Talking to your child and others about his/her cardiac condition

• How do you answer your child’s questions about his/her heart health?
• How do you support your child to deal with classmates’ queries about medications, hospital visits and health-related physical challenges?
• How do you balance the needs of everyone in the family when you are supporting a child with a cardiac condition?
• What tips have other parents when it comes to dealing with such questions?

About these meetings

In recent years, Dr. Deirdre O’Neill, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, has run a number of small groups for Heart Children Ireland parent members to talk about these matters. Deirdre, who previously worked on the cardiology team at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, provides lots of practical and psychological information. Attendees have had preschool or primary school aged children with cardiac conditions. Members have enjoyed these meetings and the feedback has been extremely positive!

Details of the next group

(IF there is enough interest expressed by FRIDAY 27th September)

WHEN: 4 Tuesday mornings – 15th October, 22nd October, 5th November, 12th November. Please be available to attend ALL 4 meetings.
WHAT TIME: 10.15am – 11.45am sharp. Refreshments available from 10am.
WHERE: Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.
COST: As Heart Children Ireland funds the groups, there is no cost for members.
HOW TO BOOK A PLACE: Contact Deirdre by 27th September. See her details below. Places will be allocated on a strictly ‘first come first served’ basis.

If you are interested but cannot attend on this occasion, be sure to let Deirdre know. If you know of other members who may be interested in attending but who may not see this message via e-mail or Facebook, please pass on the invitation to them too. Note that these groups can be run in any region where there is enough member interest and availability. (These groups have previously been held in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Galway and Kerry. They have been held during the week and at weekends. They have been held by day and by night.)

If you are interested in attending, please contact Deirdre directly on 085 2739772 or irishpsychologyservice@gmail.com by Friday 27th September 2019.