Emotion-Focused Skills Training for Parents - 2 days in April 2026

Who is this workshop for?

These workshops are suitable for parents or guardians of a child or children struggling with their emotions, behaviour, or mental health. These children can be of any age - from pre-school right the way through to primary and secondary school aged or adult children. Parents looking for non- judgemental support as well as expert guidance in how to take a central role in their child's recovery.

When two parents are involved in a child's life, we encourage both to attend together if possible. However, international research has demonstrated that children will benefit if even one parent attends.

Emotion-Focused Skills Training (EFST) for Parents

Emotion-Focused Skills Training (EFST) is an evidence-based, practical approach to supporting the parents of children who are experiencing social, behavioural or mental health struggles.

EFST is rooted in the belief that parents are the experts in their own children and can be the most important healing force for change for these children. EFST helps parents explore their relationship with their own emotions so they can gain access to the innate expertise they have to help their children with theirs.

This two-day course will help parents develop skills in three main areas

• Emotional ValidationParents will gain knowledge and experience in working with emotions, and learn how to validate their child's difficult and painful emotions.

• Boundary SettingParents will become aware of their natural boundary style and how it's working for their child. They will learn ways to adapt their boundaries and limits so they work better for their particular child, whether that means becoming firmer or becoming less rigid.

• Repairing RelationshipsParents will learn how to repair and heal relationship wounds that may have left their child feeling hurt, scared, alone or self-critical.

EFST is delivered by experienced psychologists as a two-day in-person workshop. The course is interactive and experience-based, with a mix of theory, exercises and individual work. We invite participants to actively engage in the sessions to get the best results.

Limited places are available for this event.

Attendance is 9.30am to 4.30pm on both days, with lunch included.

This event will take place at the Avila Carmelite Centre (Discalced Carmelites), providing a serene setting for you to focus on enhancing your relationship with your child. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with other parents and gain valuable insights into managing big emotions in the home. Sign up now!

Reduced ticket prices are available for single parent households, medical card holders and low income families. We can also provide detailed receipts for people claiming back through health insurance (e.g. Irish Life). Please email [email protected] to request these.

Emotion Skills Ireland

Emotion Skills Ireland offers training, guidance and consultation in emotion-focused approaches to supporting young people in distress. Our work is based on Emotion-Focused Skills Training (EFST), an evidence-based approach to supporting parents and other caregivers to understand and use emotions effectively in order to bring about change

When a young person is struggling with their mental health, we believe that it is the adults in their lives who support them on a daily basis - parents, teachers and other caregivers - that have the greatest power to respond in meaningful, effective and transformational ways. To do this effectively, these caregivers deserve guidance and support.

We aim to work with the adults who are on the front line dealing with young people's intense emotions and challenging behaviour. Our training teaches simple and effective tools to navigate emotional upheaval and transform relationships. We work with parents and schools both in person and online.

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Host or Publisher Emotion Skills Ireland