What is Space?
Space
Space is a place where children can learn social and emotional skills through play.
Who is space for?
Space works with 4 − 12 year olds and adolescents (13 – 19 years) and their families. It is important for guardians to be involved in Space as well as children and young adults. A family meeting is held every 4 – 6 weeks to discuss themes and issues arising out of therapy.
How Space works with children (4 – 12 years)
Space helps children with communication skills, social skills, self-esteem, resilience, mood regulation and provide an opportunity in a group setting to engage with others, social skills, and negotiate social situations. Activities include fun games that teach children about their emotional state and at the same time help them understand relationships. Children will be able to enjoy individual play experiences like making art, sandplay, clay activities, and solving brainteasers, and mindfulness games.
Through play, children will learn to:
- Develop a sense of independence
- Communicate feelings
- Problem solve
- Maintain high self-esteem
- Develop social and emotional intelligence
How Space works with Adolescents (13 -19 years)
Damien is aware that being a teenager is not an easy stage of life. When issues arise it can be difficult to know what to say or how to form ideas about whats wrong. Space therapy allows teenagers to stop, think and figure out where they might begin to look at making their life a bit easier and less stressful. This usually involves meeting with Damien once a week for 45 minutes. Sessions are taken on a week by week basis. There is no obligation to come back after a session unless there is more work needed to be done. This decision is made between the teenager and Damien, in conjunction with input from guardians.
How Space Works with Parents and Families
Damien will meet with parents or other family members who have an influence on the well being of children in the family. Damien usually meets with parents to discuss issues that are arising in the family. Between them they agree on the best way to proceed. This usually involves weekly one-on-one therapy with the young person. Every 4 – 5 weeks Damien will meet with the whole family (usually the young person and parents). This provides an opportunity to discuss all pertinent issues. Themes that were brought up during the last four weeks are discussed and parents get an opportunity to discuss concerns and insights into how things are going.
What issues can be dealt with?
Space helps children with communication skills, social skills, self-esteem, resilience, mood regulation and provide an opportunity in a group setting to engage with others, social skills, and negotiate social situations. Space allows children and adolescents to learn about their emotional states and understand relationships. Issues that are typically dealt with are:
- Developmental transitions such as starting school or changing teachers
- Crippling shyness
- Difficulty fitting in and mixing in groups
- Temper tantrums
- Hyper-vigilance
- Hair pulling, frequent handwashing, or other repetitive behaviours
- Over reliance on needing things done a certain way
- Bereavement
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Separation/divorce
- Family illness/mental health issues
- Mealtimes, bedtimes and morning routines
- Daily stress
- Inability to deal with changes in routine
- Inability to sleep
Space is a counselling centre run by Damien McKenna. Damien is a qualified counselling psychologist who specialises in working with children and adolescents.
Damien graduated with an honours degree in psychology from UCD. From there he went to work in social care in Australia and Dublin. He spent over ten years working with young children and adolescents from various backgrounds. This garnered a deep understanding of the development, struggles and coping skills children encounter and deal with as they go through the testing and joyful time of youth.
“It is my belief that children and adolescents have a unique ability to deal with the joyful and testing time of youth in their own individual ways. Traditional talk therapy or behavioural management has its place in child and adolescent lives but it does not always fit for their developmental stage or personality. Providing alternative and creative ways to deal with the specific needs and life challenges of children and adolescents can be key.”
Following completion of an MSc. in counselling psychology from Trinity College Dublin, Damien has been working with children and adults. His work specialised in general counselling and working with trauma. He works with children in community services as well as in private practice.