Tessa, Author at TESSA

10th September 20244th February 2025

Art Therapy for Parents

Creative Cocoon
‘Life is something endlessly in the process of becoming something else.’
(Richard Holloway)

As an adoptive parent, you will know that life is a juggling act, and that things rarely stay the same for long. As we move out of the summer, and into the autumn once more, this is your opportunity to cocoon; to take a step back from daily routines and the din of family life.

Over four consecutive Tuesday evenings in October, we will meet as a small group, and use the medium of art materials to express our family ‘landscapes,’ needs for balance, boundaries and transformation. Creativity is normally birthed out of chaos, and so the only prerequisite for joining this group is your family’s own unique blend of imperfection. In our ‘creative cocoon’ we will consider the humble butterfly and what it can teach us about being still, journeying through mess, and surrendering to new beginnings.

The group will be led by Julie Mehaffy, Art Psychotherapist. Julie has a love for the metaphors found in nature, and views all creativity as a form of self-expression. There is no need for artistic skill in joining this group, but simply a desire to play around with colours and textures whilst keeping in mind the needs of your wee family.

Dates: 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd October 2024

Venue: Family Routes Office, Unit 2, 18 Heron Road, BT3 9LE

Time: 7.00-8.30pm

**Although a ‘group,’ this is an opportunity primarily for self-reflection and so there will be no pressure to share stories or struggles with others unless you choose to do so.

How do I sign up?
CLICK HERE to fill in the registration form.

10th September 20244th February 2025

Art Wellbeing Course for 7-11 year olds

This online course will be led by Melissa McCracken who has been delivering 1-1 and group support with TESSA for a number of years.

In her art therapy sessions, she strives to create a warm and confidential environment where participants can feel safe and nurtured. It’s a space where the young people can freely explore a wide variety of art materials and express their emotions, whether through words or non-verbal means.

Don’t worry if your child doesn’t have any prior art experience – it’s not a requirement at all. Each group session will be personalised to suit the needs within the group, ensuring they feel comfortable and supported throughout the process.

All participants will receive an Art pack in the post prior to the first session.

Prepare for some messy and creative fun.

Dates:
Wednesday 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd October (1 week break), 6th and 13th November

Venue: Online

Time: 6.30-8.30pm
*Please note that a parent or guardian must remain in the same room as participants during each session for Safeguarding purposes.

How do I sign up?
CLICK HERE to fill in the registration form.

10th September 20244th February 2025

Sharon Coulter

TESSA Counsellor

Location
Ballymena and 25 mile radius

I am accredited and regulated by the following bodies and adhere to their code of ethics:
Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC);
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) an independent UK-wide health regulator;
I am a member of the EMDR All-Ireland Association.
I am a member of the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth);

Qualifications
2020 – 2023 Training in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and the Flash Technique (FT) (an adjunct of EMDR)
2019 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1
2007 MA Arts Psychotherapy (Specialising in Dramatherapy)
2001 MA Social Work
1995 BA (Hons) Humanities

Special interest
I am particularly interested in somatic psychotherapy (Somatic therapy operates on the premise that what happens to you in your life is stored not only in your mind but also in your body). My clinical experience, my training in EMDR, sensorimotor psychotherapy and creative methodologies embody my holistic approach when helping to improve the well-being of adults, children, young people and their parents/carers.
Both EMDR, Creative Arts and Dramatherapy are listed as interventions by Beacon House – Therapeutic Services & Trauma Team. They created the “Bottom Up” Approach to address neurodevelopmental trauma and it is underpinned by the Neuro Sequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), developed by Dr Bruce Perry.
The “Bottom Up” Approach is designed to recover and repair each part of a child’s brain in a specific, phased and effective order.

Experience:
I am a therapeutic social worker, arts psychotherapist, arts facilitator and community artist. I have clinical experience in the assessment of forensic risk, mental health, parenting and child protection. I have particular expertise in the area of neuro-diversity; I provide therapeutic intervention to children on an individual and group basis and provide advice and support to parents.

As a therapeutic social worker, I have gained wide-ranging knowledge and skills from working in various statutory agencies and most recently as a child and adolescent mental health practitioner. I understand the treatment of medical and mental health diagnoses with medicine and have the experience of using behavioural and creative methodologies in conjunction with and without medicine to improve the well-being of children and adolescents. This knowledge and experience combined with my arts psychotherapy training, EMDR and FT training gives me a unique approach in my private practice.
I have worked in many diverse settings including the Education Authority NI, Youth Justice NI, NHS and a range of community non- statutory organisations.

In the Education Authority I have worked within the Happy Healthy Minds Project for Primary Schools since 2021, providing creative expressive workshops for groups of children and play based therapy for individual children.

Within the NHS I have gained extensive knowledge and skills from working as a senior practitioner in a multi-disciplinary Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) environment.

As an arts facilitator I work with groups of older people for Arts Care which is a regional arts, health and well-being organisation and charity based in NI. I provide arts facilitation for children and adults with learning disability as well as small groups of young people suffering from anxiety, with and without diagnoses of ADHD and ASD. I believe arts-based group processes, promote positivity and resilience.
I work under Creative Therapy NI.

10th September 20244th February 2025

Siobhan Wilson McGlinchey

TESSA Counsellor

Location
Limavady, Co Derry

Service provided
Creative Psychotherapy

I am registered/accredited with:
Fully accredited MBACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
MIAPTP (Irish Association for Play Therapy and Psychotherapy)

Additional information
Hi everyone my name is Siobhan and I am a Creative Psychotherapist specialising in Play, Humanistic Integrative Counselling and Mindfulness coaching.

I am known for my unique intuitive and authentic approach to therapy with the integration of creativity, play, embodiment and talking therapy.

I work intuitively, creatively and energetically to help clients understand themselves at a deeper level. My approach considers the person as a whole – Body mind and Soul.

I specialize in working with parents/carers and children through the healing powers of Play and help parents integrate knowledge with experience.

My ability to attune and empathize allows me to create a therapeutic relationship where real transformation and healing can occur.

I facilitate individual and group sessions within my private practice, community, Education authority WHSCT, etc.

A few examples of programs and workshops I have developed are as follows: –

The Healing Powers of Play (For Professionals/Parents/carers)
Mindfulness & Your Nervous System
Nourish to Flourish
Transforming ourselves, empowering our children (For Professionals/parents/carers)
What About Me (For Professionals/parents/carers)
Be Yourself
Surfing the Waves (For Teenagers)
Body Mind & Bump Connection (Peri-natal peer support training)
Healing the Child within
Mind Yourself (Teenagers)

For further details of my programs see contact details above.

Qualifications
My Professional qualifications are MAs Creative Psychotherapy (Humanistic and Integrative Modality), PgDIP Play therapy, DipHE Integrative Counselling.

What I can Help you with:
Birth and Developmental trauma, Attachment, Trauma, Addiction, Bereavement & Loss, Adoption, Fostering, Anxiety, Depression, Post-traumatic stress, personal development, Child related issues, Eating disorders, OCD, Spirituality and Stress

Types of therapy
Creative Psychotherapy, Humanistic Integrative counselling, Person centred, Play therapy,

Clients and organisations I work with:
Adults, Families, Young people, Children
Groups, Community Organisations, Education Authority, Western Health and Social Care, Doctors surgeries etc..

How I deliver therapy
Long-term face-to-face work, online counselling, Short-term face-to-face work, groupwork.

Contact information: please contact TESSA.

Name:	Siobhan Wilson McGlinchey
Location:	Limavady, Co Derry
Service Provided:	Creative Psychotherapy
About Me:	Hi everyone my name is Siobhan and I am a Creative Psychotherapist specialising in Play, Humanistic Integrative Counselling and Mindfulness coaching. I am known for my unique intuitive and authentic approach to therapy with the integration of creativity, play, embodiment and talking therapy. I work intuitively, creatively and energetically to help clients understand themselves at a deeper level. My approach considers the person as a whole – Body mind and Soul. I specialize in working with parents/carers and children through the healing powers of Play and help parents integrate knowledge with experience. My ability to attune and empathize allows me to create a therapeutic relationship where real transformation and healing can occur. I facilitate individual and group sessions within my private practice, community, Education authority WHSCT, etc. A few examples of programs and workshops I have developed are as follows: – The Healing Powers of Play (For Professionals/Parents/carers) Mindfulness & Your Nervous System Nourish to Flourish Transforming ourselves, empowering our children (For Professionals/parents/carers) What About Me (For Professionals/parents/carers) Be Yourself Surfing the Waves (For Teenagers) Body Mind & Bump Connection (Peri-natal peer support training) Healing the Child within Mind Yourself (Teenagers) For further details of my programs see contact details above. Qualifications My Professional qualifications are MAs Creative Psychotherapy (Humanistic and Integrative Modality), PgDIP Play therapy, DipHE Integrative Counselling. Membership Fully accredited MBACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) MIAPTP (Irish Association for Play Therapy and Psychotherapy) What I can Help you with Birth and Developmental trauma, Attachment, Trauma, Addiction, Bereavement & Loss, Adoption, Fostering, Anxiety, Depression, Post-traumatic stress, personal development, Child related issues, Eating disorders, OCD, Spirituality and Stress Types of therapy Creative Psychotherapy, Humanistic Integrative counselling, Person centred, Play therapy, Clients and organisations I work with Adults, Families, Young people, Children Groups, Community Organisations, Education Authority, Western Health and Social Care, Doctors surgeries etc.. How I deliver therapy Long-term face-to-face work, Online counselling, Short-term face-to-face work, groupwork
Contact:	Please contact TESSA

20th August 20244th February 2025

A donkey experience

Pre-teen wellbeing course for ages 7-11

Participants will participate in a fun, practical and gentle approach through shared-experiences with our family of donkeys in a safe and nurturing environment. The course will promote confidence, self-esteem and develop positive well-being whilst encouraging team-working building relationships with each other and the animals. Also, the programme will encourage the participants to connect with each other, build upon their social and emotional skills whilst making friends along the way.

Activities will include caring for and looking after the donkeys, brushing and spending time with them and taking part in activities in the great outdoors with the donkeys as the central learning tool. Also, the participants will take part in a food hunt around the farm determining what’s good for the donkeys to eat and collectively bring the selection of plants together to make a colourful collage which they can take home and cherish.

The programme will conclude with a celebration activity by gathering around the camp fire, toasting marshmallows.

*Please bring with you a snack and a drink, wellie boots, rain coat and wrap up warm in case the weather is changeable.

*Priority will be given to participants who have not engaged in this programme previously.

When:
Fridays 4.30-6.30pm
6th, 13th, 20th and 27th September
4th & 11th October

Where:
Learning in harmony with donkeys, Saintfield.

How do I sign up?
CLICK HERE to fill in the registration form.

10th July 20244th February 2025

Family Wellbeing Day – Share Centre

TESSA and Family Routes are excited to announce a Family Wellbeing event being hosted at the SHARE Centre in Enniskillen. This is open to all families who have adopted child(ren) living in Northern Ireland. It will be a lovely opportunity to connect with other families, chat about TESSA services and enjoy a fun day out before the return to school.

Who can come along?
This event is open to all families with at least one adopted child. Activities are suitable for those aged 8+.

The venue has a range of activities available for parents and younger siblings including Mindfulness sessions provided by TESSA, indoor swimming sessions (at own cost) and lovely outdoor settings for picnics and play.

What can you do?

2 hour water based activities: Stand up paddle boarding and Canoeing 11am – 1pm
2 hour land based activities: Archery and Climbing 2pm – 4pm
Mindfulness drop in sessions in the afternoon
Enjoy the lovely surroundings to have a packed lunch or avail of a hot meal in the on site café.

All wet gear and safety equipment will be provided.

When?
Saturday 17th August 10.45am – 4.00pm

Where?
SHARE Centre, 221 Lisnaskea Road, Enniskillen BT92 0JZ

How do I sign up?
Scan the QR code or click here to fill in the registration form. Following registration, we will be in touch to confirm your place as places are limited.

10th July 20244th February 2025

Teens Celebration

TESSA and Family Routes are excited to celebrate the work of the TESSA teens Project, sharing experiences from the past 2 years and celebrating together as a group of Teens and families.

Who can come along?
This event is for anyone with Teens who have benefitted from either 1-1 therapeutic work with TESSA or been a part of our Teen Emotional Health and Wellbeing groups (EFL, Photography, Art, Music, Drumming, Climbing).
Also if you were unable to access these services or are new to TESSA but have teens and are keen to hear about the project please sign up.

Younger siblings are welcome along, Moira Lakes activities are suitable for those aged 5 and over while everyone can avail of the Donkey and Art activities as well as pizza party and treasure hunt.

What can you do?

Enjoy the activities on offer from Moira Lakes- Stand Up Paddle boarding, Archery, and Swimming. (All wet gear will be provided)
Access therapeutic options from TESSA therapists and Facilitators – EFL(Learning in Harmony with Donkeys) and Art Therapy
Explore the treasure hunt around the Lake
Enjoy some Pizza
Hear about the project and give their own feedback which will help shape the support provided by TESSA in the future
Connect with other families with shared experiences

When?
Saturday 7th Sept 11am-3pm

Where?
@ Moira Lakes, 32b Old Church Lane, Aghalee, Craigavon BT67 0EY

How do I sign up?
Scan the QR code or CLICK HERE to fill in the registration form.

Following registration, we will be in touch to confirm your place as places are limited.

QR Code for TESSA Teens Celebration Event

10th July 20244th February 2025

Working Things Out – TEENS

TESSA and Family Routes are excited to announce Working Things Out Programme in collaboration with Holywood Family Trust and Parent Plus. Aimed at helping young people focus on developing skills and techinques to boost their emotional health and wellbeing.

The Working Things Out programme aims to help young people build communication and conflict resolution skills in order to overcome mental health problems and to improve their relationships within their families, in school and in the community. The programme sessions are designed around a DVD containing personal stories of adolescents who have coped with challenging mental health issues such as, Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, OCD, Self-harm and Suicide, as well as issues such as, Bullying, School Pressures, and Conflict with Parents. The stories offer advice on how to cope and what young people can do to help themselves.

Topics include:
· Getting Along with parents /carers – Improving family relationships.
· Stop and Think – The key to solving problems.
· Listening, talking and resolving conflicts.
· Managing feeling down- Things I can do to help myself.
· Taking Charge – Developing helpful thinking strategies.
· Keeping Your Cool – Dealing with anger and conflict.
· Communicating Well – For building positive relationships.

The course will be tailored to the group so may not cover all topics.