Play Therapy Westport

27/07/2025

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Discover practical strategies to support preschool transitions in this FREE webinar with the LINC Team – Wednesday, August 20th, 7pm.

29/04/2025

Upcoming: Online Parenting Course, run by One Family

Family Communications: Separating Well for Children course

🗓️ Starting Wednesday 7th May (for 8 weeks)
🌐 Online via Zoom

🕖 Morning time: 10am-11am
Fetch link to register: https://www.fetchcourses.ie/course/finder?sfcw-courseId=455544

🕒 Lunch time: 1pm-2pm
Fetch link to register: https://www.fetchcourses.ie/course/finder?sfcw-courseId=455545

Website link: https://onefamily.ie/education-development/parents-programmes/parenting-courses-via-zoom/

Contact Elaine McKiernan for more info:
Phone: 01 662 9212
Email: emckiernan@onefamily.ie

09/04/2025

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Save the date 📅 14/04/2025 7pm 🕖

Neurodiversity Ireland is excited to host a webinar on energy regulation with the creators of Autism Level Up! Amy Laurent and Jac Fede. This webinar will dive deep into Autism Level Up!, a resource that helps not only autistic children but with energy regulation for all children - adults too. You will learn practical tools and strategies to support your child, yourself, and children in your classroom with an emphasis on authenticity, equity and partnership. This approach moves away from labelling emotions and dividing into emotions that are good or bad and Zones of Regulation towards learning about our energy levels and how to regulate. We will need tools to regulate!

19/11/2024

18/11/2024

Dr. Clara O’Byrne is back with us on November 20th and 27th at 7pm to deliver her popular two-part online workshop designed to support family carers navigate puberty with their child with additional needs. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1030974742207?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/11/2021

For parents who dread the night time routine, this idea can also help with your own anxiety and give you a light hearted breather. Children follow their parents example of how to deal with situations, so them seeing you confident and 'in charge' of the monsters will encourage them to do the same.

03/09/2021

By acknowledging the emotion your saying ' I can see how your feeling, I can hear you and I'm right here' ❤

14/06/2021

Maybe we should all play a little more 💗

09/06/2021

We want to do all we can for our children. Know that a listening ear, an acknowledgement of their anger or sadness, and a long hug, will have a much more positive result than an punishment that's says ' I'm not listening!' 💓

02/06/2021

Some food for thought from the amazing Aishling Murray from Laois Play Therapy. It's worth checking out her page as she shares some wonderful advice and articles.

One thing I look at helping parents with, is to empower their kids. Unconsciously we step in too much when a child struggles-

Which in turn this allows the child to feel helplessness, incapable and not good enough-

Which in turn shuts down their confidance-

Which in turn makes them vulnerable in society-

Which in turn makes them hate themselves and life.

I understand that mum's and some dad's have a huge empathic approach with kids but sometimes too much emapathy and compassion blocks a child from succeeding in life. Finding the balance can be tricky but very rewarding for both parents and child.
Child will feel empowered if they struggle through something and accomplish it and the parent is empowered by the child's progression (also the parent gets a break from constantly running around after the child).
Really we need to look at each situation logically:
Meaning
* If our child hits another (if we saw an adult hitting another) ask yourself is this ok. We all know the answer is No.
Putting in a consequence for actions like this helps to rewire the brain to understand what is good or bad behavior.....then your child will know when a peer is being unacceptable and then will be empowered to stand up for themselves.
* If you have shown your child how to pour their drink (and they constantly ask you for a drink) if you refuse to get the drink their brain begins to develop the sense of independence. If you get the drink for them they will expect it and feel helpless in school or elsewhere when they need to do things for themselves. And more than often you will have a shouting reaction of "I CANT DO IT"

Check out the development checklist on my webpage to see what your child can and should be encouraged to do for themselves.
www.laoisplaytherapy.ie

Even if your child is 8/9/10 etc. Start at the birth stage of the checklist and work your way up through it.

Jordan Peterson explains too much compassion in his 3 minute video:

https://youtu.be/owiWBI--R8E

original source: https://youtu.be/Us979jCjHu8?t=1h58m39sPsychology Professor Dr. Jordan B. Peterson describes the fostering of independence over too casual c...

28/05/2021

Anger is a second emotion....calmly name it, to tame it. ' You are so angry and upset right now! ....' Acknowledging their anger, so they know you understand how they are feeling is the first step to recovery.

15/05/2021

From Dr. Malie Coyne's book, 'Love in Love out' , helping parents understand and manage anxiety in their children, with hands-on activities through a centred, compassionate and kind approach. A lovely empowering read 💗