Lisa O Sullivan Counselling & Psychotherapy

13/06/2025

Our child and adolescent psychotherapist, Molly Redmond, has raised growing concerns about the number of young people using our service who are engaging in self-harm and expressing suicidal thoughts.

She notes that excessive mobile phone and device use appears to be a significant contributing factor, with school attendance also suffering as a result.

To support parents, we’ve created a practical guide that highlights the risks linked to device use and how to respond effectively.
Please remember: any threat of su***de or self-harm should always be taken seriously.

You’ll find the link to the guide in the comments.

08/01/2025

SCHOOL-BASED ANXIETY
Tuesday 21 January 7.00pm
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rELQTecBTX2WSKTDoB5aLw
Is your child or teenager struggling to return to school after Christmas? All the reassuring not really working? This webinar will be helpful...😊
Many young people manage the first term of school, with some level of anxiety and difficulty. However, after an extended period of time in the comfort and familiarity of home, anxiety heightens and many children and teens feel overwhelmed at the thought of having to return to school. It can take until nearly the end of the first week until they are able to make their way in. For some, however, they simply do not have the resources to attend at all and there have been some meltdowns in your home over the past number of days. This second term becomes a slippery slope into full-blown school avoidance. Anxious young people are often struggling to navigate peer friendships. They exhibit all manner of anxiety symptoms including panic attacks, OCD, rigid eating and exercise patterns, overthinking and dreading the future. They sometimes place unbelievably high expectations on themselves and, as a result, live with tremendous pressure. The stress creates a body response as many also endure such symptoms as GI tract issues, skin disorders, stress headaches etc.
Parenting has become an incredibly complex task. Intuitive parenting skills and breathing techniques may help momentarily, however, they typically don’t resolve the underlying problems of relentless anxiety or how to address the negativity, self-doubt and feelings of not being good enough.
Join Bronagh Starrs, internationally renowned psychotherapist and mental wellbeing consultant for this evening talk for parents. Participants will gain an indepth understanding of the dynamics of anxious presentation in childhood and adolescence, illuminating the mindset of the anxious young person. A trove of effective parenting strategies will be presented. 😊
PLEASE SHARE FOLKS 🙂🙂🙂

01/10/2024

02/05/2024

The most commonly asked Questions by Parents at Consultations for their Adolescent

1. Did I say the right thing?

This is usually asked when parents describe a response they have to tricky feelings their teen has. You wouldn't believe how well even a 5 year old understands that his parents are trying their best. Saying the right thing is rare for us humans in times of stress.

Communicating that you're showing up for your child is what they feel more than what they hear you say.

2. Can you help him stop being anxious?

No is the short answer.
Do we adults grow out of being anxious? Show me an adult who never feels anxiety! The Psychotherapist is skilled in changing the relationship your child has to anxiety and reduce the frequency to which he experiences it.

3. Can you get her to talk about it?

Its understandable that parents want their teen to speak about what 'it' is but the therapist does not want to be another adult who is anxious for the teen to speak (and sometimes there's just no words). Speaking about what 'it' is, typically occurs just before the ending phase and always because the child feels ready. Premature intervention is more harmful than helpful usually. Waiting until they are ready, demonstrates a kind of calm acceptance that provides the teen with the space to reflect. We only have the words on reflection.

4. How should I implement consequences?

I've never met a teen who said they had learned a lesson and a new found respect for their parents because they had their phone taken off them. It escalates their anger and disconnects families. Parents are guided through conflict resolution through dynamics within the Parent Teen relationship. Compromise and Negotiation replace consequences. Reparative dialogue replace disconnect.

5. What have they been talking about in therapy?

I like to frame this answer through an adult lens. Imagine your partner created a therapy space for you by sending you to a therapist and telling you that this is your space to heal and speak of whatever you need to. Now imagine your partner and therapist speak over the phone regularly to discuss your progress and the therapist tells your partner your disclosures and your partner suggests themes for your therapist to focus on. You'd leave the therapy. Probably.

There are lots of ways that therapists can liaise with parents but trust and the sacredness of confidentiality is typically at the heart of movement.

6. What can I do?

Here are a few insights on what to do

Don't try to hard to fix it. When we do that, theres an underlying tone that we're not able to sit with the discomfort. Even though we dont intend it that way.

Explore the difference between attention and attunement - is my teen getting my attention (conversations, shopping trips, homework help, organisational help etc) or my attunement (listening without agenda or distraction, chatty walks and drives, asking questions about their quality world, tuning into emotions that may not be obvious).

Acknowledge that in adolescence, theres a lot of factors you do not have the control to change. So it becomes about supporting the teen through the challenges rather than managing the challenges in the way you might when they are younger.

Take a massive interest in their obsessions and passions. Huge.

In terms of importance, mental health and relationship triumph education and sports every single time. Do not energetically persue either, if mental health and relationship are threatened. You can get back to those but it is much much harder to restore mental health and connection.

Less questions, more statements
"When you're ready to share some space with me, I'll be in the sitting room with a massive bag of Maltesers and 2 hours of Netflix time and Id love to see you in there"

Or

"Please just tell me whats wrong - you must know!"

Adolescents will always say more when not asked.

Kate 💛

www.realtherapy.ie

21/03/2024

Leaving a friendship group requires skill. Here are some tips for when and how it should happen.

06/03/2024

We have upcoming availability for Couples, Families or Individuals (Adolescent or Adult) sessions on Wednesday evening or Friday morning.

We are offering reduced rate sessions within this also for those who need it. Please contact us for further information or to book a session. You can DM or email wicklowplaytherapy@gmail.com

16/01/2024

Some Friday morning availability coming up!wicklowcounselling@hotmail.com

13/11/2023

We have following availability in the practice for the remainder of 2023:

Friday morning & Saturday availability for adolescent Psychotherapy with Lisa O Sullivan Counselling & Psychotherapy or with Linda Linnane 💗

Wednesday evening availability for family, couples or individual therapy with Rachel.

Play Therapy spaces are very limited with no after school appointments until January however we do have a couple of other spaces in coming weeks.

As always please contact us through here, email wicklowplaytherapy@gmail.com or give me a call or text on 089 2527899

Thanks Anne-marie 😊

31/10/2023

Did you know we don't just offer play therapy in our practice?

We also offer adolescents, adults, couple and family psychotherapy.

This week we are spotlighting support for teenagers.

Currently Lisa offers adolescent Psychotherapy on Tuesdays & Fridays and we have a new addition to the team - Linda who will be holding a space for adolescents on Saturdays from November.

Linda specialises in providing therapy and psychological support to adolescents, typically between the ages of 12 and 18. Her primary focus is to help adolescents navigate the challenges and emotional issues that often arise during the teenage years. Linda works with individuals and, in some cases, with families to address a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and mental health issues specific to this age group.

Linda has a BA (Hons) in Psychology and Sociology and also a MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists (NAPCP).

Linda currently has Saturday availability so please DM or email wicklowplaytherapy@gmail.com for further information

14/09/2023

We have some reduced cost sessions available for students (18+) in the coming week. Call us on 01 4853188 to enquire

17/08/2023

Life Skills Online teaches us about how our thoughts work and how this can influence our behaviour in helpful and unhelpful ways.

13/07/2023

Calling all young people living in Wicklow 12 to 25.
Wicklow Children and Young People’s Services Committee (Wicklow CYPSC) is drafting a new plan for children and young people, and we need your help! Please click on the link below or scan the QR code to see the questionnaire:
https://txyge4jclg7.typeform.com/WicklowCYP

We would like to ask young people to tell us what should be in our plan.