Melissa

Mrs Melissa Ridgway

Educational Psychologist

“I am an experienced educational psychologist and passionate about assisting children and adolescents with barriers to learning.”

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About Me

As an experienced educational psychologist, I am passionate about assisting children and adolescents facing learning barriers. I aim to uncover their unique strengths, helping them develop effective strategies for academic and emotional growth. We work collaboratively to make sense of challenges, transforming obstacles into opportunities for confidence. My approach offers practical tools and clear guidance. I support young people to thrive, and families to navigate their educational journey with clarity.

Approach

I guide sessions at each young person's pace, blending playful activities, structured tasks and gentle conversation to make sense of learning differences and emotional reactions. From my Cape Town practice I offer English and Afrikaans sessions and regularly involve caregivers and schools so recommendations fit daily routines. Short assessments, observation and collaborative goal-setting lead to simple, rehearsal-based strategies we try in session and at home, with clear steps between appointments. This approach suits children, adolescents and parents who want practical, confidence-building progress.
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Basic Information

In-person

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Services

Services Offered:

  • Child Psych & Diagnostic Assessment

    Formal assessment of a child's psychological, cognitive, or emotional functioning to identify conditions and guide appropriate support.

  • Intellectual Psych & Diagnostic Assessment

    Formal testing to evaluate intellectual ability and cognitive functioning, often used for educational planning or diagnosis.

  • Child / Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy for children and teenagers using age-appropriate methods, such as play, art, or adapted talk therapy, to address emotional and behavioural difficulties.

    Learn more about Child / Adolescent Therapy
  • Play Therapy

    A therapy for children that uses play as a natural form of communication, allowing them to express feelings and process difficult experiences.

    Learn more about Play Therapy
  • Psychoeducation

    Structured information provided about a mental health condition (what it is, why it occurs, and what strategies can help) as part of the therapeutic process.

    Learn more about Psychoeducation
  • Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy designed for teenagers, using age-appropriate methods to address issues like anxiety, identity, peer pressure, and family conflict.

    Learn more about Adolescent Therapy

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Children
  • Parents

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy designed for teenagers, using age-appropriate methods to address issues like anxiety, identity, peer pressure, and family conflict.

    Learn more about Adolescent Therapy
  • Autism (ASD)

    A neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication, sensory processing, and behaviour patterns, with a wide range of presentations and strengths.

  • Career Issues

    Work-related difficulties such as chronic dissatisfaction, conflict, burnout, uncertainty about direction, or the stress of career change.

  • Child Psych & Diagnostic Assessment

    Formal assessment of a child's psychological, cognitive, or emotional functioning to identify conditions and guide appropriate support.

  • Child Behaviour

    Behavioural difficulties in children, such as tantrums, aggression, withdrawal, or defiance, that signal emotional distress or developmental needs.

  • Mood Disorder

    A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.

    Learn more about Mood Disorder
  • Learning or Development Difficulties

    Conditions that affect a person's ability to acquire, process, or apply information, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or intellectual disability, impacting education and daily life.

  • Parenting Support

    Guidance for the psychological challenges of raising children, including discipline, communication, co-parenting, and managing the emotional demands of parenthood.

Professional Title:

  • Educational Psychologist

    A psychologist specialising in learning, development, and educational needs of children, adolescents, and young adults.

Service Areas

Melissa Ridgway

In-person

Melkbosstrand

Cape Town, Western Cape

South Africa

Melkbosstrand, Cape Town, South Africa