Tara is a professionally qualified social worker with over 17 years’ experience working with children across a range of child welfare and protection settings with 10 of these working as a social worker, senior social worker and Guardian ad Litem. Tara qualified as a social worker in 2015 and has previous qualifications in Early Childhood Studies and Play Therapy. Tara also holds a Masters Degree in Attachment Studies from the University of Roehampton and additional training in Theraplay (level 1 and 2) and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (level 1 and 2).

Tara has adopted skills and experience through the course of her work in a variety of settings including Tusla, domestic violence services, homeless and residential care services, an assessment and therapeutic service for children and their families, a parent and infant unit and parenting capacity assessment service, CAMHS and early intervention settings.

Tara specialises in the area of attachment and trauma and has considerable experience in conducting attachment, trauma and parental capacity assessments and presenting these to the Court. Her experience includes facilitating dyadic therapeutic work namely Theraplay between children and their caregivers in addition to supporting parents and carers therapeutically. Tara adopts a relationship based, trauma informed, child centered approach to her work.

As a Guardian ad Litem, Tara has been appointed in various District Courts to assist the Court with its decision making in a range of proceedings. Tara also works as an Independent Social Worker and an advocate for parents in legal proceedings.

2024 | MSc in Attachment Studies, University of Roehampton, Distinction.

2021 | Post Graduate Certificate in Attachment Studies, University of Roehampton, 1.1.

2015 | Master in Social Work, Trinity College Dublin, 1.1.

2012 | Post Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy APAC (Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy), Canterbury Christ Church University.

2008 | B.A Honours Degree in Early Childhood Studies, University College Cork, 2.1.

Further Education and Training

Monthly Professional and Training Sessions with TIGALA.

2025 – ongoing | Infant CARE Index coding group

2025 | Children First – TUSLA

2024 | Understanding and working with concerns about a parent’s capacity to be ‘good enough’ – Dr Amanda Jones

2023 | Rethinking Justice: Alternatives to Custody for Juvenile Sexual Offenders currently before the courts and those that were juveniles at the time of their historical offending – MindPieces

2023 | Meaning of the Child Interview training – University of Roehampton

2022 | Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Level 2 – DDP Network

2022 | Build Bridges training – Psychological Pathways

2022 | Observing Relationships in Parent Child contact – Cambridge Centre for Attachment

2022 | Child Attachment and Play Assessment Training – University of Roehampton

2021 | Infant CARE Index Training – Family Relations Institute

2021 | By Your Side Training for supporting transitions/reunification – The Family Place UK

2020 | Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Level 1 – DDP Network

2021 | Introduction to Children First – TUSLA.

2019 | Theraplay Level 2 and MIM Assessment – The Theraplay Institute

2019 | Theraplay Level 1 and MIM Assessment – The Theraplay Institute

2019 | Story Stem Assessment Profile – Attachment Assessment – Anna Freud Centre

2019 | Understanding the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma – Dr. Karen Treisman

2018 | Signs of Safety Advanced Training [Practice Lead] – Norfolk Council

2016 | Non-Violent Resistance Training for facilitators: Child to Parent Violence – NUIG

2010 | The Alert Programme – Sensory Integration Network

Areas of Special Interest       

Tara’s particular areas of interest are:

·        Attachment and Trauma with a particular interest in developmental trauma.

·        Infant mental health and the needs of infants and young children who have experienced trauma and attachment ruptures.

·        Attachment, relationships and family contact / assessing and supporting family contact.

·        Domestic violence – risk assessing, safeguarding and working with children and families within the often complex dynamics of domestic violence.

·        Working with children with complex presentations / profiles and multiple therapeutic needs especially where there are overlapping diagnoses / needs and/or the need for differential diagnoses.

·        Working with complex and multilayered systems and associated dynamics..

·        Engaging children who are non-verbal and/or use alternative communication methods.

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Professional Membership

·        Tara Keogh is fully Garda Vetted.

·        Tara Keogh is registered with CORU.

·        Tara Keogh is a member of IASW – Irish Association of Social Workers

·        Tara Keogh is registered with The Theraplay Institute

·        Tara Keogh is a member of NAGALRO Professional Association for Children’s Guardians, Family Advisers and Independent Social Workers

Additional Information

·        I provide teaching input in Maynooth University since 2023.

·        I have provided occasional lectures to Social Work and Social Care students in UCC, UCD and TU Dublin.

·        I provide training to social work teams and other professionals including teachers and social care teams around attachment and developmental trauma.