Irish Eating Disorders Centre

06/06/2026

Family Carers Ireland are hosting two fantastic talks next week!

On Tuesday at 7pm, psychologist, Clara O’Byrne will host an online talk titled 'Supporting Neurodivergent Parents’ on Tuesday 9th as part of National Carers Week.

On Friday at 11am Asiam.ie will present an online session on Autism and Sensory Processing.

You can register at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/family-carers-ireland-26362127125

Join psychologist Clara O’Byrne for an online talk titled 'Supporting Neurodivergent Parents’ on Tuesday 9th June at 7pm as part of National Carers Week. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1987898188996?aff=oddtdtcreator

On Friday 12th June at 11am, Asiam.ie will present an online session on Autism and Sensory Processing. Sign up at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1987900274233?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/06/2026

Come & Try It - Surfing Programme (17th June 2026) 🌊

Did you know that the water can be a surprising kind of place? Its rhythmic, sensory in a different way and sometimes calming in ways that are hard to explain until you see it.

There’s a lovely opportunity coming up this June, a Come & Try It Surfing Programme for children aged 8–12 with mild intellectual or sensory differences.

Hosted by Waterford Sports Partnership, the focus is simple: a gentle introduction, support in the water, and space for children to experience it in their own way. No pressure to “do it right,” no expectation to be brave on cue, just a supported chance to try something new.

You can take a look at the details here:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/come-try-it-surfing-programme-17th-june-2026-tickets-1991053078355?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Come & Try Surfing – Bookings Now Open! 🌊
Waterford Sports Partnership is delighted to team up with T-Bay Surf Club to offer a Come & Try Surfing Session for children aged 8–12 years with a mild to moderate intellectual or sensory disability.
🌊 Experience the thrill of catching your first wave
🏄 All equipment supplied
😊 A fun, safe and inclusive environment
📅 Wednesday 17th June
⏰ 6.00pm
📍 T-Bay Surf Club, Tramore
💶 €5 per participant (+ Eventbrite fee)
Places are limited, so early booking is advised.
👉 Book here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1991053078355?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/06/2026

To everyone starting their Junior or Leaving Cert this week, we’re thinking of you.

We often hear the same worry again and again: “What if I don’t do as well as I should?” It can sit quietly in the background, even when you’ve done the work.

And of course it feels important. It is important.

But it’s also not the full picture of who you are. Not even close.

Exams measure how things are going right now, in a very specific way, under pressure. They don’t measure your kindness, your effort over time or the way you’ve kept going on hard days.

And stress can show up in different ways this time of year.

For some, eating or taking breaks can feel harder, or get pushed aside. Even small, regular meals and moments of rest matter more than you might think right now.

So as you go into each exam, try to hold both things at once: This matters. And you matter more.

Eat when you can, rest when you can and try step outside for air, even briefly.

And if your mind starts to race ahead to results day or points, gently bring it back. One paper at a time.

You don’t have to carry it all at once.

Wishing you steadiness, a bit of calm where you can find it, and moments of ease in between the exams 🍀

You’re allowed to mind yourself through this. And you’re not on your own.

29/05/2026

We are launching a new Online Parent Support Group for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Following an increase in parents reaching out after receiving a recent diagnosis for their child, we recognise how overwhelming, emotional, and isolating this stage can feel, particularly for parents of younger children.

This weekly online support group is designed to provide a safe, supportive, and professionally guided space where parents can:

Ask questions openly

Better understand ASD and neurodivergence

Learn practical day-to-day strategies

Discuss emotional regulation, routines, sleep, behaviour, sensory needs, and communication

Gain support from other parents who understand the journey

Feel less alone

The group will be facilitated by experienced professionals from Lighthouse Psychology and will focus on compassionate, evidence-informed support for families navigating life after diagnosis.

In addition, we will also offer a free monthly in-clinic workshop for parents, providing opportunities for further learning, practical demonstrations, guest speakers, and connection with other families.

Suitable for parents of children recently diagnosed with ASD, including preschool and primary school age children.

If you are interested in joining or would like further information, please email: [email protected]

Please feel free to share with any parent who may benefit.

27/05/2026

Staying Safe on SSRIs in the Heat

Some SSRIs can affect the part of the brain that regulates body temperature. They can also make sweating more likely. Which, in hot weather, can quietly lead to dehydration.

A few gentle reminders:

– Drink fluids regularly. Little and often can be easier than large amounts
– Try to avoid alcohol, especially in the heat
– Light, loose, breathable clothing helps your body cool down
– And if you can, stay out of direct sun between 11am and 3pm

And one thing to be really clear about: Don’t stop taking your medication suddenly because of the heat. If you’re worried, or something feels off, talk to your GP.

25/05/2026

Do you ever find that sometimes, a thought pops in, such as “This is pointless,” “I’m a failure,” “They’re judging me,”, and suddenly it feels like fact, not just a thought.

And from there, our body tightens, our mood dips and our confidence shrinks a bit more.

We hear a version of this a lot in the room: “I can’t seem to stop being so hard on myself.”

You’re not alone in that.

In DBT, there’s a simple but powerful skill: noticing when your mind is making judgments, and gently stepping back.

That’s it. Not arguing with the thought, not trying to replace it with a positive one, just noticing: “Ah. That’s a judgment.”

A judgment labels things as good/bad, right/wrong, success/failure. These judgements come quickly, often harshly.

But mindfulness invites a small shift: from being inside the judgment… to observing it.

So instead of: “I’m useless for feeling like this”

It becomes: “I’m noticing a thought that I’m useless.”

It might sound subtle, but it changes the ground under your feet.

And here’s the important part, you don’t have to believe everything your mind says.

Especially when you’re tired, anxious or stretched thin.

At this time of year, we often see people feeling under pressure with work deadlines, exams, family expectations and with that, the inner critic gets louder, faster and less kind.

This skill isn’t about getting rid of negative thoughts, it’s about changing your relationship with them.

A bit more space.
A bit less grip.

Over time, that space can make it easier to respond rather than react.

We teach this, and other DBT skills, in our courses at Lighthouse Psychology. Gently, practically and at a human pace. Because learning to step back from harsh judgments can be a turning point, not overnight, but gradually, in a way that lasts.

You are allowed to have difficult thoughts and you are also allowed to not be defined by them.

22/05/2026

What if talking doesn’t feel like enough?

And that’s a fair question.

Alongside traditional psychological therapies, we offer some gentle, complementary approaches too. Different ways of supporting the mind and body, without needing to explain everything out loud.

We often see people come in carrying a lot but struggling to put words on it. Not because they don’t want to, but just because it’s hard.

There are other ways to begin.

No rush. No one right way.

Just a space where support can meet you as you are 🤍

20/05/2026

Heading away this summer might look like a break for everyone but for some families, travel can bring its own kind of stress.

Not all eating or feeding difficulties look the same and when a child is already finding food, routine, or new environments hard, a holiday can feel uncertain… even overwhelming at times.

You might notice worries about unfamiliar places, changes to daily rhythm, sensory differences becoming more noticeable or a quiet tension around meals that others don’t see.

None of this means you’re doing anything wrong, it simply means your child may need a bit more support in new situations.

Some small things can help ease the journey:
1. Give as much predictability as you can, even within change
2. Talk through plans gently, in advance, in a way that feels manageable
3. Bring familiar comforts from home where possible
4. Build in pauses, rest matters too
5. Let go of the idea that things have to look a certain way

Holidays don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful and it’s okay if your version of “making it work” looks different from others.

18/05/2026

A gentle reminder for today 💛 What would you add to this list?

15/05/2026

Supporting Your Child Through Exam Time

At this time of year, we often meet parents who feel a bit torn. You want to help. But you’re not always sure how.

First, it helps to remember what this period can feel like for your child. Even the ones who seem laid‑back and say “I’m grand.” Exams can bring a quiet pressure, fear of letting themselves down, fear of disappointing you, or even just the weight of how much this seems to matter right now. Which can look like stress, irritability, or shutting down.

One of the most powerful things you can offer is a steady presence. Not more pressure, not constant reminders, just being alongside them. That might look like sitting nearby while they study, without saying much, letting them take breaks without turning it into a lecture or noticing effort, not just results. Sometimes the sentence that lands best is: “I can see you’re trying.”

And then there’s listening without jumping in too quickly with solutions or “you’ll be fine.” Because when a child says, “I can’t do this” or “I’m going to fail”, what they often need first is to feel understood. You might respond with: “Yeah, it feels really overwhelming right now, doesn’t it?” stop there. Advice can come later, or not at all.

It’s also okay to name the bigger picture. These exams matter but they are not the measure of your child’s worth, their intelligence, or who they’ll become and hearing that from you, more than once, can quietly take some of the weight off. Even if they roll their eyes.

You might notice your own stress rising too. That’s normal. Watching your child struggle can bring up worry, frustration, even helplessness. Try to be gentle with yourself in that. There isn’t a perfect way to support a teenager through exams. But there is a meaningful one, showing up, staying calm where you can and repairing it if things get tense.

And when this period passes, because it will, what tends to stay with young people isn’t just how they did. It’s how they were held through it.

You and your child are allowed to find this hard. You’re also allowed to get through it together.