What we do / Therapeutic Services
Therapeutic Services
Lisa Maguire, Specialist Social Worker and Cognitive Behavioural Practitioner, specialises in child and adolescent mental health and autism support.
Lisa holds a BSW in Social Work and a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Practice from Queen's University Belfast, and is registered with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
Her core therapeutic qualification is in Cognitive Behavioural Practice, and she works primarily with children and young people experiencing:
- Anxiety and worry
- Phobias
- Low mood
- Self-esteem and confidence difficulties
- Emotional regulation challenges
Her approach draws on evidence-based models including CBT, ACT, CFT and Solution Focused Brief Therapy, tailored to the needs, strengths and developmental stage of each young person. Lisa has extensive experience supporting under-18s through individual and group work, helping them develop practical coping strategies, emotional understanding and long-term resilience.
Autism-focused therapeutic support
Lisa helps autistic young people and their families build understanding and confidence in areas such as:
- Autistic identity and self-understanding
- Neurodiversity and strengths-based perspectives
- Masking and unmasking
- Interoception and alexithymia
- Energy accounting and energy-battery wellbeing models
She is formally trained in the ADOS-2 and ADI-R. After diagnosis, Lisa supports young people to understand their experiences, reduce stress and navigate daily life in a way that suits their needs.
Lisa also provides neuro-affirming training for families and professionals, helping them develop practical, compassionate strategies to support autistic children and young people.