Therapeutic Hub

The Therapeutic hub at Bagenalstown Family Resource Centre is dedicated to offering affordable therapy services to our community. Our team of skilled therapists offer their unique approach in supporting clients of all ages to reach their full potential.

Play Therapy is a form of counselling for children aged between 5 – 18 years old. Play therapy is non-directive, child led and responses are non-invasive. Children do not often have the words to describe difficult feelings or events that have occurred.  Play is therefore used to help children to express their lived experiences and difficulties in a way that is developmentally appropriate and feels safe. It is also effective for children who may be non-verbal but who need support.  Play therapy is offered on a one-to-one basis and takes place in a fully equipped playroom with a play therapist.

All play therapists at the Therapeutic Hub are affiliated with a professional body, and are either currently in training or have completed their training.  Play therapy is effective as an intervention for children who may have experienced difficult life events or need some support in developing coping skills.  Some of the issues in which play therapy can help with are bereavement, suicidal ideation, social and emotional development, domestic violence, behavioural issues, anxiety, school refusal, parental separation, traumatic events, abuse and neglect.

Play therapy for the child is confidential, however parents are actively involved in the process where possible.  Play therapy is offered on a 12-week basis, however, as each child is different, some may require more, especially in cases where there is significant trauma, abuse and/or neglect.

Child and adolescent psychotherapy is similar to play therapy in the sense that is creative, and uses different materials to help express experiences or difficulties. It is also specialised and is delivered, one-to-one, by a suitably qualified mental health professional. Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy is offered to children and adolescents aged between 3 – 18 years. Some of the materials used may be sand trays, art and crafts materials, play and toys, games and activities, sensory activities etc.

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy is both integrative and humanistic meaning it child lead, non-judgemental and confidential. It is developmentally appropriate and meets the needs of each individual client. Child and adolescent psychotherapy is an appropriate treatment or intervention for a range of different issues and psychosocial difficulties, mild to complex. Some of the issues include school refusal, identity issues, sexuality, bereavement, sexual abuse, neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, relationship difficulties, familial difficulties, domestic violence, suicidal ideation, self-harm, generational abuse, anxiety, depression, OCD, behavioural and emotional difficulties etc.

Music therapy is an evidence based clinical use of musical interventions to improve individual’s quality of life. Music therapists use music and its many facets – physical, cognitive, emotional, social, aesthetic, and spiritual facets, to aid individuals to improve their health in all areas of development (social, cognitive, physical, emotional, sensory, motor skills etc) by using both active and receptive music experiences. These experiences include improvisation, recreation, composition, receptive methods, and discussion of music.

Given the universal nature of music, music therapy is uniquely able to reach individuals across all backgrounds, and ages and stages of development. It does not require any previous knowledge for individuals to meet their goals and be successful. Music therapy provides individualised treatments to help treat individuals with disabilities, injuries, illnesses and to improve their well-being. Sessions are one-to-one or facilitated as a group.

Art therapy is an allied mental health profession. Art therapists use art media and creative interventions to encourage self-expression and reflection within a therapeutic relationship. The aim is to improve mental health and maintain emotional well-being.

Art therapy can promote growth and positive change in people of all ages and abilities. Art therapists work with a wide variety of client groups.

Like other forms of psychotherapy and counselling, art therapy is used to encourage personal growth and increase self-understanding. It can address a range of issues and concerns including confidence and self- esteem, trauma, bereavement and loss, depression, stress, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders and relationship difficulties.

Art therapy can help with:

– Developing self-awareness and personal insight
– Improving sense of self and self-identity
– Encouraging self-expression
– Improving confidence and self-esteem
– Resolving inner conflicts
– Assisting with gaining a sense of control over difficult emotions and life situations
– Aiding emotional regulation
– Improving and maintain healthy psychosocial functioning
– Promoting resiliency and improve coping skills
– Supporting neuropsychological growth

Our adult counselling service offers one-to-one counselling support to adults over the age of 18 years. Our counsellors and psychotherapists work to the highest professional standards in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space. Our counsellors are either currently in the final stages of their training or are pre-accredited members of a professional accrediting body.

Adult counselling is suitable to clients who are experiencing a range of difficulties which may be affecting their everyday life. These difficulties may include, addiction, depression, anxiety, bereavement, low self-esteem, traumatic life events (past and present), childhood abuse, domestic violence, relationship difficulties, parenting difficulties, workplace issues etc. Our therapists work in a person-centred manner to assist clients in finding new ways of coping, managing behaviours and emotions, and developing new skills.

Counselling which is confidential is offered initially for twelve weeks however as every case is individual the counsellor and client will review and decide whether further therapy is needed.

The Therapeutic Hub at Bagenalstown FRC as part of a collaboration between the Gambling Awareness Trust and Family Resource Centre National Forum in Ireland now provides a professional and confidential counselling service for those experiencing harmful gambling and their family members who are suffering as a result of gambling addiction.  This service is available for people who are over eighteen.

Some of the signs of having a gambling problem:

– Becoming withdrawn from others
– Feeling worried, agitated, or upset for no apparent reason
– Stopping activities that you once enjoyed
– Concealing or lying about your gambling behaviour
– Trying to control, cut back or stop gambling without success

Being preoccupied with gambling, focusing on how to get more gambling money, and gambling in the hope of winning back lost money results in more debt.

Contact Áine in confidence on 083 0089055

We offer a 6 week and a 12 week program for therapeutic horse riding and equine assisted learning for children of primary school age, with Kilkieran Equestrian Farm.

Equine Assisted Learning is a unique way of improving children’s overall development through working with horses. Equine Assisted Learning as a development tool often focuses on self-awareness, social awareness, regulation, problem solving skills, decision making skills, communication skills, and relationship skills.

Every session is different but inclusive of animal caretaking and riding. Therapeutic riding is particularly beneficial to the social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of children with additional needs.

Developmental and therapeutic play includes the use of play-based activities to assist children, including those with special needs, in the development of skills (inclusive of but not limited to, motor-skills), personal resources, positive self-esteem, and overall development (social, emotional and physical).

Therapeutic play facilitates the child’s development in a broad sense, including helping children with learning or sensory difficulties. Therapeutic play is often activity based.

These sessions tend to be issue-based rather than relationship-based, and may focus more on skills development than on resolving emotional issues. If there are more complex needs, the child may need to be referred to our play therapy service which is a specialised mental health intervention.

The Rainbows programme is designed to support children and adolescents who are navigating the challenging experiences of parental separation or bereavement. Bagenalstown Family Resource Centre offers this programme to provide a nurturing environment where young people can process their grief, loss, and the changes that come with these experiences.

Key Features of the Rainbows Programme:

The programme is open to children and adolescents aged 7 and above. The programme consists of support groups tailored for different age groups and stages of development. Separate groups are maintained for those experiencing bereavement and those dealing with parental separation or divorce. Rainbows offers a safe, calm, and listening space where participants can express their feelings freely. The programme ensures that the feelings of the children and adolescents are acknowledged and validated, helping them to feel heard and understood. By joining the Rainbows programme, participants meet others going through similar experiences, reducing feelings of isolation and fostering a sense of community. The Rainbows programme aims to help young people feel less alone in their journey through grief and change, providing essential emotional support and understanding during a difficult time in their lives.

If you would like to avail of any of the services offered, please contact the Therapeutic Hub Coordinator Jordane Salmon by phone 083 016 5581 or by email jordane.bagenalstownfrc@gmail.com.