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Nollaig McSweeney DBT Therapist

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Nollaig McSweeney DBT Therapist

Providing behavioural therapy for children age 8+, adolescents and young adults.

Arrange a free 15min telephone consultation to explore if what I do may be a good fit for you or your child.

14/05/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the parents who came along to last night’s Supporting Regulation talk.

The room was full of thoughtful discussion, reflection, honesty and humour.

We explored behaviour as communication, what may sit underneath behaviour and overwhelm, and the importance of both connection and boundaries.

Thank you for the openness and engagement throughout the evening, and for the lovely feedback afterwards. It was deeply appreciated.

More talks to come...

12/05/2026

Final preparations for tomorrow evening’s Supporting Regulation talk.

Looking forward to a thoughtful evening of reflection and practical ideas.

11/05/2026

A few places remain for Wednesday evening’s Supporting Regulation talk.

This session is for parents and caregivers who want a deeper understanding of regulation, behaviour, boundaries and emotional overwhelm, with practical, realistic strategies you can actually use at home.

📍 O’Donovan’s Hotel
🕖 Wednesday 13th, 7:15pm–9pm

Message me on 0874344621 if you’d like to join us.

06/05/2026

After the last parent talk, one parent wrote:
“I know what to do… but I can’t always do it in the moment.”

Another shared:
“It’s not that they won’t… they can’t.”

And another appreciated the:
“Very down to earth approach.”

So many parents are trying their absolute best while dealing with overwhelm, explosive moments, anxiety, shutdown, conflict and the guilt that often follows.

This next session, Supporting Regulation, is designed to help parents better understand what’s happening underneath behaviour, while also offering practical, realistic strategies that can actually be used in everyday family life.

We’ll explore:
• why children struggle when overwhelmed
• the connection between the brain, body and behaviour
• co-regulation and self-regulation
• and practical ways to respond without escalating situations further

Importantly, this is not about perfect parenting.
As one parent reflected:
“I felt reassured that as parents we are human too.”

📍 O'Donovan's Hotel
📅 Wed 13th May
⏰ 7:15 - 9pm

Only 4 places remaining.

Message me on 0874344621 if you’d like one.

27/04/2026

A few days in West Cork.

Just walking, noticing, slowing things down.

It’s easy to get caught in our heads, thinking, analysing, planning, trying to make sense of everything.

The sights and sounds in nature settle the body.

Anseo.

"Landscape has a secret and silent memory, a narrative of presence where nothing is ever lost or forgotten..." John O’Donohue

20/04/2026

A number of parents asked for a follow-up after the last talk, focused on what to actually do in the moment.

I’ve planned another session:

Supporting Regulation
A talk for parents

Wednesday 13th May
7:15–9:00pm
O’Donovan’s Hotel, Clonakilty

This session will focus on simple, realistic ways to support your child when emotions run high.

There are 20 places in total and 12 are now booked.

€20 | Booking essential

Text me on 087 434 4621 to book a place.

14/04/2026

I was revisiting this today from Rosalind Wiseman’s Queen Bees and Wannabes.

First published in 2002, so parts feel a little dated.
But the core patterns still hold.

A simple question:
→ What are your rights in a friendship?

Not in a dramatic or confrontational way.

But in a steady, grounded way.

To be treated with:
• respect
• honesty
• kindness

And just as importantly:
→ What are your responsibilities?

Because friendships aren’t just about being liked.
They’re about how we contribute.

Many teenage girls know something feels off
…but they don’t have a framework to make sense of it.

So they tolerate
adapt
over-accommodate
or stay silent

Not because they’re weak
but because they’re trying to belong.

It also reflects how girls are often socialised to keep the peace, even when it costs them.

Sometimes the most helpful thing parents, teachers and therapists can offer is not a solution…

…but a way to make sense of what is happening.

It’s not always “drama”.

Often, it’s a complex social system, with long-established, unwitten rules... and very real stakes!

27/03/2026

The Understanding Regulation Talk raised €300 for West Cork Rapid Response which has now been lodged.
Additional donations were also made via QR code on the night, thank you to everyone who contributed.

A sincere thank you to Dena at O' Donovan's Hotel, Clonakilty for providing the room, tea and coffee. Her generosity, especially at a difficult time, was deeply appreciated.
Thank you also to Robin, Maria and Keith.

A full room, great questions, and a very engaged group of parents. The level of interest in further talks has been huge.
I’ll be sharing details soon.

If you’d like to be informed about future talks, feel free to message me.

Image is from a beautiful card by Shauna Grá.

26/03/2026

Full room. Extra chairs required!

We had 20 parents booked in… and 30 arrived.

Thank you to everyone who came, listened, and shared so openly.

One of the biggest things that came through in the feedback wasn’t just that it was informative…
it was that parents felt reassured.

That knowing what to do and being able to do it in the moment are two very different things.

Together we raised €300 for West Cork Rapid Response, thank you for your generosity.

We'll be running another date soon.

If you’d like to hear about it, you can message me with your email.

18/03/2026

Really looking forward to our fully booked Understanding Regulation talk next Wednesday.

I’ve been reading through the responses from parents and there are some very common themes emerging…
big emotions, difficulty calming, school stress, and a lot of uncertainty about what support is available.

All proceeds going to West Cork Rapid Response

If you’d like to be added to the cancellation waitlist feel free to message me.

15/03/2026

Mother's Day is not the same experience for everyone.

For some, it is a beautiful day.
For others, it is a painful one.

Today I’m thinking of those who carry mixed feelings about today.

Address

Clonakilty
P85PH22

Telephone

+353874344621

Website

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