Play Connection - Galway

18/01/2026

When children struggle, it’s not bad behaviour….. it’s a nervous system asking for some help.

So often we think “What’s wrong with my child??”
when the more helpful question is:
“What does my child need right now?”

There is no one right or wrong response.
What helps one day might not help the next (which can also be frustrating 🤯).

Regulation isn’t about fixing or stopping feelings.
It’s about meeting the child where their body is and offering safety through connection.

Sometimes that looks like movement.
Sometimes it looks like presence.
Sometimes it looks like play, rhythm, or simply being nearby.

When we slow down and follow the child, their nervous system learns:
💚 I am safe.
💚 I am understood.
💚 I don’t have to handle this alone.

Save this post for the days that feel hard…. for you and for them 🥰

04/01/2026

04/01/2026

🥰 New Year, Gentle Transitions 🥰

We had a lovely family trip to London over the holidays, full of excitement, walking, new sights, and precious time together. And like many families, we also felt that familiar pull afterwards… the need to slow down, get outside, and reconnect before the back-to-school and work routines kick back in.

After the buzz of Christmas, travel, family catch-ups, late nights, and a break from routine, many children’s nervous systems are simply overloaded.

So if your child feels more emotional, dysregulated, tired, or reactive right now, this is often part of them finding their way back to balance.

As school and structure return, gentle things really matter:
- play and games together
- time outdoors
- patience and predictability
- kindness - to our children AND to ourselves

A calm transition, rather than a rushed one, can help children feel safer and more settled as they re-enter routine.

Here’s to starting the new year with connection, compassion, and a little more breathing space for everyone 💛

-transitions psychotherapy

15/11/2025

Sometimes the “I hate you!” moments are the ones that hit us right in the chest....🥹💔

But so often, those words aren’t about hatred at all…. they’re a sign that your child has flipped their lid.
Their thinking brain has gone offline, and their emotional brain is doing the talking.

In that state, children aren’t trying to hurt us… They’re trying to cope.

And they cope with the tools they have in that moment…. big words, loud voices, door slams, tears.

Underneath it all is usually a child saying,
“This feeling is too big for me… can you handle it with me?”

It’s also completely normal for us to feel triggered, hurt, or overwhelmed when this happens.

But when we can pause, breathe, and respond to the feeling underneath the behaviour, we show them that love really is a safe place to land…. even when their lid is flipped.

Connection first. Correction later.
Repair always!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

25/10/2025

Last night I attended a talk with and on parenting in the digital age, and I wanted to share some interesting insights and practical advice they provided.

Children today are growing up in a world that’s faster, more digital, and less connected to movement and face-to-face interaction than ever before! 😵‍💫

Maggie shared some concerning trends being seen in Australia:
• A drop in vocabulary among 5-year-olds
• A 60% increase in myopia (short-sightedness)
• Reduced ability to initiate play and poorer gross motor skills

These statistics aren’t just numbers…. they reflect how much brain development relies on real-world experiences: outdoor play, social connection, creativity, and unstructured time. Screens aren’t the only factor, but they often replace these essential experiences.

One of the points that really stood out was about “techno tantrums”, the meltdowns kids often have when screens are turned off. These aren’t defiance; they’re a nervous system response to overstimulation.

When children engage with screens… games, videos, or social media…. their brains release dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical that reinforces pleasure and motivation. This is similar to how we feel during a gripping movie or winning a game or completing a challenge

When the screen suddenly stops, the dopamine flow drops quickly. Children haven’t yet developed the skills to manage this sudden change, and the result can be frustration, tears, or anger….. a techno tantrum. 🫠😱

What can you do?
Model calm regulation - children learn from watching how we respond. Staying calm, patient, and connected teaches them how to manage their own emotions.

Other key advice:
🚫 No phones in bedrooms
📵 Delay smartphones if possible

The key takeaway?
Connection, calm guidance, and consistent boundaries are far more effective than punishment or sham.

A regulated, present adult is the greatest support a child can have in navigating screens, social media and modern life.

04/10/2025

So, Age 8…

I thought it might be useful to start covering different ages and stages, and the one I’m currently living through (and finding tricky) is 8. So let’s start there… 🙃

Eight year olds are in a fascinating stage.

This is when children step firmly into what Piaget called the concrete operational stage.
Translation? They love logic, rules, and fairness, but still struggle with grey areas. Hence the constant: “BUT that’s not fair!” ⚖️

Emotionally, they’re starting to experience more layered feelings.
An 8 year old can be both excited and anxious about a football match, or happy and sad about a sleepover. Wonderful, but also overwhelming, cue meltdowns over “small” things (that feel huge in their world).

Socially, friendships take centre stage. Peer acceptance matters, and a small conflict at school can feel catastrophic at home. Erikson called this the stage of Industry vs. Inferiority, children want to feel competent and accepted.

What I’ve noticed (at home and in the therapy space)....
• Professional negotiators (everything is a deal 📝)
• Grammar police (ready to correct you mid-sentence 🤓)
• Endless “5 more minutes!” requests ⏰
• Sibling rivalry champions (“But they got more than me!”)
• Future union leaders (petitioning against chores ✊)

Top Tips for parents of 8's:
• Validate messy emotions: “I see you’re both nervous and excited.”
• Keep boundaries clear and consistent (arguing is normal!).
• Offer small choices to support growing independence.
• Listen to friendship dramas, they really are huge in their world.
• Celebrate effort, persistence, and trying, not just outcomes.

So if age 8 feels tough, you’re not alone. This stage is dramatic, funny, exhausting… and full of growth. If your child is keeping you on your toes, chances are they’re right on track. 😉

👉 Parents of 8-year-olds, what’s been the hardest (or funniest) part for you?

01/09/2025

For autistic children, school can feel like an unpredictable, overwhelming place.
The sounds, the social rules, the constant change, it’s a lot to hold for one little mind.

We’ve made huge progress in supporting regulation in schools.
Calm corners, sensory tools, and visual supports are becoming part of everyday classrooms 💛.

But one piece is still often missing, which is CONNECTION.

🙌🏼 Connection is what gives children a FELT SENSE OF SAFETY (a term from Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory).

Safety isn’t just about being objectively safe, it’s about whether the nervous system perceives safety through human connection, warmth, and trust.

When a child feels that safety, regulation follows.
And with regulation, learning and belonging can grow.

Connection before regulation. Because belonging comes first. 🥰

31/08/2025

Children often “show” their feelings through behaviour, especially in the classroom. What looks like anger, defiance, or shutting down is more likely to be anxiety, sadness, or overwhelm.

When we pause and ask “What’s the feeling beneath this behaviour?” we can respond with compassion instead of just correction.

- Children can only learn when they feel safe. Regulation and connection are not “extras” in school, they are the foundation for learning. A calm nervous system makes space for attention, memory, and growth.

- Teachers and caregivers become co-regulators: when we offer steady breathing, gentle tone, and predictable routines, children’s bodies learn safety through us.

- Every behaviour tells a story. If we listen carefully, we can support the child to move from dysregulation to connection, which means they are moving from survival mode into learning mode.

👉 Swipe to see how big feelings may show up in school, and gentle ways we can support.

27/08/2025

Wishing all the little ones (and the big ones too!) a gentle start to the school year ✨

On the outside, children may look like they’re taking it all in their stride….but just like a backpack stacked up high, they might be carrying a lot on the inside. New routines, new teachers, new friendships, worries, excitement, it’s all in there.

When they come home and “unpack” their day (sometimes in words, sometimes in tears, sometimes in silence), they need a safe place to set it all down. 💛

To the kids: you are brave and capable.

To the parents: your calm presence and listening ear will make all the difference.

Here’s to a year filled with growth, kindness, and moments of joy. 🌈

10/08/2025

Heya! 👋 I thought it was about time I introduced myself properly. My name is Mikaela, but I prefer to be called Miki.

Once upon a time, I worked in… finance… in Sydney (where I’m from originally!). Spreadsheets, numbers, and boring meetings that definitely could have been emails 🙄.

Around 13 years ago, I swapped the corporate world for something much more human and completed a Social Care Degree. Since then, I’ve worked alongside families and children in all sorts of spaces, family support, disability services, women’s refuge, domestic violence support, and support access visits for kids living in care.

Fast-forward to today, and I’m a qualified play therapist (through the Children's Therapy Centre), and I am currently in my final year of my Master's in Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy.

What does that mean?
It means I spend my days helping children and young people feel safe enough to explore, express, and grow, often with puppets, sandtray miniatures, art supplies, and sensory play. My therapy room has more toys than a small toy shop, and I often leave work with paint in my hair or glitter on my face.

I also have two kids of my own, so I totally get the parenting juggle, the messy, beautiful, exhausting, hilarious reality of it all.

If you stick around here, you’ll find posts about play therapy, parenting support, children’s emotional worlds, and the magic that happens when we give kids a safe space to be themselves.

So, hi. I’m glad you’re here. 💛

And if you’re looking for a therapist for your child, feel free to DM me….. I’d love to connect.

09/08/2025

“What actually happens in child therapy?” 🤔 💭

It can feel daunting, for both kids and parents, not knowing what to expect. So here’s a peek behind the scenes…

🔹 Intake: We start with your child’s story from pregnancy all the way up to today. Sometimes this takes more than one meeting.
🔹 Sessions: Some are generally just me and your child, but some may include you. Sessions are always tailored to what supports the child best.
🔹 Parent Reviews: Every 4–6 weeks we check in, share themes, notice patterns, and often see your child in a whole new light.

Sessions are private..... your child can choose to share whatever they like, but I will always keep their confidentiality. That privacy builds trust, and trust helps them feel safe enough to open up and grow into their most authentic self.

It’s not about keeping secrets.
It’s about giving them the space to be. 💛

If you have any questions or would like to know more, please feel free to DM me.

01/08/2025

“My child doesn’t want to talk in therapy…”

It’s something I hear often…. and something I’ve felt myself.

As a parent, I know what it’s like to hope your child will open up.
As a therapist, I also know that not every child starts with words.

Some children need space to play it out before they can talk it through.
And that’s absolutely okay.

Play therapy offers another way in… through movement, art, sand, storytelling, and creativity. Talking can still happen… but it’s always on the child’s terms.

👉 I’m not saying one is better than the other.
Psychology, play therapy, they’re just different paths.
And different children need different kinds of support.

Recently, our kids were chatting, trying to figure out what was different about their therapy sessions, as one did talk therapy and the other play therapy.
It made me smile as they explained it to each other.
Because in the end, it’s not about the method.
It’s about whether they feel safe, supported, and heard. 💛

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