What is The Primary Care Child Psychology Service?
Our service offers support to children (0-17) who are experiencing mild to moderate psychological challenges. We offer many interventions depending on the level of support a child needs. This is called a Layered Care Approach.
Lots of people come to our community talks and access self-help information. Many people come to our parenting groups and Psychology Consultation Clinics. Some people attend for assessment or individual therapy.
Some Aspects of our service are delivered by telehealth (eg video/phone).
The Dublin South City Child Primary Care Psychology Service is for people living within our catchment area, including:
- Dublin 2
- Irishtown/Ringsend
- The Liberties
- The Coombe
- Rialto
- Harold's Cross
- Portobello
- Rathgar
- Rathmines
- Terenure
- Knocklyon/Firhouse
- Rathfarnham
- St. Enda’s
- Ballyboden/Edmondstown
What can we support you with?
Child Difficulties
- Behavioural difficulties
- Anxiety and low mood
- Difficulties managing feelings
- Difficulties with concentration and attention
- Social and interpersonal difficulties
- Relationship difficulties between parent and child
- Cognitive and development concerns
- Trauma and stressful life events
- Assessment and screening of non-complex difficulties
It may not be necessary for your child to attend the service. Often we work in collaboration with parents on how to best support their child.
Services offered
Self-Help Information
Bibliotherapy is the use of books for therapeutic purposes. It is available to everyone. We often recommend bibliotherapy to help with mild to moderate mental health issues and have created a self help reading list which provides resources for many issues that you and/or your child may be experiencing. The majority of these books can be found at your local library.
You can find out more about bibliotherapy and how to join your local library here ( Thanks to Dublin West Primary Care Psychology Service for bibliotherapy resources).
Workshops
We occasionally deliver workshops throughout the year on different themes of interest for parents such as:
- Anxiety
- Emotions
- Behaviour
- Resilience
- Sleep
- Attachment
- Mindfulness
Group Interventions
We offer parent groups where parents can develop skills to support their children’s emotional and psychological needs.
We offer groups for children to improve their awareness of their feelings and emotions and help them to develop skills to cope with them when they are overwhelming.
Individual Interventions
Sometimes, children may need more support and can be referred for individual therapy. Sessions may involve the child, and or parent, attending depending on what is thought to be most helpful. The number of sessions is limited.
Accessing our service
How can your child be referred?
Children can be referred by a healthcare professional, such as your GP, a Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist or Public Health Nurse.
To refer your child to our service, please speak with a health professional involved with your child's care. Contact our service directly for a referral form at 01 795 8044.
We need written parent(s) consent in order to accept a referral.
What happens if your child gets referred?
Referrals are reviewed at our regular team meeting and if our service seems the most appropriate, a referral acceptance letter is sent to the referrer and parents.
If we feel another service would be more helpful, we may recommend your child is referred there instead.
We may also recommend you access other community services while waiting for an appointment with the psychology service. An offer of an initial assessment appointment will be sent as soon as possible.
What can you expect when meeting a Psychologist?
A talk with a psychologist is confidential.
Information is only shared with specific individuals or services in situations where there is a concern for you or others’ safety.
Sometimes, with your permission, we may link with other healthcare professionals e.g. a speech and language therapist, to make sure you are best supported.
Who are we?
In the Primary Care Psychology Service, we work together as a team to deliver the most appropriate support to the children and adolescents referred to our service.
Professionals may include Clinical, Educational and Counselling Psychologists, Psychologists in Training and Assistant Psychologists.
Where are we?
Meath Primary Care Centre
1-9 Heytesbury Street,
Dublin 8, D08 Y1TW
Pearse Street Health Centre,
Mark’s Lane,
Off Lombard St East,
Dublin, D02 TD23
Rialto Primary Care Centre,
383 S Circular Rd,
Dublin 8, D08 RY99
Please send all Referral Forms to The Meath Primary Care Centre.
Phone 01 795 8044
