Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and how it dictates and influences our behaviour, from communication and memory to thought and emotion.
It's about understanding what makes people tick and how this understanding can help us address many of the problems and issues in society today.
We have a specialist child and adolescent psychologist - Michelle Kiernan.
Michelle can help with a variety of emotional and behavioural problems that children and young people experience. This includes issues such as:
- worries, panic, anxiety and phobias
- low mood and depression
- the effects of traumatic life events (sometimes called PTSD)
- obsessive and ritualistic behaviours (sometimes called OCD)
She usually uses Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to help with these types of problems as this is well-supported by the research evidence. CBT is a type of talking therapy which focusses on the connections between what we think, feel and do. She uses CBT with the young person and their family to understand their difficulties and work towards achieving their goals.
Michelle can also help with emotional distress which can occur in response to stressful life events such as exams, changing schools or when a young person is struggling with their confidence or self-esteem. Once you have understood the problem affecting the young person, Michelle can help them develop strategies to understand and regulate their emotions or better manage stressful situations.
Michelle is trained in the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO). and has worked extensively with children with Autism Spectrum Condition. This means that she will consider the impact this might be having on a child's difficulties, and can adapt her interventions accordingly.
For parents looking for guidance and advice, Michelle is trained in ‘Triple P’, the Positive Parenting Programme. She can help you understand your children’s behaviour, teach them new behaviour, use effective discipline and take care of yourself as a parent.
