I have created an evidence-based pathway for connection and emotional regulation that parents can follow one step at a time.

I draw from Inter-Personal Neuro-Biology (IPBN), which is an inter-disciplinary area of study that explores how the mind, brain and nervous systems form within the context of our relationships.

In particular, I draw from the work of Dr. Daniel Siegel who pioneered this area of study in the 1990s. Dr. Siegel is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA and a world-renowned author and educator, authoring many books and peer reviewed journal articles on IPBN, and how this can be applied to all aspects of human functioning, including parenting.

I also draw from Poly-vagal Theory (PVT) which falls under the IPBN umbrella. It focuses on the science of safety and connection and in particular on our autonomic nervous system and how it governs much of our state experience that was pioneered in the 1990s Dr. Stephen Porges Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Northern Carolina, Chapel Hill and Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University. In particular, I draw from the work of Deb Dana, who is a clinician and consultant who specialises in applying PVT into the area of complex trauma and into our everyday lives where we can learn to find a rhythm of regulation and feel anchored and connected.

The Pathway Home for Parents is about finding ways to learn the rhythm of feeling regulated, connected and integrated for both parents and children.

We know that for parents to support their children with their own emotional dysregulation, they need to feel regulated and connected with themselves first.

This is for two main reasons:

1) our nervous system states resonate with the nervous system states of others, and when we are regulated as parents, we create an environment that helps them to regulate too, because our calm state can map onto theirs. This is called co-regulation, and it is how children learn emotional regulation,

2) because our brains feel integrated when we self-regulate and self-connect, and when our brains are integrated, we can think clearly and teach our children the skills that they require. Children learn to self-regulate over time, first by having a direct experience of feeling what it is like to be present with someone whose state is regulated and then by learning the skills through words and solving problems that you can do with your child when you have self-connected and self-regulated and join with them.

From our understanding of the development of mind and relationships, it is this connecting and co-regulating with your child that helps to create trust and a securely-attached relationship. It is this relationship that in turn allows the child to trust themselves, because they see that you trust yourself and you trust them. When they trust themselves they can believe in their abilities and wholeness, and they are more likely to authentically express who they are.

This process takes time and has a series of elements to it:

1) Parent self-connection and self-regulation,

2) Parent Connects and Co-regulates with Child

3) Child and Parent Can meet and navigate difficulties when they feel regulated

4) Trust between and within parent and child is deepened, allowing for growth and self-trust.

How long it will take you depends on your own particular needs as a parent and the needs of your child, as well as your own particular situation and commitments. For some parents, they may feel that taking my Foundational Course, Begin With You is enough for them to walk the steps of the pathway themselves, however for another parent they may feel that they need to move through a course on each course-step and/or receive some one-to-one guidance from me along the way. So it is one of those questions that I can’t answer with a Yes or No answer, but my hope is that if you can commit to the pathway, you will see results both immediately and in the long term.

The Pathway Home for Parents is designed for parents to learn the skills so that you can show and teach your children how to self-regulate, solve difficulties and grow strong. I have created the pathway in this way because we know from research in the areas of attachment and relationships, that the brain is wired and the mind is formed through our relationships with our early-caregivers and this process continues in our significant relationships through-out the life-span. I wanted to empower parents to learn this process and model it for their children, as it complements the natural process of the development of mind and the skills of emotional regulation. However, it is my hope that in time, I will create some companion mini-courses for children that parents who are following the pathway can share with them and they can join together in learning the skills of regulation. 

I am a clinical psychologist which means that I am a mental health professional who has received a doctoral level training in the specialised field of psychology devoted to the application of evidence-based psychological approaches to clinical difficulties that present across the human life span from the early years of development to end of life.

For many years I sepcialised in working with children, young people and their families. I currently specialise in working with parents and professionals to provide clear and evidence-based information and strategies to support emotional regulation across the life-span.

A clinical psychologist is a mental health professional who has received a doctoral level training in the specialised field of psychology devoted to the application of evidence-based psychological approaches to clinical difficulties that present across the human life span from the early years of development to end of life.

I am trained in the assessment and diagnosis of clinical difficulties across the life span, as well as in the application of evidence-based clinical interventions for neuro-developmental and psychological difficulties including (but not limited to), intellectual disability, autism, emotional and behavioural regulation difficulties, interpersonal difficulties, mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, personality dysfunction, eating disorders, dysmorphia, trauma-related difficulties and psychosis.

For many years I sepcialised in working with children, young people and their families. I currently specialise in working with parents and professionals to provide clear and evidence-based information and strategies to support emotional regulation across the life-span.

While I am trained in the application of evidence-based psychological approaches to clinical difficulties that present across the life-span I have a specific interest in drawing from the evidence base of Interpersonal Neurobiology, Attachment Theory, Poly-vagal Theory and Mindfulness-based Psychotherapy and how it applies to emotional regulation, anxiety, low mood/depression, interpersonal difficulties, personality dysfunction, trauma, neuro-diversity and high sensitivity in children, young people and adults/parents. I also have a specific interest in Burn-out, Work-Home Spill-Over and Authentic Self-care Strategies for Health and Social Care professionals, completing my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in this area.

I am trained in the assessment and diagnosis of clinical difficulties across the life span, as well as in the application of evidence-based clinical interventions for neuro-developmental and psychological difficulties including (but not limited to), intellectual disability, autism, emotional and behavioural regulation difficulties, interpersonal difficulties, mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, personality dysfunction, eating disorders, dysmorphia, trauma-related difficulties and psychosis.

For many years I specialised in working with children, young people and their families. I currently specialise in working with parents and professionals to provide clear and evidence-based information and strategies to support emotional regulation across the life-span.

While I am trained in the application of evidence-based psychological approaches to clinical difficulties that present across the life-span I have a specific interest in drawing from the evidence base of Interpersonal Neurobiology, Attachment Theory, Poly-vagal Theory and Mindfulness-based Psychotherapy and how it applies to emotional regulation, anxiety, low mood/depression, interpersonal difficulties, personality dysfunction, trauma, neuro-diversity and high sensitivity in children, young people and adults/parents. I also have a specific interest in Burn-out, Work-Home Spill-Over and Authentic Self-care Strategies for Health and Social Care professionals, completing my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in this area.

I am trained in the assessment and diagnosis of clinical difficulties across the life span, as well as in the application of evidence-based clinical interventions for neuro-developmental and psychological difficulties including (but not limited to), intellectual disability, autism, emotional and behavioural regulation difficulties, interpersonal difficulties, mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, personality dysfunction, eating disorders, dysmorphia, trauma-related difficulties and psychosis. 

For many years I specialised in working with children, young people and their families. I currently specialise in working with parents and professionals to provide clear and evidence-based information and strategies to support emotional regulation across the life-span.

While I am a mental health professional, I do not offer a mental health service as I specialise in providing parental guidance and professional training.

No, I do not operate an emergency service as I do not operate a team-based mental health service (see above). I offer an appointment-based parenting guidance service. Please contact your GP (or the ‘out of hours’ GP service) in this instance to discuss onward referral to a specialised mental health service.

No, I do not currently offer developmental assessments.

I have a B.A. in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin (1999). I have also completed research Ph.D. in Children’s Imaginary Thinking, in Trinity College Dublin (2006), and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, also in Trinity College Dublin (2010). I have also completed the Core 100 Training in Strategic Intervention Coaching Training with Robbins-Madanes Training (2017) and The Mindsight Approach to Well-being: A Comprehensive Course in Interpersonal Neurobiology with Dr. Dan Siegel and the Life Span Learning Institute (2020).

I worked for the HSE as a Psychologist in Clinical Training from 2007 to 2010 and then as Clinical Psychologist in Primary Care from 2010 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2021 as a Senior Clinical Psychologist on a contractual basis with the HSE Children’s Disability Services. Since 2018 I have been working as a Clinical Psychologist in Private Practice and I now specialise in Parental Guidance and Professional Training.

Psychologists have yet to be called to register with CORU. I look forward to our registration. I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland.