Diane O'Neill Counselling & Psychotherapy

11/12/2025

Some children seem to manage so well at school — polite, quiet, compliant.
Then they come home and everything falls apart.

That shift isn’t manipulation.
It’s the crash that happens when a child has spent all day masking, suppressing, and holding it together.

At school they survive.
At home they release.

Our new visual explores what’s really happening beneath the surface — and why those meltdowns after school are actually signs of trust and safety, not defiance.

Explore our linked toolkits for deeper support:
Masking Toolkit – understanding the hidden effort of blending in
After-School Restraint Collapse Toolkit – practical strategies for recovery and regulation at home.
Instant electronic download with secure global checkout. at link in comments ⬇️ or via our Linktree Shop in Bio.

Save this post for when you need the reminder that 'coping' can come at a cost — and that behaviour always tells a story.

11/12/2025

When a young person has ADHD, the world can feel busy, loud, fast, and full of expectations that don’t always match how their brain works.

This series, A Child's Voice, gives space for their voice — honest, brave, and beautifully human.

It’s here to help adults pause, listen, and truly understand what life feels like on the inside.

Every child deserves to be seen beyond their behaviour.
Every child deserves support that honours how their brain is wired.
Let’s listen to their voice… and let it guide us.

See footer in visual for free download info.

11/12/2025

Some children find the school day extra hard — not because they’re being difficult, but because their executive function skills are still developing.

These skills help us organise, plan, remember instructions, manage emotions, switch tasks and cope with change. When they’re under strain, the day can feel like a marathon… and by home time, there may be after-school restraint collapse.

Children who may find executive function more challenging include those with:
ADHD
Autism
Dyspraxia / DCD
Learning Differences (e.g., dyslexia)
Anxiety or mood-based needs
Children who have experienced trauma, chronic stress, or early adversity
Children born prematurely

If your child melts the second they walk through the door, struggles to “hold it together”, or seems exhausted by the school day — this is not a behaviour problem. It’s a nervous system and executive load problem.

I’ve put together a After-School Restraint Collapse Pack, including:
A compassionate guide
Co-regulation support ideas
And an Executive Function Checklist to help you understand the “why” behind the behaviour.
Link in comments below⬇️ or in bio to download.

06/10/2025

Worrying times for our profession …

Psychotherapy bodies are warning that new minimum training standards set by the regulator will be...

24/09/2025

https://chng.it/ndmTsz4wbn

Petition to CORU: Uphold Standards in Counselling and Psychotherapy

14/09/2025

10/09/2025

💛💛💛💛💛💛

23/08/2025

“The 600 plus points students got all the plaudits on the news yesterday and fair play, it took a lot of work and is well deserved 👏 However, there are some other students who won’t feature on most of our radars, but but deserve a shout out too… 👇👇👇

To the student with additional needs who maybe struggled with academic and social difficulties…well done 👏

To the student who had a physical illness and missed many classes to attend multiple appointments.. well done 👏

To the student who spent months in an in-patient unit recovering from an eating disorder, depressive/ anxiety disorder and had to catch up on lost time..well done 👏

To the student who suffered a bereavement this year and had to try study through the sadness of loss.. well done 👏

To the student who lived in a home with addiction who had to find space to study amid chaos and uncertainty.. well done 👏

To the student who had a sibling with additional needs who was called upon to help out at the cost of their own time to study… well done 👏

To the student who endured bullying, exclusion and persecution but still managed to go in day after day and try to learn… well done 👏

Students like these won’t feature on our National news stations and they won’t break any points records..but these young people have shown remarkable spirit deserve credit too…here’s hoping that the next few yrs will be a bit easier for them🤞.. well done 👏”

Dr Colman Noctor.

06/08/2025

My practice is now closed for my rest and reset after a long few months of helping my clients heal painful emotional wounds.

Self-care is vital in this work so I can be in my best space for my clients.

My practice will re-open on 17th September to support those who need it.

18/02/2025

Fast, proven recovery from a traumatic past

18/02/2025

16/02/2025

A few public training workshops for professionals coming up. DM with your email address and I’ll forward you on the full programme information if you wish. Suitable for counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, educators, guidance counsellors, social workers, family support workers, youth workers and all related professionals who are supporting teenagers and their parents. Feel free to share 😊😊😊