Workshops
I offer two workshops designed to support parents and caregivers: Secrets from the Playroom and Baby Bonding. Each one is created to give you practical tools and meaningful insights to help you connect with your child in a deeper way.
Play therapy wisdom, now shared with parents.
Secrets from the Playroom
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting with children and families as they navigate big feelings, tricky behaviours, and the challenges of growing up. Along the way, I’ve seen how powerful it can be when parents are given the same tools and insights that therapists use in the playroom every day.
I am deeply passionate about sharing this knowledge — translating the science of brain development, attachment, and regulation into simple, playful practices that parents can weave into everyday life. My hope is to make the “secrets” of the playroom accessible, so that you can feel more confident, connected, and resourced in your parenting journey.
Whether you’re navigating daily meltdowns or simply curious to learn more, Secrets of the Playroom will give you a deeper understanding of yourself, your parenting style, and what your child’s behaviours may be trying to express. You will also come away with a playful and practical toolkit for calmer, more connected days.
Each 2-hour session will be a beautiful blend of relaxation, bite-sized learning, hands-on play, and reflective practice — helping you feel more regulated, while equipping you with a whole new set of playful ideas to support your child’s regulation and connection at home.
But be warned, you will be getting your hands dirty!
With warmth and love,
Caroline
Gentle note: This program is facilitated by Caroline, a qualified and accredited adult, child, and adolescent therapist. While the sessions draw on therapeutic approaches, they are not a substitute for individual therapy or medical advice. Strong emotions may arise during the workshops; if they do, we encourage you to seek support from a qualified therapist, GP, or other trusted professional. Spaces in the workshops are limited to allow for engagement and reflection. Workshop topics will be adjusted to best meet the needs of the group.
Typical topics covered:
Messy Play
Learn how messy play can be used to calm your child’s nervous system and help them to regulate.
Clay & Aggression Play
Learn how to teach your children to manage those big angry feelings in a way that keeps them and others safe.
Sensory Needs
Learn about the sensory systems, why some kids seek input and others avoid it and how to find ‘just-right' balance for your child.
Breathing & Rhythm
Learn about how we can use breathing and rhythm to regulate ourselves and our children in playful ways.
Transitions & Routines
Learn why transitions dysregulate kids (and parents) and how to use play to help.
Play as Connection
Learn to use play as the natural language of connection and rediscover joy together.
Co-Regulation
Learn how your calm presence can help soothe your child’s nervous system — and discover playful ways to co-regulate together.
Self-Care for Parents
Explore why your regulation matters most, and practise small, everyday rituals that support your own wellbeing.
Attachment Theory Made Simple
Understand how your parenting style may have been influenced by how you were parented and how secure attachment grows and how everyday moments of connection build your child’s emotional foundation.
The Science of Safety (Polyvagal Theory)
Discover the “science of safety” — how the nervous system responds to stress — and how playful interactions can bring both you and your child back to calm.
Learning to Listen
Practice truly listening — not just to words, but to behaviour, body language, and play — so your child feels seen, understood, and valued.
Connection over correction.
Discover why playful connection is more effective than constant correction. Learn how shifting from discipline to relationship builds trust, cooperation, and resilience — and explore simple, practical ways to connect with your child, even in challenging moments.
Who is this for?
✔ Parents and carers of children aged 4-12
✔ Parents and carers of children in or waiting for therapy
✔ Parents and carers who want to learn more about the benefits of play and learn new ways to play with their children in a way that promotes calm and connection.
You can use the form to register interest and to find out more about next course start dates and venues.
Alternatively, you can contact me directly at:
caroline@smallsteps.ieRegister Interest
Gentle sessions designed to help build secure, loving relationships from the very beginning.
Before We Meet: A Baby Bonding Journey
Welcome — I’m so glad you’re here. You’re about to embark on one of the most tender chapters of your life: growing a bond with your baby before you’ve even met face-to-face.
As a psychotherapist, I’ve learned that many of our earliest patterns — even our wounds — can trace back to the time before we were born. The attachment between parent and child doesn’t start at birth; it begins in the womb. Your baby is already tuning into you — the rhythm of your heartbeat, the rise and fall of your breath, the sound of your voice. These steady signals are laying down the architecture for lifelong safety, connection, and regulation.
This course was born from both my professional work and my personal longing when I was pregnant with my first child. While antenatal classes and check-ups prepared me physically, I found there was little guidance for the emotional and relational side of pregnancy — for the bond already taking shape. I wanted something gentle, beautiful, grounded in research, and simple enough to weave into daily life. When I couldn’t find it, I created it — for me, and now for you.
This journey is about translating the science of attachment and brain development into simple practices that help you feel closer to your baby, calmer in your body, and more confident as a parent. The focus is not on doing more, but on finding small, repeatable rituals that feel natural — rituals that nurture both you and your baby.
Each session blends relaxation, creative reflection, and gentle learning with practical invitations for connection with your baby. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the type of parent you want to me, how you were parented can impact your parenting style and importantly how your presence already shapes your baby’s development, and with meaningful keepsakes that will remind you of this sacred season.
This series which can be done alone or as a couple is not another task to tick off. It’s a chance to pause, breathe, and begin your lifelong relationship with your child — one small step at a time.
With warmth and love,
Caroline
Gentle note: This course complements your routine antenatal care and classes. It is not a substitute for medical advice or therapy. If difficult emotions arise, please pause and consider reaching out to a qualified therapist. For any concerns about your health or pregnancy, always consult your healthcare provider.
Typical topics covered:
The Science of Bonding
Learn how your baby’s brain and nervous system are shaped by connection — and how even simple moments of presence can support their development.
Attachment in the Womb
Discover how everyday rituals of touch, voice, and imagination begin weaving your baby’s emotional foundation before birth.
Stress & Safety
Understand how your nervous system influences your growing baby’s sense of safety — and explore gentle practices for regulation and co-regulation.
Letters to Baby
Create meaningful written reflections and keepsake letters that will one day tell the story of your love before you met.
Playful Connection
Explore simple, attachment-based games and rituals you can begin now — and continue after your baby is born.
Affirmations & Self-Care
Practise small, daily rituals that nourish your own wellbeing and help you feel held in the journey of becoming a parent.
Gentle Listening
Learn to tune in — to your body, your instincts, and your baby — so you feel more connected and prepared for the early months.
Who is this for?
✔ Expectant parents (course 1 for 0-25 weeks, course 2 for post 26 weeks)
✔ Those curious about how to bond with baby before birth
✔ Parents who want a gentle, creative, and evidence-based approach to early parenting
Before We Meet will leave you with a deeper sense of connection, confidence, and calm — and with keepsakes that celebrate the beginnings of your lifelong relationship with your child.
You can use the form to register interest and to find out more about next course start dates and venues.
Alternatively, you can contact me directly at:
caroline@smallsteps.ie