Lisa is a leading specialist in the areas of the voice of the child, play based engagement with children, emotional release, and attachment theory. Lisa has contributed greatly to the development of these areas nationally and internationally by engaging in research and publishing in peer-reviewed journals. Lisa is studying psychology at present and continues to engage in further research to optimise and inform her recommendations on the child caregiver relationship. Lisa remains committed to this area, given its significance in child development and positive child and adult mental well-being.

In 2016, Lisa authored the national training programme for social work and frontline practitioners on ‘Linking Attachment Theory to Practice’. She was project lead on the TUSLA (Child and Family Agency) National Development Team. In addition, Lisa participated on the national development team for ‘Direct Work with Children’. These programmes have since continued to be the educational support structures for social work, childcare, and family support practitioners on the frontline.

Lisa has taught as an associate guest lecturer at the National University of Ireland, Galway, for approximately twelve years, specialising in the areas of child and family social work, communicating with children and attachment theory. At the NUIG, Lisa engaged in practice teaching opportunities for student social workers and marked assessments for the Practice Teacher Training Diploma. Lisa continues to collaborate with the NUIG Child and Family Research Centre in relation to developing services for children and families.

Lisa completed a two-year Diploma in Play Therapy at the Children’s Therapy Centre in Westmeath, Ireland in 2008. Before completing the Diploma in Play Therapy, she commenced her PhD with the National University of Ireland, Galway to study the benefits of using play to engage with children in the child protection system. In 2008, Lisa designed a Play Skills Training Programme and assessed this for efficacy in supporting social workers in their communication with children during child protection assessments. The social workers evaluated the applied efficacy of this approach in their practice over a six-month period, realising the following ten developments in their practice with children in the child protection system:

1. They started to create a child-friendly environment when meeting children.

2. They felt more confident engaging with children.

3. They found the assessments process to be more     child-friendly.

4. They felt the voice of the child received greater representation within their assessments.

5. They felt more enthused about their work with children.

6. They used their time with children differently and were more playful in all interactions.

7. The worksheets with pictures were the preferred tool to promote communication.

8. They engaged in and/or observed children’s play during visits to their homes.

9. They found communication was enhanced during playful meetings with children.

10. They found communication was enhanced during interviews with children.

Lisa completed the Theraplay Level 1 Training in 2015, a therapeutic approach which aims to enhance attachment security between children and caregivers using playful engagement. Lisa has developed caregiver programmes to support caregivers who are struggling to meet the needs of their children and want to resolve challenging behaviours in a way that is supportive for the child, rather than the use of negatively oriented punishments, shame, control, or bribes.

Lisa is currently studying Psychology and continues to engage in research on supporting the child-caregiver relationship. This remains her central area of interest, given its significant role in child development and positive child and adult mental wellbeing.

Lisa has been practising as a Guardian ad Litem for over five years now. In this role, she represents the voices of children in court proceedings and makes recommendations for their best interests. Lisa also works as an independent advocate for children involved with child protection social work services and children in foster care. Lisa is a committee member on the board for Irish Attachment in Action, and in 2019, facilitated an Attachment Play Workshop at their Annual Conference held in the Helix Theatre in Dublin. Lisa has been delivering workshops in play, attachment, and emotional release for over twelve-years now.