Noreen Gilhooly

Noreen holds professional membership to Play Therapy Ireland affiliated to Play Therapy International.
Noreen is qualified, registered and accredited by PTUK/PTIRL. She also holds a professional membership with IPTCA as well as a certificate in Early Childhood Education & a BA Honours Degree in Social Care. She has a Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills and a Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy from APAC (Academy of Play & Child Psychotherapy). Noreen is on the PTUK/PSA register.

Noreen began her career working in a Therapeutic early years’ service before moving into a role within Residential care services where she worked for several years. She subsequently moved into the area of Social Care and Supporting children & families within their community, where she has continued to work for over 25 years. Before her current work at Kildare Play & Art Psychotherapy Centre, Noreen worked as a Play Therapist in schools for several years.

Noreen has extensive experience working with children, young people and their families who experienced abuse, neglect and trauma. She has a wealth of hands-on experience in dealing with challenging behaviour and helping children and young people develop skills that they can use to support their everyday environment.

Noreen offers play therapy sessions to children and adolescents from 4 to 14 years of age as well as individual parenting support. She has many years of experience as a facilitator in both the evidence-based Strengthening Families Programme and The Incredible Years parenting programme.

Noreen is a licenced Parent-Child Attachment Play Practitioner (PCAP). She continues to work with parents and guardians offering support and advice in a non-judgemental way around strengthening relationships with their children during challenging times.

Noreen also is a trained facilitator in the Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) model and the Parents Plus Special Needs programme. She is also trained in the evidence-based Circle of Security parenting programme.

Noreen is committed to achieving positive outcomes for the children and families she works with by providing a safe and trusting environment enabling children and adolescents to make sense of their world and emotions in the language of play and creative arts. Noreen offers play therapy sessions in our practice on Thursdays.