Photo of Tamara-lee Lewus
Tamara-lee Lewus Verified
Play Therapist, Psychotherapist, MEd
Telehealth Available
Tamara-lee Lewus
Credentials
Type of Therapist:
Play Therapist, Psychotherapist
Primary Degree(s):
MEd
Finances
Average Cost Per Session:
350-500 NIS
Insurance:
None
Discounts Available:
Sliding Scale
Licensed Abroad
Licensed Abroad (not USA)
Office
  • Ra'anana
  • Ra'anana
Telehealth Available
Office
  • Ra'anana
  • Ra'anana

Tamara-lee Lewus Verified Verified

Credentials
Type of Therapist:

Play Therapist, Psychotherapist

Primary Degree(s):

MEd

Finances
Average Cost Per Session:

350-500 NIS

Insurance:

None

Discounts Available:

Sliding Scale

Licensed Abroad
Licensed Abroad (not USA)

ABOUT THE THERAPIST

Play is the Work of Children! Play is to children what work is to adults. It serves as an essential vehicle for emotional and psychological development, offering children a key means of expression and exploration. Beyond mere amusement, play fosters creativity, builds social skills, and encourages problem-solving abilities. It allows children to navigate their feelings, develop resilience, and establish connections with others, making it a foundational aspect of their growth and healing.

My Approach to Helping:

I am a licensed Psychologist (in South Africa), with over 20 years of experience dedicated to helping children and their families navigate a wide array of challenges in their daily lives. Currently, I have a private practice in Ra'anana, where I specialize in play therapy and psychotherapy for children and adolescents. In addition to my work with young clients, I also provide support and guidance to parents and caregivers, empowering them to foster emotional well-being and resilience within their families. My approach is rooted in compassion and understanding, ensuring that each child and family receives tailored care to meet their unique needs.

Specific Issues I'm Skilled at Helping With:

I have a particular interest in working with young children from the age of 3, who may be experiencing adjustment difficulties, as well as a range of developmental and/or functional concerns. My approach is tailored to address the unique challenges faced by this age group, helping them navigate transitions and develop essential skills for emotional and social well-being. Through supportive and engaging interventions, I strive to create a safe space for children to express themselves, explore their feelings, and build resilience during critical stages of their development.

My Role as a Therapist:

As a Psychotherapist and Play Therapist, I take on the roles of observer, facilitator, and supporter, guiding children in understanding and expressing their thoughts and feelings. I help them navigate and cope with life stressors within a safe and nurturing therapeutic environment. By fostering a supportive atmosphere, I empower children to explore their emotions, build resilience, and develop effective coping strategies, ultimately enhancing their emotional and psychological well-being.

Additional Information About my Practice:

I utilize an eclectic approach to therapy, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. While my overall framework is primarily based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I incorporate various therapeutic modalities as necessary. This allows me to provide short-term, goal-oriented interventions that are both effective and responsive to the specific challenges faced by my clients. My aim is to equip children with practical tools and strategies that foster positive change and promote lasting growth.

QUALIFICATIONS

Degree
Education
Year of Graduation

MEd

University of the Witwatersrand

2002


Degree
MEd

Education
University of the Witwatersrand

Year of Graduation
2002
Years in Practice

23

LICENSED ABROAD
License Category
License Number / State
Psychologist
PS 0077283 - South Africa

License Category
Psychologist
License Number
PS 0077283 - South Africa
Learn more about GHI's verification of therapists here.

DISTANCE COUNSELING

Online Therapy

PRIMARY SPECIALTIES

Adjustments

Anxiety / Panic

Behavioral Concerns In Children

Psychosomatic Disorders

Self-Esteem

ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES

Anger Management

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Conduct Disorder

Depression

Family Issues

Grief

Life Transitions

Mood Disorders

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Parenting Issues / Training

Phobias

CLIENT FOCUS

Population

Children

Languages Spoken

English

TREATMENT APPROACH

Art TherapyArt therapy has clients express themselves through creative mediums such as drawing, painting, collage, coloring, or sculpting. Clients can interpret their subconscious world that is expressed in their art which could lead to a better understanding of their feelings and behavior. Artistic talent is not a prerequisite for art therapy as it’s not as much about the end result as much as it is about the process. The therapist looks for meaning in the creative choices of the work and the clients’ inner world. This therapeutic method enables clients to express their inner thoughts and feelings through creative expression rather than just talking about them.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on how one's thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected and can be changed. It is based on the idea that how we think (cognition) and how we feel (emotion) can influence how we behave. CBT helps people identify and challenge distorted thinking and replace it with more balanced thinking, leading to improved mood and behavior. ‘Homework’, usually containing practical writing exercises, is often completed by the client between sessions to reinforce the therapy. Examples of tools that practitioners often use are journaling, challenging beliefs, and mindfulness.

Play TherapyPlay therapy is an evidence-based, developmentally appropriate form of intervention used to facilitate emotional, cognitive, and social growth in children. Play therapy is based on the premise that play is the child's natural medium of self-expression and can be used to assess and help a child work through difficult emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. The goal of play therapy is to help children develop the skills and abilities to navigate life stressors, and build self-esteem. During treatment, the therapist creates a comfortable, safe environment (a playroom) for the child to play with as few limits as possible. The toys in the playroom are intended to encourage the child to express his or her feelings and develop healthier behaviors. The child’s “play” with these toys serve as the child’s symbolic words, which may be difficult to express otherwise.

Sandplay TherapySandplay therapy is a form of psychotherapy that is based on Jungian psychology and is used to help children and adults explore their inner world using symbols and metaphors. It is a form of non-directive play therapy in which participants create a “sandbox” in which they construct three-dimensional scenes using tiny figurines and sand. Sandplay therapy is an effective form of therapy that helps clients explore their inner world, gain insight, and develop creative solutions to their problems. Sandplay therapy allows a person to construct their own microcosm using miniature toys and sand. What’s created acts as a reflection of the person’s own life and allows them the opportunity to resolve conflicts, identify and remove obstacles, and gain acceptance of self.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based practice used to help children, adolescents and their parents who have experienced a single or multiple traumatic events. This type of therapy combines cognitive and behavioral strategies to help people process their traumatic experiences, manage their distress, develop coping skills, and restore their sense of safety and well-being. TF-CBT focuses on education and skill-building, creating an environment of safety and trust, and using therapeutic activities to help people understand their responses and control their symptoms. Children are shown how perceptions may be distorted and are given the tools to redesign those perceptions. TF-CBT is a skills-based model, and it requires the child and parent to practice its components in order to be optimally effective. Parents and children are commonly asked to practice skills at home.

SERVICES OFFERED

Individual Therapy
Consultation
Hadrachat Horim