Centapaeds Therapy Centre

14/07/2025

Important info!

📣 ‼️ Please check what WhatsApp channels your kids are following!! Please share with all parent friends ASAP

06/07/2025

We are beginning to understand what bullying does to the brain. And it’s not good.

Bullying is something far too many children and teens experience—and it leaves a mark on everyone involved. It doesn’t just impact the child being targeted. Those who engage in bullying and even those who witness it can also carry the weight of the experience. Research continues to show how bullying is connected to mental health challenges like depression, sleep issues, and even long-term emotional distress. It can shape everything from how kids feel about themselves to how they function at school and beyond.

That’s why understanding the full impact of bullying matters. New studies show connections between bullying and not only psychological issues, but also brain function and long-term developmental outcomes. Children who are bullied often face lower quality of life, a higher risk for self-injury, struggles with school completion, and ongoing mental health concerns. There’s even evidence that bullying is linked to changes in the brain regions that process emotions and social experiences.

The takeaway is clear: bullying isn’t just a social issue—it’s a public health concern. Catching it early and responding with support, empathy, and smart interventions can make all the difference in protecting children’s emotional wellbeing now and in the future.

References:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452266-were-starting-to-understand-what-being-bullied-does-to-the-brain/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37781982/

02/07/2025

📱👩🏽‍💻 Social media is where teens connect, express themselves, and grow — but it also has a deeper impact than many of us realise.

🧠 The teen brain, especially the prefrontal cortex — the area responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation — is still under construction. That means teens are more sensitive to likes, comments, comparisons, and online pressures.

✨ Combine that with the fact that:
🔹 95% of teens use social media
🔹 Nearly 1 in 2 are online “almost constantly”
🔹 Many report feeling anxious, excluded, or not “good enough” after scrolling...

… and we start to see why digital wellbeing is essential.

👣 This week, we’re breaking it all down in a series — with key stats, brain science, and practical tools for parents, teachers, and anyone who supports teens.

➡️ Follow us this week for insights on how we can help teens thrive online — not just survive.

29/06/2025

Children are absorbing everything! One of Marty Appelbaum's most repeated quotes, is: "Children are great imitators. Give them someone great to imitate."

23/06/2025

The most dangerous thing we can do as parents?
Avoid the hard conversations.
If you’re not talking to your child about online safety, someone else might be—and that “someone else” could have the worst intentions.

Predators are hoping you stay silent.
They rely on shame, secrecy, and the belief that “good families” don’t talk about these things. But your child deserves honest, age-appropriate information about what’s out there and how to protect themselves.

Don’t wait for a mistake or a crisis. Be the trusted voice they hear first.
It’s not about scaring them—it’s about equipping them.

💬 Start the conversation today. Visit notmykid.com.au for conversation guides, real stories, and next steps.

16/06/2025

Digital autonomy means your child’s ability to make safe, informed choices online—but what does it really look like?
As kids grow, they want freedom to explore apps, games, and social media on their own terms. But without guidance, this freedom can quickly become risky.

Helping your child develop digital autonomy means teaching them:
🔒 How to protect their privacy
🚦 How to recognise red flags and unsafe situations
🤝 When and how to ask for help
⚖️ How to balance screen time with real life

It’s about preparing them to navigate the digital world confidently—not just controlling their access.

Learn how to support your child’s healthy digital independence at notmykid.com.au

15/06/2025

Happy Father's Day!

05/06/2025

Very important info!

👮This is what the police told me after I called them in 2016 asking if they published the names of games that predators frequent following my daughter’s disclosure that she had encountered a predator on a child’s online game two years earlier.

🥺The predator had cunningly ensured that she believed he was another 9-year-old little girl. He told her that they would BOTH be arrested if she told anyone.

🧐Do I feel like I had enough conversations with her? No.

🧐Do I feel like I failed to protect her adequately? Yes.
I shared her story publicly, with her permission, because I wanted other parents to never think “not my kid’. I wanted parents to understand how easily incidents like hers can happen and are happening to children all over the world daily.

‼️Predators typically lure children off the game to an encrypted chat platform to continue the grooming process. Fortunately, this did not happen in our case.
Signs to look out for include:

‼️A change in behaviour — she went from being an outgoing, lively, happy child to a little girl who gave up all her interests and became listless.

‼️A change in appetite — she started to eat noticeably less.

‼️Anxiety — she developed extreme separation anxiety.

🧐Did I get her help when I noticed these changes? Yes.

🧐Did she tell her psychologist about the real reason behind her distress? No.

🧐Did anyone suspect anything had happened online? No — we had all the usual restrictions in place in our home and had had the usual conversations. The incidents (yes, she went back more than once) however occurred at someone else’s home.

🙏Please ensure that the parents of any friend your child visits have similar rules around online safety.

❌NO internet connected devices should ever be used in private spaces i.e., bedroom or bathroom.

‼️Online games are particularly hazardous spaces for our children when it comes to predators. Ensure they personally know in the physical world anyone they engage with online.

➡️Here is a link to her story:
https://www.notmykid.com.au/f/a-regular-story-that-rarely-gets-told

27/05/2025

🥺This is what my daughter’s teacher told me she had said when she called to tell me she couldn’t be calmed down and I should come and fetch her.

😔I sought help, but it took another two years before I could understand the depth of her fear, despair, and hopelessness after she disclosed to me she had had an interaction with a predator online.

😢For two years she kept the ‘secret’, terrified that she and the ‘other 9-year-old little girl’ would go to jail.

🙏If you notice a sudden change in your child’s mood, don’t make the same mistake I did — I did not consider that something may have taken place online because I had been a vigilant parent.

⚠️Don’t rule this possibility out, even if you are vigilant about your child’s online activities. My daughter’s exposure did not happen in my home, and this was a confronting reminder for me that there was only so much I could do to keep my children safe.

🌟Be gentle and reassuring when you talk to your child and watch for non-verbal cues that something may be wrong.

🤔What are the signs to look out for?

‼️sudden change in mood

‼️giving up things they once enjoyed

‼️a change in eating pattern

‼️may appear listless and withdrawal

‼️may show sudden signs of anxiety (in our case it was separation anxiety)

‼️blanket statements around hopelessness

🙏Please reach out if you need any further support. You can book a consultation via our website

👉If you want a fast way to learn how to keep your children safe online, I have a short 30-minute course online.

24/03/2025

This week marks the end of an era - the last week of Centapaeds as we know it. It’s hard to put into words what this place has meant to so many. The blue house wasn’t just a building; it was a home. A place where challenges were faced together, where victories - big and small - were celebrated and where hope was always present.

To every parent, grandparent, caregiver, and most of all, to the incredible children who have been part of Centapaeds - thank you. Thank you for trusting us, for sharing your journeys and for making this place so special. It has been a privilege to be part of your lives.

There’s a deep sadness in saying goodbye. Centapaeds has been the most wonderful space to work in, and while it’s time for something new, it doesn’t make this farewell any easier. It’s also incredibly hard knowing that our amazing staff will be retrenched. If anyone is looking for a fantastic receptionist or a dedicated office cleaner, please reach out - they are truly wonderful.

And then, of course, there’s our blue house. She has been so loved, and now she needs someone who will take care of her and give her the little bit of TLC she so deserves.

Though Centapaeds is closing, the work continues. The psychology practice (Eileen, Anastasia, and Shelley) and Dr. Judy Hyslop will be relocating to 80A Van der Linde Road, Bedfordview.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being part of this journey. Centapaeds was a special place because of the people who filled it with love, laughter, and hope.

Our landline will continue to be operational and messages will be passed on to the relevant therapists : 011 454 2959.

For any questions, please contact Eileen Rossouw - 083 658 1983.