Supporting Children & Adolescents with Anxiety

This 2-day online course will be an opportunity to learn about some creative, physical, sensory, and cognitive ways of supporting children and adolescents ( adults and ourselves) with feelings of anxiety, stress, worries and fears.

Anxiety, stress, and fear are very common and prevalent; even more so in the current context of the pandemic. So, feeling more skilled and confident in this area is hugely beneficial.

This course is suitable and tailored for parents, carers, and all professionals. Training is provided at no charge for people working or living in Laois, Offaly, Longford , Westmeath. Although this course will be virtual, it will be informal and creative- with lots of interaction and times for breaks and a long lunch.

This course draws on tools and ideas from the award winning and best-selling Therapeutic treasure Box book, and from the anxiety workbook by Dr Karen Treisman “Binnie the Baboon”. The course will include some Cognitive Behavioural, Narrative Therapy, Creative Therapies, and Sensory ideas.

There will be lots of photo examples, tangible worksheets, and stories about the real-world work. Metaphors such as a worry wall, a worry web, a worry wizard, and a worry warrior will be discussed. The course will be jam packed with some theories and background information; as well as loads of ideas and practical suggestions which can be implemented in daily practice personally and professionally. There will also be a range of tools taught around emotional regulation such as breathing, relaxation, and grounding strategies.

Please note this course is for 2 days

24th & 25th February from 9.30-4.30 PM on both days via Zoom to participate in the course.

This course is organised by Tullamore and Clara Family Resource Centres, Co.Offaly supported by the Laois Offaly CYPSC with funding from Healthy Ireland.

About the trainer

Dr Karen Treisman, MBE, is a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist who has worked in the National Health System and children’s services for several years. Karen has also worked cross-culturally in both Africa and Asia with groups ranging from former child soldiers to survivors of the Rwandan Genocide. She also is the author of 10 books, including the bestselling book, “The therapeutic treasure box”, 4 sets of therapeutic card decks, and 6 therapeutic soft cuddly toys.

Karen was also awarded the 2018 Psychology Professional of the Year Award for Excellence in Attachment and Trauma; and Youth Psychology Professional of the Year 2020. Karen was also awarded an MBE (Queens Honour list 2020).

Karen regularly attends and presents at local, national, and international trauma, parenting, and attachment conferences. Karen is also a TEDx speaker on the power of relationships and viewing behaviour as communication.

Best-selling Author

Karen is the author of “Working with children and adolescents who have experienced relational and developmental trauma” (Routledge, 2016); and the best-selling book- “A Therapeutic Treasure Box for Working with Children and Adolescents with Developmental Trauma: Creative techniques and activities”. Karen is also the designer of “A Therapeutic Treasure Deck: Sentence-completion and Feelings Cards”; and “A Therapeutic Treasure Deck: Grounding, Regulating, Coping, and Soothing Cards”; and the Parenting Patchwork Treasure Deck. Karen is also the designer of Neon the Ninja toy and workbook- ; Gilly the Giraffe (Self-esteem & confidence), Cleo the Croc (Children who have been hurt and learned to be afraid to let people close, Presley the Pug (Emotional regulation, relaxation, calm, mindfulness, and finding an emotional safe place), Binnie the Baboon (Anxiety, fear, stress, and worry), and Ollie the Octopus (Bereavement, grief and loss).