Candle Community Trust
Therapeutic Space
Since 2014 the Therapeutic Space service has been responding to significant emotional stresses and trauma affecting the young people in Candle and providing them with therapeutic care and interventions.
It became evident that if young people are to achieve the educational and developmental goals of our programming, the issue of trauma and its effects had to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
The Therapeutic Space, working in an integrated way with all our service provision, and underpinned by the key methodology of the Trauma Recovery Model, seeks to enable recovery from trauma and facilitate healthy growth and development of the young person.
This service provides therapies on site at Candle namely counselling, drama therapy, acupuncture, reflexology, yoga, relaxation and mindfulness sessions as part of the overall programming which young people engage in.
The Therapeutic Space is unique in its approach, creating ‘care within a circle of care’ or a ‘wrap around’ service which delivers significantly positive outcomes for children, young people and their families.
In 2021 Candle’s Community Support Hub was established to support the emotional well-being and mental health of young people living in the wider community.
12 sessions of counselling are offered to young people referred by the local secondary schools, youth organisations such as Familibase, ABLE project, CODY, WHAD and social agencies Tusla and the Probation Service. The referring agency is asked to put forward a ‘nominated person’ to support the young person with their engagement and future care plan if needed.
It is our firm belief that engagement in the Therapeutic Space is making a considerable difference in the lives of the young people, from their education attainment to reducing offending behaviours and towards building resilience and greater healthy personal and social integration.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is part of a 2000-year-old traditional medicine from China. It involves the insertion of extremely fine sterile needles into trigger points in the body. The needles are as thin as hair and nothing like a hypodermic needle-like what you see in a doctor’s surgery.
Acupuncture increases chemicals in the body that reduce pain, and inflammation so can be used for aches pains and headaches.
It calms the nervous system and so is also used to treat stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
The acupuncture in Candle is only available to the young people who access our services and their family.
Mindfulness
Is a meditative practice which trains us in the basic human ability to be fully aware of where we are and what we’re doing. So that we aren’t overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Observing ourselves without criticism, being compassionate with ourselves and cultivating compassion with others.
Reflexology
Reflexology essentially is a focused pressure technique usually on the hands or feet. Reflexologists have mapped the body onto these areas and through massage effect relaxation, boost circulation in the entire body. Clients enter a state of deep relaxation during the treatment, leaving them feeling refreshed and revitalised. Reflexology in Candle is only available to the young people who access our services and their family.
Counselling & Psychotherapy
Our counselling and psychotherapy service is available to young people attending Candle and their families. Counselling helps people to overcome their problems and cope with tough situations by providing a safe, confidential, and encouraging environment in which to contemplate emotional issues. This therapeutic service is delivered by qualified counsellors in our comfortable new therapeutic settings.
Young people from the wider community can engage in our counselling service through Candle’s Community Support Hub. They can be referred by their secondary school or sixth class primary school in the Ballyfermot area, Familibase, CODY, the ABLE Project or WHAD. We also take referrals from Social Workers and Probation Officers.
Yoga
Yoga and Meditation sessions at Candle are a wonderful opportunity to take care of yourself, slow down, relax, and feel more grounded.
In Yoga, we combine sequences of movements and stretches with breath awareness. It’s a great (and fun) way to build up strength and improve flexibility while using the breath as a tool to become more connected with our feelings.
During meditation, we sit or lie down comfortably while the facilitator invites us to observe and sense physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions without judgement.
Experiencing life moment by moment in this way can reduce anxiety or/and stress. Teach us that our feelings are momentary and do not need to define who we are and help us build up inner strength and confidence. The yoga in Candle is only available to the young people who access our services and their family.
Our Therapists
Ciara Cassoni
Louise McHale
Ger Byrne
Elena Moreo
Caroline Duffy
Dave Shipsey
Tracey Mallon
Psychotherapist
Arran Whelan
Psychotherapist