SAI
sai conference june 2026
Thank you to all those near & far that travelled for our first SAI Conference at Malone House, Belfast
to Celebrate Collaboration, Innovative Thinking and Working Interventions
Integration of the Senses from an Applied Perspective
Claire Pemrick, Emma Smith & Tessa Scully
A New Approach to Evaluating Children’s Behaviours
Steve Farnfield, Fan Zhang & Nick Smith
Exploring the Relationship Between Sensory Integration and Attachment Patterns in 100 Children Aged 5-12
Claire Ginty
The Devon Journey Experience of the Just Right State Programme
Elizabeth Cann
The Just Right State Pre-school and School Aged Programme; Barnardos
Clodagh Carroll
The value of integrating the DMM and SAI in family formulations
Helen Johnson & Chris West
The Meaning of the Child in Sensory Attachment Intervention
Ben Grey, and Chris West
Embodied Attachment
Georgia Monk and Éadaoin Bhreathnach
Regulating Gardens Facilitating Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation in Garden Spaces
Éadaoin Bhreathnach
The Role of Sensory Attachment Intervention within Secure Accommodation
Helen Bowkett
Integration of Sensory Attachment Intervention within Tearmann Cottage,
Use of The Just Right State Programme in the Residential Setting
Mick Mc Callan and Joe Gillen
sai conference - photo gallery
Conference Nurture Room
Regulating Garden Worksop Ash Cottage.
Getting ready for the regulating gardens workshop
Villi accompanied Mirko from Finland to attend the Regulating Garden Workshop
June 2026
SAI for Adolescent and Adult Hybrid Course.
Attending the Just Right State Programme Training at Ash Cottage.
MAY 2025
Hybrid Just Right State Course at Ash Cottage.
Making wild garlic pesto sauce for lunch
MAY 2024
Digging the first sod of earth of the new regulating garden at
Atkinson Secure Children's Home in Exeter
Designed by Éadaoin Bhreathnach and Ray Cashell
Aurora Borealis at Ash Cottage
10th May 2024
'Introduction to SAI' Course
May 2024
Ash Cottage
'Introduction to SAI' in Izmir, Turkey
Feb 2024,
organised by Science Art
Introduction to SAI in Melbourne, Dec 2023
The Just Right State Review Day
at Barnardos, Ireland
Oct 2023
The Just Right State in Vitoria-Gasteiz, The Basque Country, Sept 2023, Kalunka
The Just Right State at Ash Cottage, June 2023
SAI Trainers Claire Pemrick and Chris West.
The regulating properties of food, tasting session.
JRS Activities.
JRS Activities.
Course participants with their certificates.
Ark Repairs at Lawrence St Workshops
'Marty's Ark' is back in Lawrence Street Workshops with its original maker Martin Carter. After ten years in the Cyprus tree it has been taken down for minor repair works and will soon be returning to a new tree in the secret garden at Ash Cottage.
Ash Cottage Garden, June 2023
The pond and poppies are in full bloom.
'Sensory Attachment Intervention with vulnerable children: How to enable carers to care for their vulnerable child.'
Éadaoin Bhreathnach online presentation Thursday 25th May with The Centre for Child Mental Health.
5pm-6.30pm £20 plus booking fee.
To book a place click here to visit their website.
SAI for Adolescents & Adults at Ash Cottage May 2023
Course participants in the secret garden of Ash Cottage with their certificates.
A new Finnish addition to the Fairy Garden.
Mirka’s daughter gave her toy horse 'Villi' to accompany her on her trip to Ash Cottage.
Therapists enjoyed relaxing in the kayak during breaktimes.
Mari &Mirka travelled from Finland to attend the course.
Introduction to SAI at
Ash Cottage May 2023
Helen Johnson (Attachment Works) and Rebecca Carr-Hopkins (Independent Social Work Matters Ltd) enjoying the haptic exploration exercise.
Chris West (Sensory Connections), Helen Johnson (Attachment Works), Rebecca Carr-Hopkins (Independent Social Work Matters Ltd), Éadaoin Bhreathnach (SAI) and Maja Trninic (Barnardos).
Course participants with their certificates.
There is a lovely piece by Sarah Williamson on Thought for the Day from Radio Ulster
'The Scared Gang' She describes how the Scared Gang help the process of knowing ourselves. How knowing ourselves allows us to be kind to ourselves to learn to do things differently from a place of compassion and not of shame.
In April Occupational Therapists from the five Health & Social Care Trusts in
Northern Ireland attended SAI for adolescents and Adults Course at Ash Cottage.
Some of the feedback received:
"Excellent, information shared was relevant to my role and delivered in interesting and interactive way."
"I really enjoyed the training experience it was relaxed and both trainers were knowledgable and excellent at explaining information and putting it into practice."
"Such a beautiful setting we were made to feel incredibly welcome."
"Amazing really enjoyed the garden and the large table to enjoy meals with colleagues."
"Excellent, lovely treats! It really made the difference having a lovely lunch and tea and coffee provided
throughout the day."
Ash Cottage reopened its doors this year after Covid restrictions.
We were delighted to welcome back participants for the
Just Right State and open Foundation Intro to SAI courses.
Some images and feedback below.
Ash Cottage:
"So good , really felt like we were seeing SAI in practice with the setting and way the training was run."
"Beautiful venue really enhanced experience very therapeutic environment."
"Unforgettable definitely lovely to arrive to every morning."
"Beautiful place, home from home felt so welcome."
"Food was amazing 12/10."
"Lovely food and individuals accommodated without feeling awkward or difficult."
"Very warm welcoming environment."
"Great venue, The garden is amazing and very relevant to the course information e.g. regulation."
Training:
"Extremely informative and presented in such a way that learning and experiencing was an easy process that encouraged thoughtful questioning."
"Really enjoyable and great learning couldn't fault any of it."
"Felt like the missing piece."
"Helped me to reflect on what I will consider in my practice on what further learning I would like to do."
"Thank you I arrived quite strung-out and I leave inspired, grounded - and I know what I need to do."