Stacey Cohen - Educational Psychologist

Stacey Cohen - Educational Psychologist Stacey Cohen is an educational psychologist situated in Rivonia Sandton. Services offered are therap Contact us for more information on info@buddingminds.org

Budding Minds is run by Educational Psychologist, Stacey Cohen at in Rivonia.

30/07/2025

If I weren’t afraid of hurting your feelings, I’d say this…
1. Your child’s big feelings aren’t the problem.
😤😢😡 Tantrums, meltdowns and mood swings are all part of being human.
But if you meet your child’s dysregulation with your own, you are not teaching them how to calm down. You are showing them how to spiral.
2. Your child will treat themselves the way they see you treat yourself.
🪞 If you constantly self-criticize, never rest or say yes when you mean no, they are learning that too. Your self-care is not selfish. It is modelling.
3. You are becoming their inner voice.
🧠 Every word you say now shapes how they will speak to themselves later.
If all they hear is correction, they will not learn confidence. They will learn shame.
4. Children do not misbehave to make your life hard.
🧸 They are seeking connection, not control.
Even the “bad” behaviour is often just a confused way of saying, “Do you see me? Do I matter to you?”
5. You do not need to be perfect. You just need to repair.
💔➡️❤️ You will snap. You will get it wrong. That is okay.
What matters is that you come back and say, “I’m sorry. Let’s try again.”
6. Discipline without connection does not work.
🔌 If you are relying on time-outs and consequences without checking the emotional temperature, you are missing the heart of the issue.
7. Your child does not need a martyr. They need a model.
🧍‍♀️ You are allowed to rest. To have boundaries. To say, “I need a moment.”
That is not failing. That is teaching.
8. The work is hard. But it is worth it.
🌱 You are not just raising a child. You are shaping a future adult.
One who will carry your voice in their head long after childhood ends.

Parenting is not about never messing up.
It is about showing up with honesty, compassion and a willingness to grow 💛


23/07/2025

“I thought I’d done the work… and then I became a parent.” 😅😅

There’s something about raising children that gently (or not-so-gently) invites us to revisit parts of our own childhood we thought we’d long buried.
The way we respond to tantrums, clinginess, mess, or disobedience can stir up echoes of our own unmet needs, hurts, and patterns.

✨ Parenting can be both a mirror and a magnifying glass.

Take this, for example:
If you grew up in a home where conflict was avoided, where big emotions were shut down and “everything’s fine” was the family motto, your child’s tantrums might feel overwhelming or even threatening.
Not because they’re wrong, but because your nervous system never learned how to be with that kind of intensity.
So your instinct might be to fix it fast, shut it down, or feel like you’re failing.

But you’re not failing.
You’re healing.

You might’ve thought you were healed, and then your child came along and cracked you wide open in the most unexpected places.
Children don’t just trigger old wounds.
They illuminate them. ✨✨✨
They ask us, without words, to stop pushing our pain under the rug and to truly face it with courage, presence, and care.

The key is mindfulness.
The willingness to stay open.
To meet ourselves with the same compassion we’re trying to offer our children.

That’s the heart of the work I love doing with parents.
Together, we peel back the layers gently and safely, and begin to heal.
Not just for our kids, but for ourselves.

You’re not broken if old wounds resurface.
You’re human.
And you’re doing the work ❤️


25/06/2025

“I’m bored.”
Translation: You said no to more screen time and now I have to actually feel my feelings and think my own thoughts. 😅

And you know what? That’s not a bad thing.

Boredom is a gift.
It gives the brain space to rest, daydream, problem-solve and get creative.
It teaches kids how to tune inward instead of constantly reaching outward for entertainment.

That doesn’t mean screens are evil. They’re part of our world and sometimes part of our sanity too. But too much screen time can:

📉 Reduce tolerance for slow, quiet moments
🧠 Limit imaginative play
😣 Make transitions harder
💤 Disrupt mood, sleep and focus

The goal isn’t zero screens. It’s finding balance.
Time for stimulation and space for stillness.
Time for connection and time to be alone with your thoughts.
Time for watching, swiping, scrolling, and time to feel a little bored.

You’re allowed to say no to more screen time.
You’ve done your job by setting the boundary with love.
Now the boredom? That’s their problem to solve.
And that’s where the magic happens, when kids learn to get creative, explore, imagine and make a plan for themselves.

✨ Boredom isn’t the enemy. It’s the birthplace of brilliance.

20/06/2025

It might sound simple.
But for so many people, saying no is a radical act.

When a client stops shrinking themselves to keep the peace
When they say no without guilt
When they take up space with confidence
You feel it in your bones…
Because you know in that moment… boom 💥
A boundary was set. A pattern was broken. A new version of them is being born.

Setting boundaries isn’t cold.
It’s clarity. It’s self-respect. It’s healing in motion.

Let’s talk self care. The kind that’s quiet, intentional, and just for you 💛Parenting asks a lot of us. And while we’re ...
20/06/2025

Let’s talk self care. The kind that’s quiet, intentional, and just for you 💛

Parenting asks a lot of us. And while we’re often tuned in to our children’s every need, we can forget that our own nervous systems need care too.

This isn’t about spa days or scented candles (although those are lovely). It’s about reclaiming small moments to pause, breathe, and refill your cup. That way, you can show up with more patience, more presence, and more joy.

And maybe most importantly, it’s about showing your kids what it looks like to value yourself.

Swipe through for a gentle reminder that you deserve that care too 🌿

Some kids need to feel in control. Not because they’re defiant, but because the world feels overwhelming 😟Control become...
16/06/2025

Some kids need to feel in control. Not because they’re defiant, but because the world feels overwhelming 😟

Control becomes their way of coping. When everything feels unpredictable, they look for something they can manage.

That’s where the magic of choices comes in ✨

When you offer your child two simple, safe options, you’re not giving in. You’re giving them a sense of power within your boundaries.

Instead of:
🗣️ “Get dressed now!”
Try:
👚 “Do you want to wear the pink top or the blue one?”

Instead of:
🗣️ “We’re leaving now!”
Try:
🚗 “Do you want to hop or skip to the car?”

Why it works:
✅ It lowers anxiety by making the world feel more predictable
✅ It reduces power struggles without removing your authority
✅ It helps them practice decision-making in a safe way

You are still holding the boundaries.
But by offering choices, you are giving your child a sense of agency, and that is powerful for their development.

Feeling some control helps switch on the thinking part of the brain.
It supports emotional regulation, encourages cooperation, and builds confidence in their ability to make decisions.

A small choice in a big world can make a big difference 🌱

Today we’re celebrating the dads who show up with heart 💛 The ones who make pancakes 🥞 play catch ⚽ hold tiny hands thro...
15/06/2025

Today we’re celebrating the dads who show up with heart 💛 The ones who make pancakes 🥞 play catch ⚽ hold tiny hands through big feelings 🖐️💬 and teach their children what safe love looks like 🧠❤️

To the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, and father figures who offer presence over perfection 👣 thank you. Your impact runs deep, especially in the quiet moments 🤍

Happy Father’s Day! 🧔‍♂️👧👶

13/06/2025

POV: When you realize…
Your child doesn’t need a perfect parent.
They need a safe one.

A parent who stays steady when their feelings get big.
Who helps make sense of the hard stuff.
Who doesn’t punish the emotion but welcomes the message beneath it.
Who shows them:
“I can handle your feelings. You’re safe with me.”

Safety isn’t about being calm all the time.
It’s about being the person they can come back to, every time 💛

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Rivonia
2196

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+27630986482

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