Dr Siobhan Sweeney

In drawing from a Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic approach, psychotherapy aims to gain an understanding around the difficulties one is experiencing and examine in-depth what is behind one’s behaviour. By exploring one’s internal or fantasy life and being aware of how the past may influence the present, psychic pain can be alleviated and desired change brought about. In using the therapeutic relationship which offers a sense of security and containment, clients are given the opportunity to identify difficulties, reflect on experiences and reach a place where they can begin to heal through acceptance and nurturing their strengths. For children, play is their language and toys are their words so in play therapy children are provided with toys in a safe space to ‘say’ what they are feeling and express their distressing emotions. Through play therapy, defenses can be dismantled to allow for distressing feelings to be managed and for new experiences to develop. Playing out these feelings can help children to feel understood and allows them to learn how to express their thoughts and feelings in constructive ways to gain a sense of mastery. While working with children, Siobhán works closely with parents offering support with parenting difficulties and developing parenting skills.