DOMINIQUE TALEBLI runs a counselling and family therapy business in Hong Kong called Tapestry. We ask her about guiding parents, kids and families through different stages of life and child development — plus tips to get your kids away from the screen!
Tell us a bit about yourself and your interest in family therapy and child development.
I’m a mother of two and a trained counsellor, currently studying for my PhD in Childhood Development. My passion has always been in psychology and understanding people; I have an empathetic drive to help others, and I tap into this by thinking about how I would feel in the same situation. The pivotal moment for me in terms of going full-time into this field was the birth of my daughter (now six).
I enjoy working with children, teenagers and families across the whole lifespan. Although counselling can take place on an individual basis, it often involves the whole family, with all members feeling concerned or supportive as they process what’s happening within their family dynamic. All families can go through moments of fragility, and sometimes they just need a touch of support to reconnect again.
How important is it for parents to prioritise play time with kids?
As parents, our day-to-day lives are probably the busiest they’ve ever been, with the endless “to do lists” and the aspirations we have for our children’s futures. While this can be born out of genuine love and wanting the best for them, my question is always, what is your child going through now? What kind of person will they be when they arrive at their destination?
There’s no harm in slowing down and easing off the pressure. If you cast your mind back to when you were a kid, what did you want to do? Be free, run around, come up with imaginative concepts – to play and be happy.
While technology and the pace of life have moved on, children’s psychology has not. It’s still this freedom that promotes positive mental health and a well-rounded resilient and confident social child. Children want to spend time with their parents and feel secure to be themselves.
That said, I appreciate it’s important to meet somewhere in the middle. Maybe you can do this by introducing a “free day” over the weekend, with no agenda or devices. Even if it ends up being a picnic on the living room floor, if that’s what they want to do, that’s fine. These will be the happy memories they’ll call upon to provide a buffer later in life when they face challenges.
Kids love technology, but too much can be a bad thing. What should parents do?
When schools are encouraging more learning on devices and when there is peer pressure for kids to connect on social platforms, it’s easy for parents to feel their children might be missing out. As far as possible, though, you should stand firm and do what’s best for your family. If you feel that evenings and weekends should involve more detox from devices, it’s within your realm to encourage this. Striking a balance is important, and the outcome is better psychological health for our children.
About family therapy in Hong Kong with Tapestry
Tapestry provides support for families facing issues such as learning difficulties, parental separation, challenging teens and empty-nest syndrome. It employs a range of therapeutic processes and strategies, from Art Therapy to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and – for younger clients – a well-established approach called Integrative Play Therapy. This uses creativity to allow children to make sense of their world and share what could be creating distressing emotions. Junior to teenage clients, meanwhile, are exposed to a wider range of counselling modalities, allowing them to talk through problems.
Across all therapeutic interventions, Tapestry tailors its approach to be global, integrative and multidisciplinary, taking into account the developmental, social and cultural dimensions of each situation.
Want to find out more about child development or family therapy in Hong Kong at Tapestry? Visit tapestry.com.hk, call 9247 0850 or email info@tapestry.com.hk
Looking for things to do with your family? Have a look in our Kids section!
