Love & Rage

“Why are so many adopted children verbally or physically aggressive? What  are they communicating through their behavior? What is the impact of living with a traumatised child? How do we stay calm in the face of our children’s overwhelmed and overwhelming emotions?” 

Love and Rage is a six-week programme for parents of adopted children to explore these frequently asked questions. This programme has traditionally been delivered in person. However, we are now ready to pilot this programme online. It will be similar to the in-person content with some alterations to make it more enjoyable whilst being online. Sessions will likely be on a Monday, for a series of six weeks for two hours per session. There will also be some home learning and reflection activities throughout the week.

Online Programme – Wednesday 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th November and Wednesday 1st & 8th December from 6:30pm-8:30pm.

In Person – Monday 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th November and Monday 6th & 13th December from 10:30am-12:30pm, in the TESSA Office Belfast.

Parent & Children (ages 8-12 years old) Mindfulness with Niamh Houghton

This short, mindfulness course is open to anyone who wishes to experience more calm in their lives. Mindfulness encourages a greater sense awareness and nurtures a feeling of kindness and understanding towards oneself and the world around us.  

These sessions will be delivered by Niamh Houghton, Mindful Kids Belfast. Niamh will introduce children and parents to various mindfulness practices including mindful breathing, mindful eating and the gratitude practice. The sessions will be led in a way that is gentle and child centered. They will offer an opportunity for parent and child to enjoy some peaceful time together while also learning a very valuable life skill.   

Wednesday 13th, 20th, 27th October and Wednesday 3rd & 10th November from 7pm-7.30pm

 Booking strictly limited to five families

Young Hearts & Mind Conference

TESSA are delighted to be attending and exhibiting at the Young Hearts & Minds Conference

Young Hearts & Minds Conference

La Mon Hotel Wednesday 20th & Thursday 21st October 2021

The conference will bring together a wealth of knowledge, experience and research from some of the world’s leading experts in complex trauma recovery.

Young Hearts & Minds is for everyone who has a passion for the well-being and mental health of children and young people.  Take this opportunity to listen to progressive techniques and explore new methodologies on how to start the healing process and beat the long-term effects of early trauma, which can have a serious impact on a child’s development, throughout their youth, and into adulthood.  The teaching and learning at the conference will help you to develop resilience under pressure, enhance your professional development and inspire you to make a change.

Speaking at the the conference :-

  • Karen Treisman
  • Dan Siegal
  • Marie Blaney
  • Deirdre McLaughlin
  • Koulla Yiasouma
  • Stephen Porges
  • Vivian McKinnon
  • Jade Irwin
  • Michael Gibbs
  • Fiona Linehan

 

Creative Self-Care 2 – For Parents with Oonagh Campbell

Creative Self-Care is a series of 4 online experiential self-care sessions for parents using Art Therapy methods.

When appropriate attention is focused on the care of the roots and trunk wholesomeness is emitted creating a safe place for others to hang out. 

Creative Self-Care 2 (for parents that have completed prior Self-Care 1)

Monday 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th November 2021 from 6pm-8pm.

No prior art experience needed.

 

Creative Self-Care 1 – For Parents with Oonagh Campbell

Creative Self-Care 1 is a 5 online experiential self-care sessions for parents using Art Therapy methods.

For many of us life can have a lot going on, that has us constantly pouring out our energy.  When we are 24/7 on all that must be taken care of in any given day, we may become focused on what’s going on around us to such an extent that we forget about the ‘me’ that is experiencing it all.

Self-Care 1 – Wednesday 6th, 13th, 20th October, break for Halloween, Wednesday 3rd & 10th November 2021 from 10am-12pm.

No prior art experience needed.

Halloween Family Fun Day

As it’s National Adoption Week from 18th-24th October, we are delighted to offer TESSA families a free Halloween Fun Day!  Fancy dress is optional!

Join us for fun in adventure land at We Are Vertigo Newtownbreda on Tuesday 26th October from 12pm-2.30pm.

Activities available for children will be:

  • A 3-tier soft play village area
  • High and low ropes course
  • For the bravest a 30ft climbing wall

There are activities for all age groups, and we would welcome your family to attend.

A light lunch will be provided

For further information please contact the office on: Tel: 028 9046 9211

 

 

Love & Rage

“Why are so many adopted children verbally or physically aggressive? What  are they communicating through their behavior? What is the impact of living with a traumatised child? How do we stay calm in the face of our children’s overwhelmed and overwhelming emotions?” 

Love and Rage is a six-week programme for parents of adopted children to explore these frequently asked questions. This programme has traditionally been delivered in person. However, we are now ready to pilot this programme online. It will be similar to the in-person content with some alterations to make it more enjoyable whilst being online. Sessions will likely be on a Monday, for a series of six weeks for two hours per session. There will also be some home learning and reflection activities throughout the week.  

Tuesday 25th May, Tuesday 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th June online from 6:30pm-8:30pm

Love & Rage Launch

 

Dear colleague, 

We are very excited to announce the launch of our new online platform for our therapeutic parenting course ‘Love & Rage’.   

Love & Rage is a six-week programme aimed at parents of adopted children who are struggling with their child’s big emotions, with a focus on developmental trauma.  

The Love & Rage programme has previously been delivered in person with significant positive outcomes, and with thanks to a funding boost from our funder, The National Lottery Community Fund, we have developed a custom-built platform that will allow us to deliver the programme virtually.  

We are inviting you to attend our online launch event on Tuesday 27th April 2021, 1pm-1.30pm via Zoom. This will be opportunity to hear more about the programme’s aims and objectives, the content and to see our new programme platform.  

 Please circulate this invitation to your team and RSVP to this address. Zoom invitation to follow for those attending.   

 

Shining a Spotlight On ……. Filial Therapy

Welcome to our new blog series called ‘Shining a Spotlight On….’. In this series we aim to bring awareness and insight into all things TESSA-related.

“The regulation and strengthened relationships that these sessions have brought to all of us has been indescribable and beyond doubt filial therapy is the single most positive investment we have made since becoming a forever family.”

For our first blog entry we have chosen to Shine a Spotlight on Filial therapy. We have asked an experienced Filial therapist to answer some questions from a therapists point of view and we have also asked a parent who has adopted to share some insight into their experience of Filial therapy and the impact it had on their family life.

” It is a lovely gentle but powerful therapy that can really help strengthen family relationships and help children process anything past or present that causes them difficulty, disturbance or dysregulation.”

So, sit back and enjoy this blog as we delve into the world of Filial therapy. Continue reading “Shining a Spotlight On ……. Filial Therapy”

Mindfulness – Parents and Children (ages 8-10 years old) with Niamh Houton 

This short, mindfulness course is open to anyone who wishes to experience more calm in their lives. Mindfulness encourages a greater sense awareness and nurtures a feeling of kindness and understanding towards oneself and the world around us.  

These sessions will be delivered by Niamh Houghton, Mindful Kids Belfast. Niamh will introduce children and parents to various mindfulness practices including mindful breathing, mindful eating and the gratitude practice. The sessions will be led in a way that is gentle and child centred. They will offer an opportunity for parent and child to enjoy some peaceful time together while also learning a very valuable life skill.   

Tuesday 20th & 27th April, Tuesday 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th May from 7pm-7.30pm 

 Booking strictly limited to four families