DOMINIQUE TALEBLI runs Tapestry, a counselling and family therapy business in Hong Kong, including counselling and parent workshops at Matilda Hospital. We ask Dominique 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 parent 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.
I began Tapestry after having previously worked as a full-time counsellor. With the arrival of our son, six years in waiting, I wanted to combine devoting my time as a mum to both of my children with continuing to work in the field I enjoy so much and feel passionate about.
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.
When it comes to family therapy and counselling in Hong Kong, what do you offer at 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.
Who can benefit from your counselling?
My counselling services are for everyone across the lifespan: for children, I offer play-based interventions adapted to their individual, developmental and emotional needs. I also support parents individually and in group and couples workshops in the area of attachment and other topics.
You also run counselling and parent workshops at Matilda – tell us about those.
Yes, I’ve recently started working with Matilda International Hospital, providing counselling and parent workshops at both Matilda Hospital at The Peak and their Central clinic. These include sessions on attachment and developing a secure bond with your baby. The age of zero to three years is the most crucial in human development, so it’s helpful to support parents to feel equipped in their parenting, offering pointers on the ways to improve their bond with their baby.
My doctorate is in infancy and early childhood development, and I feel strongly about sharing knowledge and expertise with parents and families, and enhancing the connection between caregivers and their babies. I’m really delighted to be at Matilda – their dedication and level of care is second to none.
Want to find out more about child development or family therapy or counselling in Hong Kong? Visit tapestry.com.hk, call 9247 0850 or email info@tapestry.com.hk
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