Marte Meo translates from Latin as 'On One's own Strength'. It starts from where your child's developmental level is, alongside information on how you are already supporting your child. From here, the Marte Meo programme provides parents and carers with additional clear, concrete information on how to further support the development of their child within everyday interaction moments.

Marte Meo was developed in the Netherlands in the 1970's by Maria Aarts. Maria had the idea as a direct result of a parent looking for practical information on how to connect with her child with a diagnosis of autism. The programme has developed to support families and caregivers in a variety of settings across the life cycle. For more information on founder Maria Aarts, look up www.martemeo.com.

When you contact me, either through this site or dianemcconnellmartemeo@gmail.com, I will then arrange a time that suits you to have a short phone call on the reason you are getting in touch. The purpose of this call is to discuss your general situation and to ascertain if Marte Meo fits the information you need. I will then arrange a home visit if you are happy for me to proceed to this step.

The first visit will focus on discussing with you how the programme works, what your concerns or questions are and making an agreed plan of what information you want from the Marte Meo programme. I will then go through the consent form and make a date for the first video. 

Your children do not need to be present for this visit. I will discuss with you on how to explain the video being made and the purpose to the children, during this first visit. 

No. The first visit is just about the programme, the plan based on your questions or concerns, going through the consent form and making a date for the first video. 

A process involves at least 3 separate videos over the duration of the programme. The first video involves about 3 minutes of a free play situation and 3 minutes of a structured situation, usually mealtime. Second and subsequent videos involve either the play or structured situation depending on the information you are looking for. 

I will return at a mutually agreed time, generally within a week of each video being made, to review your video with you. A review takes about an hour, although the first review can be a little over an hour as there are two segments of videos to review with you to begin the process. 

After the review, you will be left with new information to practice, connected to the questions or concerns you had at the start of the process. I will make the next video 1 to 3 weeks later, depending on what is agreed. This means a process involving 3 films and 3 reviews will take approximately 6 to 12 weeks depending on how much time is given between a review and the next video being made. 

Your videos are stored on an encrypted laptop and are only accessible by me. Following the review of your video, it will be deleted including from the recycle bin on the laptop. No copies will be made or kept. 

In line with professional standards of Marte Meo, I will attend Marte Meo Supervision with a Marte Meo Licensed Supervisor based in Dublin. This supervision is to ensure Marte Meo professional standards and operating procedures are maintained and that you are getting the best information, in the right way. None of your personal information or contact details are shared within in this process. 

No information from your videos or contact details will be kept or shared with any third party. Your personal data will not be kept or stored beyond the conclusion or purpose of the Marte Meo programme. All personal data will be deleted. This is in line with the Data Protection Act 2018. 

In line with the Children First Act 2015, any Child Protection or Welfare concerns will be discussed with you and where necessary referred to Tusla Child and Family Agency for further supports, if required. 

I am based in South Dublin and can cover as far as North Wicklow for face to face engagements. If you or a family you are referring are in an area significantly further from my base, other options such as reviewing videos on line can be arranged. This can be discussed on case by case basis.  

Marte Meo does not replace any Assessment of Need process or Play Therapy sessions. Marte Meo is a programme for you as parents or caregivers on how you can support your child at home in day to day situations to activate and enhance development. Your child's only engagement with Marte Meo is in playing a game and having a meal with you, for the purpose of the video being made. All developmental learnings or insights from the programme you can share with other professionals, if your child is part of an assessment process. 

Please contact me directly to discuss pricing. 

Please contact me directly via this website and I will be happy to answer your query. I might also add it here if it might be useful to others.