Welcome to the Family Centre Castlebar

family & parenting

Taking our families forward
tailored support fpr families dealing with emotional or behavioural challenges in primary school children

This one day course will focus on practical strategies based on the individual needs of attending families who are supporting children of primary school age. The programme will include information and interaction and should be particularly helpful in supporting children presenting with emotional or behavioural challenges.

Dates: Saturday October 16th

Time: 10.30 am - 4.00pm

Presenter: Stephanie Fitzgerald.
Stephanie is an Educational Psychologist who has delivered a range of courses to parents facing many challenges, including social and emotional and behavioural difficulties. She works part-time in Trinity College, Dublin and has lecturing input to the Schools of Education in University College Dublin and the National College of Art and Design. In 2007, Stephanie was the recipient of the Social Entrepreneur Award for her work in setting up a support network for parents of children with special needs. She has recently launched an online National Educational Support Network www.destine.ie

Cost: €40 book course


Discussion group on practical interventions and strategies for parenting and working with children with Asperger's Symdrome

This discussion evening is for parents and teachers who are supporting children diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. The group will be facilitated by Stephanie Fitzgerald, educational psychologist. Parents and teachers will also be encouraged to ask any questions and share experiences around what they have found to work well when supporting children and teenagers with Asperger's Syndrome.

Date: Wednesday 29th September

Time: 7.30 p.m - 9.30 p.m.

Venue: Mayo Education Centre, Westport Road, Castlebar

Presenter: Stephanie Fitzgerald, Educational Psychologist.

Cost: No Charge book course

This course is being provided in association with the Mayo Education Centre

Discussion group on practical interventions and strategies for parenting and working with children with ADHD

This discussion evening is for parents and teachers who are supporting children diagnosed with ADHD. The group will be facilitated by Stephanie Fitzgerald, educational psychologist. Parents and teachers will also be encouraged to ask any questions and share experiences around what they have found to work well when supporting children and teenagers with ADHD.

Date: Wednesday 20th October
Time: 7.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m.

Venue: Mayo Education Centre, Westport Road, Castlebar.

Facilitator: Stephanie Fitzgerald, Educational Psychologist.

Cost: No Charge book course

Helping teenagers negotiate conflict

Many teenagers find growing through the teenage years to be quite a challenge. For many teens the combination of experiencing strong emotions and the tasks of becoming more independent and self reliant create stresses that result in difficulty negotiating conflict with those around them. Parents and teachers need to try to understand how teenagers can be supported at this time and how we can help or hinder them during this important stage of development. This presentation will explore ways in which we can help teenagers manage conflict as a normal part of life and equip them, as best we can, for their journey to adulthood.

Date: Monday 18th October.

Time: 7.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m.

Venue: Mayo Education Centre, Westport Road, Castlebar (beside the GMIT)

Presenter: Eugene Greaney I.A.A.A.C.
Eugene is a former Director of the Probation Service Treatment Centre in Harristown House. He undertook his counselling training in UCD and provides private consultancy for secondary schools. He has many years of experience of working with young people around issues such as anger management, behavioural problems, addiction and family and other conflict.

Cost: Free of Charge.

This course is being provided in association with the Mayo Education Centre book course

Parent assertiveness

This course for parents teaches ways of respecting and directing ones children whilst not allowing oneself to be compromised. The emphasis is on developing positive assertiveness skills within the family, which help participants to be direct and open without being aggressive. It is facilitated by Family Centre facilitators who are themselves parents.

Date: Thursdays: October 21st, 28th, Nov. 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

Time: 8.00 p.m. - 10.00 p.m

Led by: Family Centre Parenting Facilitators

Cost: €40 book course


Parent support group for parents of children with Asperger's Syndrome

A number of parents of children who have Asperger's Syndrome hope to start a parents support group. If there is sufficient interest from parents the group will continue to meet regularly.

Date: Tuesday 26th October 2010

Time: 8.00 p.m. - 9.30 p.m.

Venue: The Family Centre, Chapel St., Castlebar.

Facilitators: Parents of children with Asperger's Syndrome.

Cost: No charge. book course