HeyDr.V

HeyDr.V HeyDr.V's page created by Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Vanessa von Auer (aka.

Dr.V!), aims to share inspiring everyday tips that can help contribute to your personal journey to overcome life's challenges and improve happiness and overall well-being.

Ever wondered about the the secrets to stellar school-parent communication? 🌟 Last week, I had the privilege of sharing ...
16/11/2023

Ever wondered about the the secrets to stellar school-parent communication? 🌟

Last week, I had the privilege of sharing insights at EDUtech Asia 2023 on the best practices for connecting with parents, the tech-driven evolution of parent involvement, and communication with schools! πŸ’¬πŸ’»

A heartfelt thank you to all of the pannelists who flew in from Korea, India and China, as well as everyone who joined the conversation and lent their support! πŸ™

Do you know the difference between Autistic Disorder (aka Autism) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Asperger's? ...
04/08/2023

Do you know the difference between Autistic Disorder (aka Autism) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Asperger's?

Have you ever wondered why your mood is better when you are in the presence of petsπŸ•πŸˆπŸŽπŸ‡? Pets are hugely therapeutic bec...
02/08/2023

Have you ever wondered why your mood is better when you are in the presence of petsπŸ•πŸˆπŸŽπŸ‡? Pets are hugely therapeutic because they offer companionship, which helps many to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation. Pets can therefore offer emotional support and comfort. Interacting with animals has also been shown to reduce stress levels and to promote relaxation. Petting an animal releases oxytocin, a hormone associated with happiness. One of the main reasons I have always loved animals is their ability to love and accept their hoomans unconditionally 😍. If you have active pets like dogs and cats, their presence also helps keep us fit through exercise (e.g., going on walks or playing indoors)....AND of course, pets are just darn cute πŸ’œ

Lolli (grey doggy in pic) is also training to become a therapy pup. So contact me if you'd like to have her join you in your counselling sessions. She loves making people feel good 🀩

β˜…π‘©π’†π’π’Šπ’†π’—π’† π’Šπ’ π’šπ’π’–π’“ π‘Ίπ‘¬π‘³π‘­π‘°π‘¬β˜…We started self-affirmations in our house as soon as my kiddos were born. Starting kids on self-...
16/07/2023

β˜…π‘©π’†π’π’Šπ’†π’—π’† π’Šπ’ π’šπ’π’–π’“ π‘Ίπ‘¬π‘³π‘­π‘°π‘¬β˜…

We started self-affirmations in our house as soon as my kiddos were born. Starting kids on self-affirmations early can influence how they view themselves, the world and how they deal with life's challenges. More specifically, starting kids on self-affirmations early on can lead to the following benefits:

1. Positive self-image: Children grow up with positive beliefs about themselves, increasing their self-esteem and promoting a healthy self-image 🦁

2. Bully-proof: Kids who grow up with daily self-affirmations grow up to believe in their own strengths which means that they are less prone to being bullied. They are also more capable of coping with attempted bullying, negativity or toxic friendships because they appreciate their own sense of self πŸ™Œ and know that they are "great enough" πŸŽ‰

3. Resilience: By imprinting positive affirmations early on, children tend to strengthen their resilience and ability to bounce back from challenges. They are less likely to quit when the "going gets tough" πŸ’ͺ.

4. Emotional well-being: Self-affirmations help children develop a positive outlook on life and aid in managing negative emotions. They increase the child's self-compassion and therefore reduce self-criticism πŸ’š

Self-affirmations in childhood can even prevent anxiety and depression later on in life. So get your kiddies started on positive self-affirmations asap!

Some of my daughter's (pictured in this post) fave self-affirmations include:

"I am compassionate"
"I love myself"
"I can do hard things"
"I'm creative"
"I'm funny"

How awesome are those 😍?




π‘ͺπ’π’π’π’‚π’ƒπ’π’“π’‚π’•π’Šπ’—π’† 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 (CPs) treat their kids like they would want to be treated - with empathy, understanding, respect a...
06/04/2023

π‘ͺπ’π’π’π’‚π’ƒπ’π’“π’‚π’•π’Šπ’—π’† 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 (CPs) treat their kids like they would want to be treated - with empathy, understanding, respect and unconditional love. More specifically, CPs are guided by 6 habits of the Collaborative Parenting Approach. Are you already using these habit at home and with your children?

Do you know what most parents don't teach their children? Becoming π’Šπ’π’…π’Šπ’”π’•π’“π’‚π’„π’•π’‚π’ƒπ’π’†. Why is this a major skill we need to ...
08/03/2023

Do you know what most parents don't teach their children?
Becoming π’Šπ’π’…π’Šπ’”π’•π’“π’‚π’„π’•π’‚π’ƒπ’π’†.

Why is this a major skill we need to teach our children? It's because of the generation they are growing up in. In today's day and age, technology, devices, and digital distractions seem to be inescapable. Our children are surrounded by them at home, in school, on the bus, in shopping malls, etc. All of this exposure can overstimulate any kid. Becoming indistractable means that our children can focus on content that is relevant or important to the current context. It means being able to focus on activities, assignments, friends in the real world rather than becoming a device addict. It means that our children are able to use technology to aid them in their learning but that they are equally capable of learning without their devices. Follow these tips to help your child become indistractable:

βœ…Set up a schedule for your child to follow during which devices are to be used (e.g., during homework time) and when devices are not to be used.
βœ… Encourage plenty of time for play that does not require digital play.
βœ…Allow your child autonomy over his/her digital exposure (during mutually agreed upon timings). This way, your child feels that you are respecting his/her choices and will adhere to your rules in kind.
βœ… Spend quality time with your child outdoors. Be mindful that you do not engage in digital or device time yourself during your bonding time with your child.

06/03/2023

This video is a special moment I managed to capture of my daughter and me. We love having πŸ…ΆπŸ…ΈπŸ…ΆπŸ…ΆπŸ…»πŸ…΄ πŸ†ƒπŸ…ΈπŸ…ΌπŸ…΄ together! Giggle time is so special to me because it comes with all sorts of positive effects on both baby and parent. Giggle time = quality time with your baby. This means that you consciously spend time with your baby and try to get him/her to giggle. Laughter triggers feel-good hormones (i.e., endorphins and oxytocin) to be released into our bodies, strengthening our bond with our baby. Additionally, giggle time helps baby form a secure attachment to you, which is crucial for future relationship-building. Giggle time also helps melt away parental stress! Plus...who doesn't love to hear baby giggles?

What do you do to get your baby to giggle with you?

Our hearts break πŸ’” when our children are sad 😒. For many of us, our gut reaction is to distract our children so they don...
02/03/2023

Our hearts break πŸ’” when our children are sad 😒. For many of us, our gut reaction is to distract our children so they don't need to go through the pain of sadness. We try to make light of the situation and often say things like "Don't be sad, my love," "You are ok," or "You won't feel sad when we go for ice cream," etc. While this is a well-meaning attempt to alleviate our child's sadness temporarily, it doesn't teach them that sadness is part of our life experience and how to cope with it when the emotion does arise.

So, instead of trying to take away your child's sadness, the Von Auer π‘ͺπ’π’π’π’‚π’ƒπ’π’“π’‚π’•π’Šπ’—π’† π‘·π’‚π’“π’†π’π’•π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉ℒ recommends that you help them sit with the emotion. Acknowledge their feeling and normalize sadness by being comforting your child and saying things like "I know that made you sad," "I would be sad too if this happened to me," or "Everyone is sad sometimes."

Part of the Von Auer π‘ͺπ’π’π’π’‚π’ƒπ’π’“π’‚π’•π’Šπ’—π’† π‘·π’‚π’“π’†π’π’•π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉ℒ is to consciously join your children in fun, silly, novel and/or ...
21/02/2023

Part of the Von Auer π‘ͺπ’π’π’π’‚π’ƒπ’π’“π’‚π’•π’Šπ’—π’† π‘·π’‚π’“π’†π’π’•π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉ℒ is to consciously join your children in fun, silly, novel and/or adventurous experiences. Too often, when we become parents, we tend to forget how important being childlike is when we are with our children. How many of us hear, "Mommy come play with me!" or "Daddy, can we play hide & seek?". Well, this is the child's bid for π’‚π’•π’•π’†π’π’•π’Šπ’π’ and π’„π’π’π’π’†π’„π’•π’Šπ’π’. By partaking in our children's activities, we strengthen the child-parent bond and demonstrate that their likes, preferences and ideas are valued and important to us. Additionally, the benefits of turning toward your children's bid for connection are that:

β˜… They are more willing to try new experiences πŸ†•
β˜… They are more 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 as well as more π’‡π’π’†π’™π’Šπ’ƒπ’π’† with different experiences/
environments πŸ˜„
β˜… They feel 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆 and 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒙𝒆𝒅 when we interact with them 😌
β˜… They learn to express their thoughts, feelings, likes and dislikes confidently 🀩
β˜… They develop creativity and imagination 🎨
β˜… They develop a "𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒐" spirit πŸ’ͺ

I love these extra benefits because they are relatively easy to manifest - by just participating in your child's activities. I recently joined my daughter in getting our faces painted. She and I loved doing this together πŸ’›!

When was the last time you let loose and were silly with your kid? Let me know what you and your kiddo enjoy experiencing together πŸ’œ

The Von Auer 𝐂𝐨π₯π₯πšπ›π¨π«πšπ­π’π―πž 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐒𝐧𝐠 π€π©π©π«π¨πšπœπ‘β„’ always emphasizes π’†π’Žπ’‘π’‚π’•π’‰π’š and 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆. This means that we view and acc...
15/02/2023

The Von Auer 𝐂𝐨π₯π₯πšπ›π¨π«πšπ­π’π―πž 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐒𝐧𝐠 π€π©π©π«π¨πšπœπ‘β„’ always emphasizes π’†π’Žπ’‘π’‚π’•π’‰π’š and 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆. This means that we view and accept every emotion our child experiences as normal. Yes, this includes angry meltdowns too!

Experiencing anger is part of being beautifully human. It is important to help your child look at anger as a natural emotion, something that everyone (even Mom/Dad) experiences. Instead of attempting to "stop" the anger, try saying these things instead:

β™₯ "I get it - you are really mad/
angry/frustrated."
β™₯ "It's ok to feel angry."
β™₯ "How can I help get your angries
out?"
β™₯ "Shall I help you get your angries
out?" (If your child doesn't yet
know what would make him/her
feel better)

Other ways to help your kiddo express this feeling in healthy ways could include something like stomping their angries out (by stomping on the spot πŸ‘£for a limited amount of timeβŒ›), squeezing themselves πŸ€— to regain focus on the present, or counting until the angry feeling subsides. These are just a few creative, collaborative ways to help your child 𝒅𝒆-𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 and π’“π’†π’ˆπ’‚π’Šπ’ 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇-𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍.

This approach assures your child that he/she is accepted, that you understand what they are feeling, and that he/she is loved no matter what πŸ’œπŸ’™πŸ’›. It also helps your child learn to problem-solve and manage the range of emotions they will experience throughout life.

Do you have an anxious child? Instead of saying, "You don't need to be scared" or "It's not scary", use these helpful ph...
09/02/2023

Do you have an anxious child? Instead of saying, "You don't need to be scared" or "It's not scary", use these helpful phrases to calm them down instead:

βœ…I'm here with you.
βœ…I'll stay with you until you feel better.
βœ…You are safe.
βœ…Tell me your thoughts.
βœ…What can I do to help you feel better?

The core need that we should address here is that of "πŸ…‚πŸ„°πŸ„΅πŸ„΄πŸ…ƒπŸ…ˆ". Make sure that you acknowledge your child's fear/anxiety and give them assurance that you will accompany them through the entire experience. This parenting approach will help your child be able to sit with their feelings and learn how to cope with them as they grow up.

I love learning! If you would have told me this when I was a kid, I would have told you '𝐧𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐲' and that I was going to...
08/02/2023

I love learning! If you would have told me this when I was a kid, I would have told you '𝐧𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐲' and that I was going to be a pastry chef πŸ₯πŸ§, or donut baker🍩...because all I thought about was eating 🀣

But now, and throughout my career, I have craved continuous professional development and am a huge believer in π’π’Šπ’‡π’†π’π’π’π’ˆ π’π’†π’‚π’“π’π’Šπ’π’ˆ. There's always room for improvement, and we can always strive to be a 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 version of ourselves.

So this week, I enjoyed attending a "π’•π’“π’‚π’Šπ’ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’•π’“π’‚π’Šπ’π’†π’“" course to renew my annual instructor status in safety interventions. This course is perfectly aligned with my values of keeping all members of my work community safe and feeling supported 😁

Swapping ideas and knowledge with leaders from other organizations in Singapore was also fantastic, and the collective wealth of knowledge and experience was incredible.

We're baacckkk by popular demandπŸ₯³! Our highly sought-after parent-accompanied playgroup for πŸ‘Άbabies 8 to 18 months is st...
06/02/2023

We're baacckkk by popular demandπŸ₯³! Our highly sought-after parent-accompanied playgroup for πŸ‘Άbabies 8 to 18 months is starting in just ᴛᴑᴏ weeks! Our playgroup offers babies and toddlers fun, multi-sensory and varied early learning experiences.

Our playgroups are a great way for your tots to learn about themselves and the world, to make friends and develop social skills while being stimulated cognitively. Our tots will also develop physical skills, problem-solving, communication and are given an outlet for creativity and energy.

Our playgroups are an opportunity for Mommies, Daddies, grandparents and other caregivers to share experiences and support one another. Many long-term friendships flourish at Tea & Tots πŸ₯°.

Join now to enjoy a 50% discount on the registration fee (enrol before 27th Feb) πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰

We can't wait to welcome you and your tots back πŸ’•

A lot of us don't ask for help because we worry about being a "bother" or "nuisance" to others.But what if asking others...
19/01/2023

A lot of us don't ask for help because we worry about being a "bother" or "nuisance" to others.

But what if asking others for help actually helps you make connections with others, builds respect and trust? Would you be more inclined to ask for help?

According to the Ben Franklin Effect, asking other for help is actually a great social skill and tool to get others to like you. By asking someone for help with a project, an idea or task actually makes the other person feel confident in their ability to support you, which in turn builds trust, respect and friendship.

So, go on 😁ask someone to help you with something today 🀩

Deciding whether to stay or go in any type of relationship can be difficult, even when all signs may be there objectivel...
09/12/2022

Deciding whether to stay or go in any type of relationship can be difficult, even when all signs may be there objectively, sometimes we can't see the red flags. We usually try and consider all the options we have to make things work, but sometimes it's best to cut things before too much damage is done. Here are some subtle yet key signs that someone may not be good for you.

The habit of practicing positive affirmations can be incredibly transformative and takes less than 5 minutes a day. In f...
17/11/2022

The habit of practicing positive affirmations can be incredibly transformative and takes less than 5 minutes a day. In fact, many documented studies show practicing affirmations can activate the reward system in your brain, which can have an impact on how you experience physical and emotional distress. They can also work to help alter your subconscious thoughts, when you repeat and supportive or encouraging phrase (even if you don’t believe it yet) by saying it out loud, you are giving it power and in turn, empowering yourself.

So! I’m inviting you to pick at least one affirmation above and repeat it about 10 times. Listen to yourself as you say it, and focus on the words that leave your mouth and the power they hold. As you say them, believe them to be true. Let me know ya pick in the comments below! The habit of practicing positive affirmations can be incredibly transformative and takes less than 5 minutes a day. In fact, many documented studies show practicing affirmations can activate the reward system in your brain, which can have an impact on how you experience physical and emotional distress. They can also work to help alter your subconscious thoughts, when you repeat and supportive or encouraging phrase (even if you don’t believe it yet) by saying it out loud, you are giving it power and in turn, empowering yourself.

So! I’m inviting you to pick at least one affirmation above and repeat it about 10 times. Listen to yourself as you say it, and focus on the words that leave your mouth and the power they hold. As you say them, believe them to be true. Let me know your pick in the comments below!

Embarking on a journey as a solo fempreneur is both exciting and courageous whether you’re just starting out, achieving ...
10/11/2022

Embarking on a journey as a solo fempreneur is both exciting and courageous whether you’re just starting out, achieving your triumph, or facing your biggest challenge. When I decided to start not one, but two businesses in my early twenties, I was told by many that I was being overambitious and that there was no way I could manage a psychology practice and a school at the same time without any business experience.

Ladies: there’s nothing wrong with dreaming big, taking risks, and trusting your gut over the nay-sayers. Fast forward to over a decade later, and I'm lucky to be doing what I love, even on the toughest days.

I'm elated to be featured in 's August issue where I got the chance to share my humble tips with my fellow lady bosses who are looking to take the plunge into solo entrepreneurship. Check out the full story in my bio link!

https://expatliving.sg/female-entrepreneur-in-singapore-iis/

What is of more value? An 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐒𝐜 or 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐒𝐜 certification/qualification?For me, BOTH are equally valuable!As an e...
20/10/2022

What is of more value? An 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐒𝐜 or 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐒𝐜 certification/qualification?

For me, BOTH are equally valuable!

As an educator, I believe that lifelong learning is essential for professional and personal growth, and non-academic achievements are just as crucial as academic ones. Afterall, it's our soft skills that make us stand out and grow throughout our careers/lives. Pursuing learning opportunities within our interests and passions also does wonders for our mental health! With that said, I am proud that I completed these two certifications: one under my idols, French dance artists , for the 𝑼𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒏 π‘²π’Šπ’› Teacher Training Course and the other in the π‘Ύπ’π’Žπ’‚π’'𝒔 π‘³π’†π’‚π’…π’†π’“π’”π’‰π’Šπ’‘ π‘»π’“π’‚π’Šπ’π’Šπ’π’ˆ π‘·π’“π’π’ˆπ’“π’‚π’Žπ’Žπ’† under 𝑢𝒙𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒅-𝑺𝒂ï𝒅 π‘©π’–π’”π’Šπ’π’†π’”π’” 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍πŸ₯³. Both were equally challenging, fun and valuable.

I’d love to hear your lifelong learning stories and what inspired your self-development!

Address

Singapore

Opening Hours

10:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+6562359602

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when HeyDr.V posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category