Experiential Wellbeing

The Power of Play & Relationships

experientialwellbeing@gmail.com

Experiential Wellbeing is built on one core truth;
Wellbeing isn’t a programme — it’s a lived experience, and it begins with education

At its heart, Experiential Wellbeing is about play and relationships — the most powerful natural regulators children and adults have. It’s about getting back to basics.

Experiential Wellbeing offers practical, real‑world CPD and training created by a practising teacher and accredited psychotherapist for educators, SNAs, school leaders and parents who want tools they can use today.

This is education, not another programme — education that helps us become trauma‑informed in our everyday interactions with children. Recent theory, research and neuroscience are translated into clear, accessible practice you can use immediately.

Experiential Wellbeing begins with you — your regulation, your confidence, your ability to meet children with presence rather than pressure. It supports you to reconnect with your own inner wisdom and authenticity, so you can offer children the steady, connected relationships they need to thrive.

And it always comes back to play. When children play, they experience wellbeing — and play is a key pedagogical strategy in our redeveloped curriculum, yet often overlooked. Experiential Wellbeing helps you become play literate, creating child‑led, joyful learning experiences that nurture regulation, connection and holistic development.

Experiential Wellbeing: where wellbeing becomes an experience, not a programme.

 Training for School Staff & Parents on Play, Wellbeing & Behaviour

Looking for something more tailored?

Helena also works directly with schools and parents through whole-school training,
parent evenings, play therapy, and ongoing support calls.

 Whole School Training
 Sustained Support
 Parent Evenings
 Monthly Support Calls on facilitating Child-Led Play

Courses

Each webinar can be purchased separately or as a series

For Parents & School Staff

Purposeful Child-Led Play for All Classes- What it is & Why it Matters
Child‑led play isn’t “only playing” — it’s a powerful, research‑supported way for children to learn, build relationships, regulate and express themselves creatively.

SCHOOLS

Series- For Teachers
The Teacher's Role in Child Led Play

Series-For School Staff
Emotional Intelligence, The Nervous System, Big Behaviours and Discipline

Series- For School Staff
Staff Wellbeing & Boundaries 

Navigating Anxiety for Primary School Staff

PARENTS

Series-For Parents
Emotional Intelligence, Behaviour & Discipline Series for Parents

Navigating Anxiety

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Hi, I’m Helena — mum of three, Assistant Principal, accredited Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist (MIAPTP), Play Therapist and practising primary teacher with 23 years’ experience. I’m also a PhD Candidate researching how child‑led play supports children’s social, emotional, relational and creative development in senior classes.

I lecture with the Froebel Department at Maynooth University and with Hibernia College, helping student teachers understand the power of play, relationships and emotional intelligence in real classrooms.

I created the Summer Course Experiential Wellbeing: The Power of Relationships & Play and the elective A New Lens to View Play Through, and I deliver CPD nationwide to support teachers, SNAs and school leaders in bringing trauma‑informed, play‑based practice into everyday interactions. I also offer optional weekly support calls focused on facilitating child‑led play across all class levels.

Alongside my school and university work, I co‑host The Playful Lens Podcast with Gillian Corbally (The Glitter & Coffee Teacher), where we share practical, research‑grounded insights on the science, soul and spark of play. You can listen to The Playful Lens Podcast here. 

Across all of my work, I champion one core belief: wellbeing isn’t a programme — it’s a lived experience created through play, relationships and steady, compassionate connected adults.
Experiential Wellbeing

Training grounded in lived experience, not just theory.

Every course is built on trauma-informed practice, decades of classroom experience,
and accredited training in child and adolescent psychotherapy. 
Understand behaviour
Trauma-informed approaches that look beneath behaviour to what a child is really communicating
Support through play
Practical ways to use play, the language children already speak, to build understanding and connection.
Build real wellbeing
Wellbeing that's experienced through everyday relationships and interactions, not taught as a standalone skill.
Play is the language of children. When we understand it, we understand them.

Testimonials

We had the pleasure of having Helena speak to our teachers and SNA's about the many benefits of play for children's wellbeing, and it was truly an inspiring experience. Her presentation was engaging, insightful, and full of practical wisdom. Helena has a unique ability to make the content relevant highlighting the joy that can be found in the simplest types of play. It was a reminder of how much impact these simple, joyful play experiences can have on a child’s overall development. We could have listened to her all day! I highly recommend that anyone working with young people take the time to hear Helena’s speak— it's one that will stay with you long after the talk ends.
Principal, Newtown NS.
The course was brilliant from start to finish. The content was very informative, inspiring and thought provoking. Helena provided us with lots of practical tips, tricks and resources that we can use in the classroom. I now feel more equipped and confident when supporting children in their play. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and would highly recommend it to teachers who value play and want to establish and maintain positive relationships with the children in their care.
Summer Course Participant
Helena is an excellent speaker- engaging, relatable and clearly very passionate about what she does. The talk was delivered with a good level of detail but easy for anyone to understand. The QnA at the end was excellent. I have been to many parenting talks and this is top of the list- rooted in science but pragmatic and easy to apply instantly. I would love to see Helena back for another talk again soon.
Parent Attendee

How it works

Getting started is simple:

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Browse our courses

Explore our range of courses designed around how children actually learn, play, grow and build confidence.

Choose what fits

Pick the course that matches your child's age, needs or the area you'd like to support, no guesswork required.

Start learning, together

Work through practical, playful lessons at your own pace, with tools you can use straight away.

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and updates from Helena.
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