About - Deirdre McCarthy
Deirdre McCarthy MSocSc, BSW, CORU Registered Social Worker is an author, lecturer, trauma-informed trainer, and professional coach, and the founder of Family3: Social Work & Family Consultancy. She is the creator of The Bród Method™, a trauma-informed, child-centred framework designed to support children, families, and professionals navigating separation, loss, and complex life transitions.
Deirdre holds a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) and a Master of Social Science, and is a CORU-registered Social Worker with extensive experience across child protection, family support, court work, and professional training. She also holds a postgraduate qualification in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and a Level 9 Special Purpose Award in Trauma-Informed Care Theory and Practice.
She has completed professional coach training with Aspire Coach Training, aligned with International Coaching Federation standards, and now works as a professional coach integrating relational, trauma-informed, and somatic approaches into her practice.
Through her consultancy work with Family3, Deirdre provides direct support to families, professional supervision, court-related consultation, trauma-informed training, and bespoke programmes for organisations working with children, families, and vulnerable adults. She delivers training nationally to social workers, healthcare staff, educators, and helping professionals, with a particular focus on secondary trauma, regulation, attachment, and child participation.
Deirdre is the author of It’s Not Fair: Bród’s Journey Through Their Parents’ Break-Up, and the developer of a range of therapeutic and educational resources based on The Bród Method™, including workbooks, training materials, and trauma-informed support tools for children, families, and professionals.
Alongside her consultancy, writing, and teaching, Deirdre provides trauma-informed relational coaching for individuals and professionals, supporting reflection, resilience, and sustainable practice.
Her work is grounded in the belief that all children deserve to feel Happy, Healthy, Safe, and Loved, and that those supporting others must also be supported to work in safe, regulated, and sustainable ways.
Who We Are
Family3 provides trauma-informed, child-centred support for children, families, and professionals, with a focus on helping people navigate separation, loss, conflict, and complex life transitions in safe and supportive ways.
With a background in social work, education, and professional coaching, Family3 offers a unique integrative approach that combines practical experience, therapeutic understanding, and evidence-informed practice.
Family3 provides a range of services including:
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Family support and consultation
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Court-related reports and professional guidance
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Trauma-informed training for organisations
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Professional supervision and reflective practice
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Coaching for individuals and helping professionals
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Bespoke programmes for services working with children and families
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Educational resources based on The Bród Method™
All work is guided by a commitment to child participation, emotional safety, and sustainable practice for both families and professionals.
