DO YOU LIVE IN OR NEAR GALWAY OR LIMERICK?

DO YOU WISH TO MEET THE PSYCHOLOGIST WORKING WITH HEART CHILDREN IRELAND?

Have a look at the recent email / Facebook “ad” which outlined upcoming psychology service events in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick! TODAY is the “closing date” for contacting the psychologist if you wish to meet her individually or as a family in Galway on 28^th February or in Limerick on 6^th March or as part of the group in Limerick on 29^th February and 7^th March. Venues to be confirmed. See the details below. Please note that there are only a small number of meetings still available.

The Heart Children Ireland Psychology Service is one of our most in-demand services. Since the service was launched, psychology appointments have been offered to members in the 26 counties. The type of supports provided, and where and when they have been offered, reflect requests from members (e.g. family meetings in Donegal and Waterford, groups in Carlow and Galway and school visits in Louth and Kerry). Telephone support is also available. Have a look at our (new) website under “What We Do” and then under “Psychology Service” for more details about the psychologist as well as the service and how to access it.

Below, please find information about upcoming events in Dublin, Galway and Limerick. Places are offered on a “first come, first served basis”. To request a meeting or a place in the group, please contact Dr. Deirdre O’Neill, Chartered Clinical Psychologist directly on 085 2739772 or at irishpsychologyservice@gmail.com today.

If you are living in other parts of the country and would like to link with the psychologist, it is suggested that you make telephone or e-mail contact with Dr. O’Neill to discuss support options. Other psychology service events across the year will be highlighted in due course.

MEETING THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN CORK: Dr. O’Neill met with members on 14^th and 15^th February. If you would like to meet Deirdre during her next Cork clinic, please contact her directly.

MEETING THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN DUBLIN: The psychologist is available to meet members in the Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 on Mondays.

MEETING THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN GALWAY

The psychologist will be in Galway to meet families on Friday 28^th February. Venue to be confirmed.

MEETING THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN LIMERICK: 2 UPCOMING OPTIONS

1. Individual / Family Meetings

The psychologist will be in Limerick to meet families on Friday 6^th March. There will also be a very small number of meetings available on Saturday 29^th February and Saturday 7^th March. Venue to be confirmed.

2. Group Meeting (4 meetings over 2 days): All about communicating with your children and others about cardiac matters:

The proposed group will take place if there is enough interest expressed directly by Tuesday 18^th February and will cover topics such as:

• How do you answer your child’s questions about his/her heart health?
• How do you support your child deal with classmates’ queries about medications, hospital visits and health-related physical challenges?
• How do you balance the needs of everyone in the family when you are supporting a child with a cardiac condition?
• What tips have other parents when it comes to dealing with such questions?

The proposed dates for the group are Saturday 29^th February and Saturday 7^th March, from 11am – 3 pm. Lunch will be included. (The group will consist of 4 meetings, 2 on each date, one before and one after lunch.) Venue to be confirmed.

While Heart Children Ireland funds these groups for members, the one request is that each attendee who signs up is free to come along to all 4 meetings, across the 2 days.

Most of the members who have attended such groups to date (e.g. in Carlow, Cork, Galway, Dublin and Kerry) have had children with cardiac conditions of primary school age. Sometimes parents with younger children also attend. If you cannot attend this year, but would like to do so in the future, please let Deirdre know.