Sonja

Dr Sonja Gildenhuys

Educational Psychologist

An experienced educational psychologist working with children, adolescents as well as adults.

About Me

As an experienced educational psychologist, I guide children, adolescents, and adults through learning challenges and developmental differences. I help you understand your unique strengths and navigate obstacles, whether in school, work, or daily life. My approach offers practical strategies tailored to your needs, fostering confidence and a clearer path forward. We can collaboratively explore how to best support your learning and well-being.

Approach

My sessions focus on turning insights into manageable, practical steps you can use day to day. Whether in my Johannesburg consulting room or online, and in English or Afrikaans, I work at a steady, measured pace that balances conversation, guided activities and short, evidence-informed tasks between meetings. Assessment findings and what you notice at home or school shape clear, small goals we track together, with adaptations as needed. This way of working often suits children, teens, parents and adults seeking steady progress.
Contact Sonja

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

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.

  • 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
  • Counseling

    A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.

    Learn more about Counseling
  • Hypnosis

    A therapeutic technique that uses guided relaxation and focused attention to access the subconscious mind and facilitate positive change.

    Learn more about Hypnosis
  • 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
  • Individual Therapy

    One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.

    Learn more about Individual Therapy

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Children
  • Families

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
  • Behaviour or Conduct Issues

    Persistent patterns of defiant, aggressive, or rule-breaking behaviour in children or adolescents that significantly disrupt home, school, or social life.

  • Grief & Loss

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.

    Learn more about Grief & Loss
  • Child Psych & Diagnostic Assessment

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

  • 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
  • Inadequacy

    A persistent inner sense of not being good enough, often rooted in early experiences and manifesting as self-doubt, comparison, or avoidance.

  • Parenting Support

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

  • 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
  • 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.

Qualifications


University of Johannesburg

Registrations


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

Psychologist

Service Area


Private Practice

In-person & Online

Westdene

Johannesburg, Gauteng

South Africa

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