My journey towards play therapy started whilst working with teenagers in residential care. During that time I became interested in early intervention services that provided emotional support for children and young people. This led me to Play Therapy.
I am a qualified Non-Directive Play Therapist, member of the Irish Play Therapy Association and also have a B.A. degree in Psychology. In addition I am a trained facilitator of the Circle Of Security parenting programme and have training in Filial Therapy.
I have fourteen years’ experience working with children/teenagers, their families and schools. I provide play therapy for children with a wide range of emotional and behavioural difficulties such as bereavement, anxiety, anger, separation/divorce, bullying/bullied, self-esteem issues, trauma, autism, learning difficulties.
In addition to working in the playroom I provide Filial Therapy, consultations and parenting programme for parents who are looking for guidance and seeking deeper connections with their children. I develop and deliver training workshops in play and child development for parents and teachers.
My approach is a child-centred one whereby each child is treated as an individual, that children communicate their feelings freely through play and that the parent/child relationship is of utmost importance
In more recent years my love for the outdoors has been reignited (I have very fond memories from childhood of the pure delight and excitement of tracking animals in the woods – looking for dens and clues on the woodland floor). Volunteering at Forest School has filled me with joy and awe: both for nature and observing children’s experiences whilst immersed in nature. This has brought me to developing and facilitating “Nature Based Mindful Parent + Child” groups in the woods.
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Wild Roots with Cathy Daly
Wild Roots with Cathy Daly