Child & Adolescent Services

Cork ARC provides a range of therapeutic supports for children, adolescents and families affected by cancer. Each service offers a safe and supportive space, tailored to the needs and developmental stage of the child or young person.

Play Therapy

Art Therapy For Children & Adolescents

Adolescent Counselling

Family Art Therapy

Our Commitment to Children, Young People & Families

At Cork ARC, the safety, wellbeing, dignity and rights of every child and young person are at the heart of our Child & Adolescent Services.

We recognise that cancer affects the whole family. Our approach is holistic, supporting children and young people within the context of their family, relationships and wider support network. We aim to provide a safe, compassionate and inclusive space where each child and young person feels heard, respected and supported in a way that is appropriate to their age, development and individual needs.

Our approach is informed by Ireland’s Children First safeguarding framework, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023–2028, and Ireland’s National Cancer Strategy 2017–2026.

Together, these frameworks reinforce the importance of safeguarding, children’s rights, participation, wellbeing and person- and family-centred support.

View Our Child Safeguarding Statement/Policy

Our Neuro-Affirmative Approach

Cork ARC is committed to inclusive and neuro-affirmative practice. We recognise and respect neurological differences and understand that children and young people may communicate, process information, experience their environment and express their emotions in different ways.

We aim to adapt our approach to the individual child or young person, taking account of their communication preferences, sensory needs, developmental needs and their own way of engaging with therapeutic support.

Our approach is also informed by the principles of equality, participation and inclusion reflected in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.