Hannelie Spies - Educational Psychologist

06/10/2025

October marks Mental Health Awareness Month. Overlooking mental health can subtly impact various facets of life, including interpersonal relationships, concentration, sleep quality, and even physical health. Stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue can gradually accumulate, influencing our cognition, emotions, and daily experiences.

Prioritizing mental well-being is fundamental. Engaging in emotional processing, seeking support, or consulting with a professional can help restore equilibrium, providing clarity and tranquility in everyday life.

I provide a secure and empathetic environment to help you navigate life's complexities, empowering you to progress with a sense of lightness and control.

Discover more: https://hanneliespies.co.za/

29/09/2025

Many individuals feel trapped because they think healing requires forgetting or that they simply have to "get over it." However, true healing is much more gentle. It involves discovering new ways to embrace your story, finding tranquility in your journey, and creating a life that feels more uplifting and hopeful.

Every little step counts. Each decision to seek support is an act of courage.
Therapy can assist you in rewriting your next chapter.

25/09/2025

Is your past still echoing in your present?

Childhood experiences shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world. Sometimes, when those early years included trauma, the impact doesn’t simply disappear as we grow up.
Here are 5 common signs that childhood trauma may still be affecting you today:
1️⃣ Strong emotional reactions to small triggers
2️⃣ Struggles with trust or relationships
3️⃣ Feeling “on edge” or hyper-alert
4️⃣ Carrying shame or self-doubt
5️⃣ Avoiding or numbing uncomfortable emotions

Therapies like BWRT, trauma-informed approaches, and compassionate counselling can help you find new ways to feel safe, connected, and in control of your life.
Visit: https://shorturl.at/8E0MP to learn more.

04/09/2025

Small Wins for Big Change for People with ADHD
Change doesn’t happen overnight and that’s okay. For many people with ADHD, setting huge goals can feel motivating at first, but it often leads to frustration and self-criticism when life doesn’t shift instantly.

The truth is, lasting growth begins with small, steady wins. Each step forward matters and deserves to be noticed and celebrated.

This article shares 9 gentle, practical tips to help you create small victories and build confidence along the way.
Read more here: [https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/small-wins-tiny-habits-adhd/]

Every revolution begins with a single action. For ADHD brains, which often endure an encouragement deficit, every step toward change deserves recognition and celebration.

29/08/2025

Healing from Trauma with BWRT®
Life’s challenges at different stages can leave deep emotional scars, whether from domestic violence, the loss of a loved one, a parent’s mental illness, neglect, or even sudden accidents.

BWRT® (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy®) is a gentle, effective psychotherapeutic approach that helps individuals process and move beyond these difficult experiences without needing to relive them in detail.
If you or someone you know is struggling with the impact of trauma, know that support is available.
Learn more about how BWRT® can help: https://hanneliespies.co.za/psychotherapy/bwrt/

21/08/2025

𝗦𝗶𝘅 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
As parents, it can be heartbreaking to watch your teen retreat behind walls of sadness or irritability, unsure of how to reach them. For teens with ADHD, the risk of developing depression is even higher, and knowing how to respond can feel overwhelming.

But there are ways to gently break through that isolation and rebuild connection, which is the bridge to recovery. With compassion, patience, and the right tools, you can help your teen feel less alone and more supported.

Here are six supportive strategies that can make a difference:
1️⃣ Offer a safe space for honest conversations
2️⃣ Listen and validate their feelings, even if you don’t fully understand
3️⃣ Be patient because healing does not happen overnight
4️⃣ Show warmth and presence in small, consistent ways
5️⃣ Notice and celebrate little steps forward
6️⃣ Don’t hesitate to reach out for professional support

You can read more about these six strategies in this insightful article: [https://shorturl.at/xK0hj]

Adolescents with ADHD and mood disorders often retreat behind walls of isolation. Break through with these six strategies.

15/08/2025

In the classroom and at home, behavioural challenges can leave parents and teachers feeling overwhelmed. Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) offers a proven, compassionate approach that focuses on teaching new skills and creating supportive environments where they can truly thrive. No blame or punishment, rather understanding, teaching, and lasting change.
Discover how PBS can bring lasting change for learners and families.
Read more: What is Positive Behavioural Support? https://shorturl.at/9G1kx

08/08/2025

𝟱 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗕𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱
➡Constant tiredness – even after proper rest
️➡Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
➡Irritability or sudden mood swings
➡Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed

When we are mentally exhausted, our minds can become trapped in destructive thought loops that further drain our energy. This is where BWRT® (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy®) can help. You don’t have to stay stuck in the cycle of exhaustion.
Learn more about BWRT® and how it can help at www.hanneliespies.co.za

01/08/2025

Emotion-driven responses like anger don’t just impact relationships, they also affect your long-term health. Through , we can interrupt those automatic patterns and create healthier, more constructive responses.

Your emotions don’t just stay in your head—they ripple through your body in powerful, measurable ways.

In fact, just 60 seconds of intense anger can suppress your immune system for several hours. That’s right: one outburst can leave you more susceptible to illness.

When you're angry, your body instantly shifts into high alert. Stress hormones like cortisol surge, heart rate spikes, and inflammatory signals flood your system. These responses may help in emergencies—but over time, they can seriously harm your health.

Chronic anger and unmanaged stress have been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, digestive issues, anxiety, and even certain cancers. According to a 2014 research published in Frontiers in Immunology, our emotional states and immune function are deeply connected. What affects your mind truly affects your body.

The upside? Simple habits like deep breathing, mindfulness, and exercise don’t just feel good—they actively support immune resilience. Taking care of your emotional health isn’t just self-care—it’s body care.

Follow Science Sphere for regular scientific updates

REFERENCE 📄
Samuel Brod et al, "‘As above, so below’ examining the interplay between emotion and the immune system", Immunology (2014)

29/07/2025

𝟱 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗕𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Teens (and adults) with ADHD are more likely to struggle with executive functioning, which is the brain's ability to plan, focus, and manage time. These challenges can affect everyday tasks, learning, and emotional wellbeing.

Here are 5 common signs:
1️⃣ Difficulty starting or finishing tasks
2️⃣ Disorganised thinking or environments
3️⃣ Trouble estimating how long something will take
4️⃣ Emotional ups and downs or impulsive reactions
5️⃣ Forgetting instructions or losing track of steps
These struggles aren’t about laziness or lack of motivation—they’re brain-based, and they can be supported with understanding and the right tools.

In my work, I help adolescents and their families uncover the underlying causes of the behaviours and offer practical strategies to build confidence, structure, and self-regulation over time.

23/07/2025

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆?
Many children and teens with ADHD face challenges in making and keeping friends, not because they don’t care, but because of difficulties with social executive function skills like perspective-taking, emotional regulation, and flexible thinking.

In this insightful article, you'll discover practical strategies to support your child in building stronger social connections.

Children and teens with ADHD may lose friends because of deficits in social executive function skills – the underlying processes that are involved in social skills ranging from perspective-taking to reciprocity and cognitive flexibility. Here, learn strategies that help them bolster these skills a...

15/07/2025

An insightful article by Terence Watts on the unique process of BWRT and how it doesn’t have to find its way past the hypothetical guardian of the mind, to remove emotive responses from memories.

Newer brain-based therapies like BWRT offer fast, lasting relief without needing to uncover or discuss painful past experiences.