Janet Bytheway Psychologist

16/09/2026

WHAT’S JANET READING?

I’ve just finished Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott.

What a delightful romp through the challenges writers , and, actually, most of us - face when trying to do something we love.

I particularly loved Lamott’s brutal honesty about the insecurities that come with writing. The self-doubt, the fear of not being good enough, the procrastination, and the inevitable moments of wondering, “What on earth am I doing?”

And then there’s her wonderfully offbeat sense of humour, which makes even the difficult bits feel lighter.

Perhaps the biggest lesson I’m taking away is that you don’t have to tackle the whole mountain at once.

Bird by bird. One little piece at a time.

A lovely read for anyone who writes — or anyone who is trying to make something meaningful out of their life.

16/09/2026

15/09/2026

CO-PARENTING THROUGH THE EYES OF THE CHILD
for Professionals

Join me

WHEN Thurs 17 Sept 6-8pm
WHERE online
COST R700

Register www.janetbytheway.co.za

Applied for 2 CPD points from HPCSA

14/09/2026

Calling Professionals who work with children or divorcing/divorced or separating/ separated families.

Join me for Chaos to Calm: Co-parenting through the eyes of the child.

WHEN : 17 September 6-8pm
WHERE : online
COST : R700

Applied for 2 HPCSA CPD points

Register www.janetbytheway.co.za

12/09/2026

WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED?
Today I did the Gun Run 10km.

When I ran my first 5 km, I honestly thought I might die.

I’ll never forget running the Two Oceans 5 km Fun Run with me. It was at UCT. Those hills! And I was in my late 40s, wondering what on earth I was doing.

Then Mandy Knaap Physiotherapy mandyknaapphysio
and I started doing 5 km fun runs together.

After a while, we decided we needed to escape the congestion of the 5 km races… so we entered a 10 km.

Joh. It was hard.

But somehow, 10 km became our thing. They’re still hard, but they’re doable. And every now and then I have to remind myself that this is the same person who once thought 5 km was probably going to kill her.

And now?

We’re going to try a 21 km half marathon in Blouberg on 4 October.

I’m not sure exactly how this is going to go, but I’ve learned something along the way:

Sometimes the thing that feels completely impossible is just the thing you haven’t done yet.

As Nelson Mandela famously said:

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

So… here we go.

11/09/2026

YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE WIND — BUT YOU CAN ADJUST YOUR SAILS.

This is one of the ideas at the heart of Chaos to Calm: Strategies for Co-Parenting in High-Conflict Situations.

You may not be able to stop the other parent from behaving in unhelpful, provocative, or difficult ways.

You can't control what they say. You can't control how they behave. You can't control whether they try to press your buttons.

But you can learn to change how YOU respond.

You can learn to recognise what happens in your own nervous system when conflict starts. You can learn to step out of the cycle of reacting.

You can learn to communicate in ways that protect you rather than expose you to unnecessary conflict.

And importantly, setting boundaries doesn't mean you have to keep exposing yourself to abuse or manipulation.

The aim isn't to change the other parent.

It's to change what YOU can control - your responses, your boundaries, and the way you protect your own emotional well-being.

You can't always change the wind.
But you can learn to adjust your sails.

Next Chaos to Calm for PARENTS on 22 October Book www.janetbytheway.co.za

Thanks to for permission to use this image.

10/09/2026

CHAOS TO CALM: CO-PARENTING THROUGH THE EYES OF THE CHILD for PROFESIONALS

Join me next week online to look at co-parenting through the eyes of the child.

WHEN 17 September 6-8pm
WHERE : online
COST : R700
REGISTER: www.janetbytheway.co.za

Next Chaos to Calm for Parents on 22 October to register www.janetbytheway.co.za

09/09/2026

CHAOS TO CALM: Co-parentingThrough the Child’s Eyes

A workshop FOR PROFESSIONALS working with separated and divorced families.

We spend a lot of time trying to understand the conflict between parents.

But what does the conflict feel like for the child?

This workshop focuses on shifting the lens from the adults’ conflict to the child’s experience, and considering how we, as professionals, can support children and parents in ways that promote emotional safety, resilience and healthy relationships.

We’ll explore:

- The impact of high-conflict co-parenting on children
- Signs that a child may be struggling
- What children need most during separation and divorce
- Practical ways to support their emotional wellbeing
- Behaviours that help children feel safe and secure
- Behaviours that can place children in the middle of conflict
- How to support a child’s relationship with both parents

The aim is to help shift the focus to:

What does this child need from the adults around them?

This workshop is designed for psychologists, social workers, counsellors, mediators, attorneys, and other professionals working with children and families experiencing separation and divorce.

WHEN : 17 September 6-8PM
WHERE : Online
COST : R700

Book your place via my website
https://janetbytheway.co.za

NEXT WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS:
Chaos to Calm: Strategies for co-parenting in high-conflict situations
on 22 October 6-8pm online. Booking on website www.janetbytheway.co.za

07/09/2026

MEET OUR DRAGON BRAIN BUDDIES

Delightful fidget toy and accompaniment to reading of Training YOUR DRAGON BRAIN. OR just something concrete to hold onto to remind you of when your dragon brain starts roaring. I have one next to me when I am doing therapy. It's a helpful and fun reminder of when our dragon brain starting taking over!

So whether you are co-parenting or just parenting, consider a DRAGON BRAIN BUDDY

COST R195 for single colour and R220 for multicolour metallic.

Get yours from. https://janetbytheway.co.za/store

03/09/2026

CHAOS TO CALM: CO-PARENTING THROUGH THE CHILD'S EYES

ARE YOU A MENTAL HEALTH or LEGAL PROFESSIONAL WORKING WITH FAMILIES GOING THROUGH DIVORCE OR SEPARATION?

Then you might want to join me on to consider co-parenting through the eyes of the child.

WHEN : 17 September 6-8pm
WHERE: online
COST : R700 (have applied for CPD accreditation)

Register on www.janetbytheway.co.za