Map & Compass Neuro-Developmental Therapy

12/01/2026

Teachers! 🍎

The INPP UK trainer, Pauline Shannon, is coming to Derry to do a training day for educators on Saturday, 21st February.

I can’t recommend this training enough.

This is your opportunity to do something in your own classroom that could make a difference to the foundations of your students nervous systems.

If you are tired of “sticking plaster/band-aid” initiatives that never get to the underlying physical factors affecting the children you teach…. This is for you.

Not every child can access private clinical Neurodevelopmental Therapy… but this is your chance to offer a school programme that every child can access. It’s the future of education and you can be a part of it now. Tell your principal. Tell your colleagues.
This is news worth spreading!

But don’t delay because it’s coming up soon now. Book your place right away.

https://bookwhen.com/inpp-uk/e/ev-sqmg-20260221100000

12/01/2026

This is genuinely important for child development and a very welcome post from ITV News

For a look at further information as requested to flesh this out this blog post may be helpful:

https://www.mapandcompasstherapy.com/post/so-i-m-often-asked-about-screen-time

09/01/2026

This is such a great look into the beautiful work of Play Therapy

I love to hear the way Eileen explains play therapy and how it can be a help for kids struggling emotionally.

Supporting kids who are finding life harder than it should be is rarely one-size-fits-all. One of my joys at Map & Compass Neuro-Developmental Therapy is to refer to other therapists when I feel it will be a good fit and a right next step for your child. “It takes a village!” Finding your support circle of therapists/clinicians is so key and I highly recommend the Play Therapists at Waymaker Child Therapy

Thank you Eden Consultancy NI for highlighting the exceptional work of therapists, clinicians and charities providing support for families across Northern Ireland.

05/01/2026

Such a great blog post explaining a mother’s story and experience with her son.

A reflective personal story about discovering INPP and reflex integration after a child struggled with dyslexia, exhaustion, and school pressures — and how this experience shaped a career dedicated to helping others through INPP.

05/01/2026

Some children seem constantly “on alert”. They may struggle to calm after upset, react strongly to stress, or find everyday situations overwhelming. When this happens, the nervous system is often working much harder than it should.

As Dr Tony Ebel explains, the vagus nerve plays a key role in helping the body feel safe, settled and regulated. If the vagus nerve isn’t functioning as well as it could, children may find it harder to switch out of stress mode, even when nothing threatening is happening.

Sometimes early experiences such as birth stress or physical tension in the body can interfere with how this system develops.

When the vagus nerve isn’t fully supported, it can show up as:
• big emotional reactions
• difficulty settling after upset
• sensory overload
• restlessness
• digestive discomfort

Understanding the nervous system can help shift the way we see behaviour. Instead of assuming a child is being difficult, we can begin to explore what their body may be asking for and how to support it gently and calmly.
(Ref: Dr Tony Ebel)

04/01/2026

Hearing and how it shapes your brain.

31/12/2025

Struggling with sports isn't always about lack of interest or coordination. Difficulty with skills like kicking can indicate that fundamental physical abilities aren't fully developed.

These include:
- Static balance (staying steady on one foot)
- Bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together)
- Cross-body movements (coordinating opposite arm and leg)
- Core stability (maintaining a strong centre while moving limbs)

These foundational skills are crucial for more advanced physical activities, from sports to everyday tasks. Addressing these early can boost overall physical competence so if oyu notice your child might be finding they are experiencing some of these issues then please just get in touch for a chat.

30/12/2025

Are you taking some moments to reflect in these in-between days at the end of the year?

If you are looking towards a fresh approach towards helping your child….

Have you considered Neurodevelopmental Therapy?

What if 2026 is your year to truly have a look at what could be going on for them under the surface?

This may be a helpful read to give you some insight in that direction and what you can do going forwards.

2026 can be your year to set your course towards HOPE.

Looking through a Neurodevelopmental “lens” means seeing “beneath the surface.” Guest contribution for the Eden Consultancy newsletter

19/12/2025

Progress doesn’t always happen overnight, but steady change during the course of the INPP programme can completely reshape a child’s confidence. This parent’s words say it far better than we can.

“Last year, she was deemed unable to manage any assessment. Yesterday she completed a maths assessment and said the first half was easy and the second half was difficult, but she wasn’t phased by that.”