The course takes place over two days on Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd September

Cost: €30 administration fee

This interdisciplinary course has been funded by the HSCP Office, HSE. As such, IASW places are available to social workers in the publicly funded healthcare service only. Tusla staff are not eligible for places on this course.

A therapeutic treasure box of tools, techniques, and further understanding for how to support children and adolescents (adults and ourselves) with anxiety, worries, fears, and stress - including a spotlight on emotional regulation

Social Care Ireland is delighted to have Dr Karen Treisman back this year to facilitate a full two days workshop on anxiety. This workshop is supplementary to previous events facilitated by Dr Karen Tresiman but no prior knowledge is necessary. This is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Social Care Ireland (SCI), the Association of Occupational Therapist of Ireland (AOTI), The Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT), the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) and the Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute (INDI). It is funded by the National Health and Social Care Professionals Office within the HSE.

This two day course will be an opportunity to learn about some creative, physical, sensory, and cognitive ways of supporting children and adolescents (and adults and ourselves) with feelings of anxiety, stress, worries, and fears. Anxiety, stress, and fear are very common and prevalent. So, feeling more skilled and confident in this area is hugely beneficial. 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. Although this course will be virtual, it will be informal and creative with lots of interaction and time for breaks and a long lunch.

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 11 books/ workbooks, including the bestselling book, “The therapeutic treasure box”, and of four sets of therapeutic card decks. Karen has extensive experience in the areas of trauma, parenting, adversity (ACEs) and attachment, and works clinically using a range of therapeutic approaches with families, systems, and children in or on the edge of care, unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people, and adopted children. Karen also specialises in supporting organisations and systems to move towards becoming, and to sustain adversity, culturally and, trauma-informed, infused, and responsive practice. This work focuses on creating meaningful and multi-layered cultural and paradigm shift across whole systems.