Elsa Struwig Centre for Trauma and Play Therapy

Elsa Struwig Centre for Trauma and Play Therapy Trauma and Play Therapy “Play is a child’s work and not a trivial pursuit” – Adolf Adler

Welcome to the wonderful world of therapy!

Therapy is an investment that enriches and enhances quality of life that has been altered by different variables for example trauma (e.g. medical procedures, violence and abuse), loss, change or any other psychosocial difficulty. Signs and behaviour that might indicate a need for therapy:
• Excessive anger, worry, sadness or fear
• Aggressive behaviour (hurting others, self or animals, verbal outb

ursts)
• Separation anxiety
• Excessive shyness
• Behavioural regression
• Low self esteem
• School-related problems (learning- or social problems)
• Altered sleeping or eating patterns
• Preoccupation with sexual behaviour
• Difficulty adjusting to family changes
• Physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches that have no medical cause
• Bedwetting or soiling
• Isolation

It is very important for us to share our knowledge in regards to therapeutic tools, interventions and related topics with parents, other health professionals and teachers. We are currently presenting a series of workshops on play therapy tools in collaboration with Vista Clinic.

14/08/2026

A child who talks freely at home but becomes unable to speak at school isn’t being rude, stubborn or choosing not to communicate.

Situational Mutism is driven by anxiety. In certain environments, the pressure to speak can become so overwhelming that the words simply won’t come — even when the child desperately wants to talk.

Understanding this changes how we respond.

Less pressure. More patience. Alternative ways to communicate. And time to build safety and confidence at the child’s pace.

Save this post as a useful reference or share it with someone supporting a child who finds speaking difficult in certain situations.

17/07/2026

‘n Geleentheid van ‘n leeftyd wag op jou!

Droom jy daarvan om ‘n onderwyser te word? Jou droom kan nou ‘n werklikheid word!

Aros se Prestigeonderwys-studiebeurs 2027 bied aan drie top presterende Afrikaanse studente die geleentheid om hul BEd-graad, wat oor vier jaar strek, ter waarde van R250 000 kosteloos te voltooi.

Die beurs dek die volgende uitgawes:

✅ alle studiegeld
✅ registrasiegeld
✅ voorgeskrewe handboeke

As jy in 2026 ‘n graad 12-leerder is (of indien jy jonger as 21 is en reeds matriek voltooi het) en ‘n gemiddeld van 70% of hoër behaal het, is dít jou kans!

Moenie hierdie geleentheid van ‘n leeftyd misloop nie! Kom maak jou merk as die onderwyser wat die volgende geslag gaan inspireer.

Aansoeke open op Dinsdag 21 Julie 2026. Hou sosiale media dop vir meer inligting.

16/07/2026

We are

We have 2 Social Worker positions available.

1 half day
1 fulltime

Please email us, if you meet the requirements.

16/07/2026

The ATM's call for Parliament to investigate fathers' access to their children has reopened a much bigger debate: a family justice system where custody and maintenance disputes can drag on for years, leaving children caught in the middle.

28/05/2026

𝐕𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄: 𝐎𝐏𝐕𝐎𝐄𝐃𝐊𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐊𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒
𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐒𝐊𝐀𝐏 𝐇𝐔𝐋𝐏𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐌-𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 - 𝟏 𝐉𝐀𝐀𝐑 𝐊𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐊

Word deel van ons Tygie-span!

www.tygies.co.za

30/04/2026

Children’s anxiety is real. It is not “just a phase” and it is not something they can simply switch off. When a child gets stuck in worry, their brain is trying to keep them safe - but it can become overwhelming very quickly. The same “what if” thoughts repeat, the body reacts, and everything starts to feel more and more real.

What we often see on the outside - constant questions, avoidance, meltdowns, needing reassurance - is a child doing their best to cope with something that feels scary and out of control.

The difficult part is this. When anxiety takes over, our natural instinct as adults is to reassure, fix or remove the fear. Sometimes that helps in the moment, but it does not always help the child feel stronger long term. Real support is about helping children feel safe while also learning they can handle worry, face uncertainty and build confidence over time.

This is not about ignoring anxiety. It is about understanding it, responding with care, and giving children the tools they need so it does not control their lives.

Free THE WORRY LOOP IN CHILDREN: UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY CYCLES POSTER

LIKE the photo and comment "LOOP" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

31/03/2026
28/03/2026

👇 Get the parenting and mental health advice from the world renowned experts you can trust. Type PODCAST below to get a link to listen to our top ranked podcast; or type YOUTUBE to watch it there!👇

💕 Childhood memories usually aren’t about the big things. They’re about the feeling of growing up with you.

Years from now, children won’t remember whether the house was perfect or every moment went smoothly. What often stays with them are the emotional experiences that shaped their sense of safety and belonging.

-> Did I feel safe?
-> Did someone listen to me?
-> Was I comforted when I was overwhelmed?
-> Did we laugh and play together?

Children build their understanding of the world through everyday moments — how we respond when they struggle and how they felt in our presence.

✨ It’s not perfection that shapes childhood memories. It’s connection and the feeling of home.

MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST

🎙️Learn more about how to help your child thrive in today’s world; subscribe to THE CHILD PSYCH PODCAST hosted by our co-founders, Tammy Schamuhn & Tania Johnson.

🎙️ This podcast brings you the top parenting & children’s mental health experts in the world. We will educate and inspire you with the most current research & strategies to help foster emotional resiliency & healing in your child or the children you work with.

🎙️Most importantly, we’re here because we need to raise a generation of children who don’t need to recover from their childhoods.

Address

609 Genl Louis Botha Drive, Constancia Park
Pretoria
0010

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Elsa Struwig Centre for Trauma and Play Therapy 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