Find out how Psychotherapy & Play Therapy can help your child/teenager

More Info

Find out how Psychotherapy & Play Therapy can help your child/teenager

More Info

UNLOCK supports Children, Parents and Educators, together as a unit

Book Now

Parents

Commercial

NGOs

Therapies

Play is essential in enabling children achieve developmental milestones, acquire an emotional vocabulary, develop secure attachments, communicate with others, and negotiate the normal ups and downs of life. It is through play that children best express themselves, develop secure relationships and the ability to make sense of their world and their experiences. Play Thearpy assists in children acquiring essential life skills. Psychotherapy helps children and adolescents in a variety of ways. They receive emotional support, resolve conflicts with people, understand feelings and problems, and try out new solutions to old problems.

Educational Training

I often provide training to organisations that work with children and adolescents such as childcare providers, schools and extra curricular activity groups. Options include workshops, informative sessions and webinars.

View Courses

Adoptees

I am very proud to say that I am Adopted, I connected with my beautiful family when I was 3months old. I have been blessed to have had such a wonderful childhood and parents to instil wonderful morals, values and faith in me. As much as I have been and continue to be loved very much I can see how being adopted left wounds within my body, mind and soul that were difficult and painful to heal.

I offer support, advice and programmes in helping other Adoptee’s resolve past trauma and integrate their adoption story into their lives more completely.

More Info

Parent Programmes & Workshops

I often provide workshops for parents surrounding topics like Anxiety, Challenging Behaviours, Regulating the Nervous System, Trauma, Limits and Boundaries, Managing Emotions.
These are designed to impart a balance of theory, information along with useful approaches and techniques that are easily implemented within the home to alleviate challenges.

Corporate Packages

I often provide training and workshops to organisations surrounding mental health awareness in order to enable participants to discuss and reflect on the common misconceptions regarding mental health difficulties. It aims to promote positive mental health and self-care in the workplace which has benefits for all.

Some areas of interest include Intergenerational Trauma, Shadow Parts and developing Resiliency.

Resources

We have a range of free resources that cover many areas of interest.

UNLOCK Ireland – Children’s Mental Health

In January 2018, I launched the UNLOCK Programme – a programme tailored to the family to support the whole unit – Therapy Sessions with the child so that they feel happier, less anxious and more confident, Parent Sessions to support, listen, educate and advise on how to best help your child.

I created the UNLOCK Programme as a system of care that focuses on supporting child, parents, and the whole family as a unit. This partnership approach is the most effective way to overcome challenges and achieve wellness. With a clear set of goals and step by step actions that we take together, UNLOCK ends the waiting, overwhelm, and worry so that your whole family are happier.

Independent Google Reviews

Based on 9 reviews

Luke Blakeley

2021-08-18

Every time we have had training or content delivered by Deirdre at unlock, it has been of the highest quality and greatest value to our staff and training team. The preparation, content and delivery has been fantastic and exceeded our expectations every time. We continue to use these services and would recommend anyone with an interest in Deidre's work to engage with her services. Five stars. Luke at In Your Space Circus.

Lorraine Doherty

2021-08-18

I would highly recommend Deirdre Ward UNLOCK for play therapy for children who are finding it difficult to express their feelings and emotions. Deirdre helped my 8 year old son, who was struggling at school and as a result of this he was lashing out at me and his siblings. After having therapy with Deirdre, my son is a lot calmer and he also understands the emotions he is feeling and is able to express these by using words. The therapy also helped me and my husband as parents to be better able to connect with our son by staying with the emotion he was feeling and letting him express this calmly instead of raising our voices and having full blown arguments which happened in the past.

Maria Coleman

2021-08-18

Very client focussed, empathetic and caring approach.

Debbie Woodward

2021-04-23

Last night I attended an online webinar that Deirdre delivered and I have to say that it was one of the most useful webinars I've watched. Deirdre has an incredible amount of knowledge and pitched the delivery of the webinar perfectly for her audience.

Catherine Clarke

2021-04-12

I took part on Deirdre's C.A.L.M aimed at 3 to 12 year old. I found her professionalism, insight, and resources very engaging. I learned the reasons behind difficult behaviour in my home and in my classroom and learned how to manage these experiences in a calm, rational and understanding manner. I would recommend any of Deirdre's services to any parent or professional working with children (I even learned a lot about my own reactions and experiences)

Elena Potignano

2021-04-06

Deirdre Ward's C.A.L.M. webinar series was informative and well presented. Deirdre is very professional and knowledgeable while also bringing a very human approach to her sessions. I found the resource email's that followed each session fantastic . I can print them off to keep on my shelf as a wonderful tool to refer to in the future. I will definitely be encouraging parents and other professionals working with children to sign up in the future!

Sonic Buddy-3

2021-03-15

My son and I both loved UNLOCK, and have gotten great results form it, My son benefited so much from the play therapy and really looked forward to going every week to see Deirdre, he really enjoyed being the boss of the play session and had a great relationship with Deirdre. He often still talks about her and we have popped in to say hello a few times since. Deirdre is very open and will help in any way. I would definitely recommend play therapy / UNLOCK, it has so many benefits to the child and family as a whole.