Dr Tanya Marie Robinson BA Psych (SW) (Stell), MSD (UP), NEC (UNISA), AHS (UNISA), DPhil (Stell), PhD (NWU) (Pr.0154326) is the director of The Practice, a private practice that has operated for the last twelve years. Dr Robinson specialises in the field of therapeutic and forensic service delivery and specialises in the field of divorce related matters, sexual abuse matters and specialised children’s assessments and psycho-therapy. Doctor Robinson exclusively focuses on the following matters in the practice: Divorce Related Matters; Sexual Abuse Matters; Specialised Assessments of Children using play therapy techniques; Psycho-Therapy focussed on psycho-pathology in children and adult.  

DIVORCE RELATED MATTERS

Certain recurring themes emerge clearly from the literature on divorce. The main point is that reducing the level of conflict between the two parents is most strongly associated with the eventual adjustment of the children of all families, including the families of divorce. Mediation of conflicts and civil interaction between parents must be encouraged. Understanding children's reactions to the separation of their family and understanding what role the stage of child development plays in the reactions of children can help decrease the turmoil experienced by these families. Some children who are products of divorce are emotionally strained and their lives are seriously damaged by their parents' separation and pre and post-divorce conflict. Other children of divorce develop into normal, healthy adults who go on to reach the levels of success and mental well-being that every parent wishes for their children. Divorce can scar, but it does not have to.

SEXUAL ABUSE MATTERS

Child sexual abuse has been at the center of unprecedented public attention during the last decade. This crime encompasses different types of sexual activity, including voyeurism, sexual dialogue, fondling, touching of the genitals, vaginal, anal, or oral rape and forcing children to participate in pornography or prostitution. Perpetrators of child sexual abuse come from different age groups, genders, races and socio- economic backgrounds. Women sexually abuse children, although not as frequently as men, and juvenile perpetrators comprise as many as one-third of the offenders (Finkelhor, 1994). One common denominator is that victims frequently know and trust their abusers. Child abusers coerce children by offering attention or gifts, manipulating or threatening their victims, using aggression or employing a combination of these tactics.

SPECIALISED ASSESSMENTS OF CHILDREN

Assessments focused on the functioning of the child on an emotional and psychological level.  The exploration and assessment of family functioning, the child’s developmental position and how the child interacts on a socio-emotional level with regard to school/home.  Scaling’s on the child’s interpersonal feelings and position with regards to the self/family members/school individuals. 

Securing the wellbeing of children by protecting them from all forms of harm and ensuring their development needs are responded to appropriately, are primary aims within an assessment. Dr Robinson has developed a framework which provides a systematic way of analysing, understanding and recording what is happening to children and young people within their families and the wider context of the community in which they live. Dr Robinson is a qualified play therapist and obtained a Master’s Degree in Play Therapy at the University of Pretoria that makes her a qualified play therapist and a specialist in the field of pay therapy. 

PSYCHO-THERAPY

Dr Robinson takes in selective, specialized individual case matters with regard to psycho-pathology and uses psycho-behavioural therapeutic techniques when working with the client.   Psycho-behavioural therapeutic techniques can be very useful with children and with adults to address emotional distress and to empower the individual to build inner strength.   These therapeutic techniques can be used with children and adults that face emotional distress, families that face problems within their functioning and dynamics e.g. relationships, interaction, individual that is confronted with feelings of general dysfunction within society, individuals that struggle with sexual related problems, couples with marital problems, children and adults struggling with anxiety and depression, youth and adults with addiction related problems.