychoeducational Assessments: Psychoeducational assessments can help us develop a clearer understanding of how a child or adolescent learns, as well as their particular strengths and areas of difficulty. An assessment looks at a range of areas, including cognitive abilities such as fluid reasoning, visual-spatial perception, verbal comprehension, processing speed and working memory, as well as scholastic functioning and emotional well-being. The purpose of an assessment is not simply to identify difficulties, but to build a fuller picture of the young person as a whole, recognising their strengths as well as areas for growth. The findings can provide useful guidance to parents, teachers and other professionals about how best to support the child or adolescent, both at school and at home, and help ensure that the support they receive is appropriately tailored to their individual needs.

Services Offered:

Individual Psychotherapy
In-depth one-on-one therapy that explores the deeper roots of a person's difficulties, often drawing on psychodynamic or psychoanalytic models.
Play Therapy
A therapy for children that uses play as a natural form of communication, allowing them to express feelings and process difficult experiences.
Learn more about Play Therapy
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

Works With:

Adults
Children
Adolescents
Parents

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
Depression
A mood disorder marked by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and changes in energy, sleep, or appetite that impair daily functioning.
Learn more about Depression
Child Behaviour
Behavioural difficulties in children, such as tantrums, aggression, withdrawal, or defiance, that signal emotional distress or developmental needs.
Self-Esteem
A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.
Learn more about Self-Esteem
Adoption
The process of legally becoming a parent to a child who is not biologically yours, which can raise complex emotions around identity, attachment, and belonging for all involved.
Relationship Issues
Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.
Learn more about Relationship Issues
Family Issues
Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.
Child Psychological & Diagnostic Assessment
A formal evaluation of a child's cognitive, emotional, or developmental functioning using standardised tests to identify conditions like ADHD, autism, or learning difficulties.
ADHD / Attention Difficulties
A neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent difficulty with attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity that interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about ADHD / Attention Difficulties