Therapeutic
Training & Consultancy

Informed by Psychodynamic Model

St. Bernard’s has a wealth of knowledge and experience working with primary school-aged children with complex needs based on a psychodynamic model of care. This psychodynamic approach is informed by attachment theory and trauma- informed practice to facilitate the process of positive change for the child from within.

To help parents and professionals working with primary school-aged children who might be presenting with challenging behaviours, St Bernard’s offers outreach training courses on behaviour management techniques and psychodynamic forms of communication with children.

Training

St Bernard’s training courses are designed to help social care practitioners and foster carers to: 

  • Understand the challenging behaviours exhibited by the children in their care as a communication of unmet needs;
  • Develop practical strategies for working effectively with children and young people;
  • Recognise and deal with the emotional impact on staff of working with the children through developing reflective practice;
  • Use psychodynamic approaches to understand and manage relationships and behaviours.

 The training courses provide a combination of theory and real-life examples to help practitioners and carers develop their understanding and ability to take the ideas into their organisations or home environments.

Examples of training course provided by St. Bernard’s include:

  • Attachment Theory
  • Understanding the Impact of Childhood Trauma
  • Provision of Therapeutic Environment through Containment, Nurturing and Structure
  • Fostering Positive Relationships with Children
  • Psychodynamic Principles at play in Work and Home Environments
  • Promotion of Creativity and Play for Children and Carers
  • Resilience Training for Carers and Children
  • Therapeutic Toolkit Workshops
  • Recognising and Understanding Trauma in the Classroom

Consultancy

The consultancy offered by St Bernard’s consists of process consultancy for senior managers and team leaders, as well as staff teams.

The consultancy framework we use is based on the ‘Tavistock Approach’ and this involves a combination of psychodynamic, group and systems theory. Each element of the approach can provide a depth of thought about the internal workings of the team and it assists individuals and organisations to explore different aspects of the workplace such as what is going on above and below the surface of your organisation. 

This consultancy approach works with and alongside organisations to:

  • Uncover tensions and barriers that may be undermining performance, leadership, creativity;
  • Promote a culture of curiosity and understanding of presenting dynamics
  • To assist with change management within the team and/or organisation;
  • Encourage teams to think about organisational behaviours and how such behaviours impact on tasks and roles within teams.
  • Facilitation of Reflective Practice Groups for senior management teams and staff groups.
  • Provide Executive Coaching sessions for individual managers and leaders.

The consultancy is people-centred, imaginative and informative and it provides leaders and teams with a reflective space to gain a deeper understanding of their organisations. The consultant does not produce answers to problems but assists teams to explore and think and find their own solutions to on-going problems. The positive outcomes experienced enhances group dynamics, communications with colleagues and provides an improvement to the overall health and wellbeing of the team and organisation

– SUSCIPIT LOBORTI

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Referral Process

The St. Bernard’s Consultancy and Training Service can accept referrals from a wide range of organisations/agencies/individuals. If you are interested, then please contact Róisín Stewart (Consultant and Director) on 052 6131113 or via email at director@stbernards.ie to arrange a free session to discuss your consultancy and training requirements.