play therapy

Play Therapy is a type of counselling for children which involves developing a bond and mutual respect with a child in the certainty that a child can solve their own problems with time and support.

Sorcha is a Play Therapist and Clinical Supervisor.
Originally trained in the area of Social Work she holds a Masters in Social Work (NQSW) from University College Dublin, a Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Based Play Therapy through Christchurch Canterbury University and a Certificate in Creative Clinical Supervision with the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy.
Sorcha has a passion for working with vulnerable children and young people for over 20 years and as a Play Therapist since 2009. She believes in the ability of each child to reach their full, unique potential and strives through her work to support children to do that.
Sorcha can work with your family on a range of issues including, but not limited to, anxiety, self-regulation skills, behavioural difficulties, school related issues, bereavement, bullying, family illness, childhood trauma and attachment issues, child abuse and neglect, impact of parental separation, sibling rivalry, sleep problems, the impact of diagnoses such as Autism, ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia etc.
Sorcha has completed further professional training in the areas of trauma with renowned international experts such as Bruce Perry, Daniel Seigel, Stephen Porges, Mooli Lehad, Paris Goodyear Brown and Margot Sunderland.
For specific information on further training and skills Sorcha has please see her LinkedIn profile
www.linkedin.com/in/sorcha-cahillane-63475287

Sorcha holds an up to date Garda Vetting, child safeguarding training and professional indemnity insurance. She is a member of IPTCA and Play Therapy Ireland.

Works with children, adolescents, teenagers and adults.
Karen has 20 years’ experience working as a practicing Psychotherapist and specialises in working with children of all ages through Play Therapy.
Karen is a Registered Psychotherapist with qualifications that include:
Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the Tivoli Institute, Dublin
Accredited with the I.A.C.P and IFCA(Irish Fertility Counselling Association)
Certified in Child Psychotherapy and Play Therapy from the Children Therapy Centre
Professional Qualification in CBT
Certificate in Fertility Counselling
Training in Brief Solution Therapy
ASSIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Training)
Children's First Training
National Certificate in Community Development
National Certificate in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations

Karen has completed further professional training in the areas trauma and neurodiversity with renowned international experts such as Bruce Perry,Margot Sunderland, Paris goodyear and Robert Jason Grant, Lisa Dion and Lynn Louise Wonders.

Play therapy:
Play Therapy involves developing a bond and mutual respect with a child, in the certainty that a child can solve their own problems with time and support. This work also involves working with families, offering parenting support to parents, guardians and foster careers and advice on co-parenting for families going through a separation or divorce.

Karen works therapeutically with children who may have experienced:
Bereavement
Impact of Domestic violence
Neurodiversity
Trauma
Children in care
Low self esteem
Separation anxiety/attachment
Impact of parental separation

Agota is a qualified play therapist, psychologist (M.Ps.S.I.), and psychotherapist. She has been working for 25 years in this area. She has experience with anxiety, worry, depression, attachment difficulties, separation, family dysfunction, and lots of other issues. She works
with children, teenagers, and adults. Her counseling is neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed. One of her expertise is working with perinatal issues, such as fertility, loss, depression, or bonding with the baby in the womb to build a strong attachment.
Agota offers bilingual therapy both in English and Hungarian.

Qualifications:
2002 - MA Diploma in Psychology, University of Debrecen (Hungary)
2002- Autogenic training therapist, Hungarian Association of Relaxation and Symbol Therapy
2005 - Couple and Family Therapist, Hungarian Family Therapy Association
2010 - Psychodrama assistant, Hungarian Psychodrama Association
2010 - Mother-child bonding analytic, International Society for Pre-and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine (Germany)
2017 - Integrative Child therapist - Equivalent with the Diploma in Play Therapy by the IAPTP
2020 - Katathym Imaginative Psychotherapist, Hungarian Complex Psychotherapy Association
2020 - Neuro-linguistic programming, Hungarian Complex Psychotherapy Association
2020 - Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), City Colleges, Dublin
2022 - Complex integrative care of children and adolescents living with autism - intensive training. MAKOMP, Hungary
2022 - Emotion and temper regulation difficulties in autism workshop, Vadaskert Foundation,Hungary
2023 – Master of Arts in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy, CTC, Ireland

Accreditation:
IAPTP accredited member
PSI – graduate member
IAHIP – certified associate

Sarah Jane has worked in the care sector for the past twenty years, working with clients of varying needs and ages.
Sarah Jane qualified with an MSc in Art Psychotherapy International from Queen Margaret University in 2012. Since graduation Sarah Jane has worked extensively in schools, supporting children and adolescents with bereavement, emotional behavioural difficulties as well as anxiety and self-development.
Sarah Jane has also just finished working for one of Irelands leading children’s charities, specialising in bereavement. Sarah Jane has extensive experience in homeless and addiction services as well as in prisons.
Sarah Jane uses a person-centred approach, meeting the client at their own individual needs, offering a non-judgemental service.

Originally trained in Primary teaching, she holds a Masters in Education from DCU and a subsequent Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Based Play Therapy with APAC (the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy) which is accredited by NUI (Galway). Sonia’s professional work, both in London and Dublin, has spanned of over 25 years. Her work has always centred on helping children to develop their potential, self-awareness, social skills and their ability to be resilient in their dealings with challenges in their life.
Sonia continues to develop and update her knowledge in the field of Play Therapy to effectively support parents and to continue to serve the needs of children in her care.
Consequentially, Sonia has become a registered COSP facilitator for Circle of Security International (An internationally recognised early intervention programme for Parents and Children). Sonia has completed further professional training with leading experts in the area of children’s trauma and neuroscience including Joanna Fortune, Eunice Stubb, Paris Goodyear Brown, Stephen Porges, Sue Carter, Janina Fisher and Daniel J. Siegel. Sonia has informed her practice by the compelling research into Attachment theory and Neuro-Dramatic Play conducted by Dr Sue Jennings.
Sonia has been Garda vetted, she has completed the TUSLA Child Safeguarding Training and holds Professional Indemnity Insurance. She is a member of Play Therapy Ireland (PTI) and the Irish Play Therapy Community Association (IPTCA). Sonia attends regular Clinical Supervision as part of her commitment to best practice.
Sonia is keen to support families by working with children who have challenges in many areas of their young lives. These may include Attachment issues, Anxiety/separation anxiety, Anger Management, Autism, ADD, ADHD, Low Self-Esteem and Low Self-Confidence, Bereavement, experiences of bullying etc.
During every encounter in her therapeutic work, Sonia aims to enable each child to achieve a greater sense of personal wellbeing by supporting them to realise
- increased self-regulation
- enriched worldview
- expanded emotional vocabulary
- enhanced self-esteem (Hicks, 2020)
Sonia’s other interests include the Jungian Society of Ireland, Environmental Initiatives, Dance and the Creative Arts.

Elaine is an Accredited Play and Creative Arts Therapist and Clinical Supervisor.

Originally trained in the field of Early Childhood Care and Education she holds a BA in Early Childhood Care and Education from TU Dublin, a Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Based Play Therapy through Christchurch Canterbury University and a Certificate in Creative Clinical Supervision with the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy. Elaine is also a Sandplay Practitioner and is working towards her Sandplay Therapist qualification with the Association for Sandplay Therapy (AST).

Elaine has been working with children and families presenting with mild to complex needs for over 20 years and is particularly experienced in the areas of trauma, anxiety and homelessness. Elaine is incredibly passionate about supporting children and their families to reach their fullest potential and can offer support with a range of difficulties, including but not limited to, general anxiety and separation anxiety, childhood trauma and attachment issues, school related issues and bullying, behavioural issues, childhood illness, family illness, bereavement and loss, diagnosis such as selective mutism, ASD and ADHD.

Elaine provides one to one play therapy for children aged between 3 – 13 years and one to one Sandplay therapy for children, adolescents and adults. Elaine is also a qualified Circle of Security Facilitator and can provide parenting support on a range of topics, including but not limited to managing challenging behaviour, dealing with sibling rivalry, strengthening self-esteem in children, bed-time challenges, managing difficult conversations e.g. parental separation or illness.

Elaine lectures with both the National College of Ireland (NCI) and The Greenane Centre.
She holds up to date Garda Vetting, Professional Indemnity Insurance and Child Safeguarding Training. She also engages in Continuous Professional Development on an ongoing basis. Elaine is a member of Play Therapy Ireland (PTIrl) and Irish Play Therapy Community Association (IPTCA).
In her spare time, Elaine enjoys spending time with her two little girls, being by the sea, music and travel.

Elaine currently offers Monday appointments and can be contacted on 086-1653733.

Ailish Lydon is a dual qualified mental health; Clinical Social Worker and Accredited Play Therapist and Gestalt Clinical Supervisor in training.

Ailish offers play and creative therapy to children and their families from age 3 to 17.

Ailish provides a specialist service to parents/(particularly mothers in the perinatal stage) building their relationship with baby and confidence as a parent through the evidence based "Baby Bonding" program and Toddler Bonding suitable for all parents, especially parents dealing with additional challenges in this early stage including PND and those with babies or children with additional needs. Baby Bonding is internationally evidence based Ailish is also a Certified Infant Massage Instructor with IAIM. Ailish has additional training and experience in Infant Mental Health (0 to 3 years) is a member of AIMH currently completing portfolio and the Perinatal Mental Health network of Psychotherapists.

Ailish has specialist experience in working with children and families in grief and at end of life stages. Ailish has worked for many years north and south of the border in hospitals and hospice with families experiencing loss, change and crisis through terminal illness or changing illness/injury.

Ailish's clinical practice in hospital and hospice has involved supporting families in palliative care setting (Hospice) and life changing illness/injury (A&E) and bereavement. Ailish has experience for many years of working with children and families bereaved in traumatic circumstances such as Suicide, Murder and Road traffic accident. She works systemically with the family supporting the adults and children.

Ailish has worked for over 20 years with children and families in crisis and change specifically in relation to loss and trauma in health. Ailish's previous clinical roles include Child Bereavement Service, Acute hospitals, Hospice and currently taking career break from CAMHS.
When not working Ailish likes to play and teach the piano and sew.

Relevant Qualifications/ Trainings:
Bachelor of Social Science UCD
Professional Qualification in Social Work Queens University Belfast (Registered with CORU)
Accredited Play Therapist Leeds Beckett University
Professional Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy PCI
Licensed Practitioner in Baby Bonding, Toddler Bonding and Parent Child Attachment Play. https://clear-sky.org.uk/directory/?_country=ireland
Infant Massage Instructor IAIM
Alarm Baby Distress Scale
Complicated Grief IHF 2013

Ailish can be contacted by email.
Ailish Lydon is an Accredited Play Therapist and Professionally Qualified Social Worker.

Garrett is an accredited child, adolescent, and adult psychotherapist with experience working in primary schools, community projects, and corporate settings. Garrett is experienced in working with children and adolescents with challenges related to anxiety, school refusal, grief and loss, and anger management but not limited to such. Garrett has studied cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) at Masters’s level and uses this approach whilst integrating evidence-based measures. Garrett has done specialist training with world-renowned Sand Play therapist Barbara Turner PHD and continues to engage in monthly supervision specific to sandplay.
Garrett engages in continuous professional development and is currently completing a second Master’s degree related to Psychology.