Therapy is for everyone and offers various benefits regardless of severity of issues or presenting symptoms.Some people check in during suicidal ideation or deep grief or depression. Equally, people often attend for reasons which are more day to day or what someone clients call ‘life hygiene'. Therapy is a valuable space for sounding out thoughts to try figure out direction around values, life goals, meaning and self-awareness.

If you are not 100% sure if therapy is for you or how I may help, you are welcome to avail of a FREE consultation.

Therapy is a helping relationship where you meet regularly with a professional who is highly trained in meeting with people to help them meet a litany of goals such as;

• processing difficult experiences & trauma

• knowing our thoughts, emotions & values better

• managing conflicts and boundaries in relationships

• life skills: assertiveness, anger management, controlling panic attacks, emotional regulation, self-care, setting boundaries and performance anxiety.

Time & Space

Therapy is a confidential, nonjudgemental and supportive experience where you are guided to move towards goals, move away from unhelpful past difficulties and be present.

A mirror

I liken my role to 'being a mirror', my clinical training equipping me to listen keenly to understand, clarify and explore what you bring in.

It is my strong belief that YOU alone have the answers and it's both my profession and privilege to be your guide in finding the answers.

What effective therapy DOES NOT contain;

• Labels, diagnosis and judgments

• Conditional acceptance

• Therapist as the expert or boss

• Judgement for or against medication

• A cultural hierarchy (i.e. X or Y is the right way to live)

• Censorship around beliefs, personal traits, values or sexuality

• Decisions or approaches without your informed consent

• Challenges, tasks or homework that you are not comfortable with

This list is not exhaustive, but it could be summed up by my working ethos of #CuriousNotCritical

In a nutshell, therapy typically entails meetings scheduled day and time and format where you bring in issues or questions to me as an attuned, attentive and empathetic listener. Led by you, we explore, question and plan towards making meaningful change.

We frequently review the process to ensure we are on track in helping you meet your goals. Common aspects to a typical therapy session include:

-check ins

-processing of the weeks experiences

-collaborative consultation on how we work together

-planning and putting frameworks and goals

What is common to ALL therapy sessions offered in confidentiality, safety and a non-judgemental atmosphere.

You will be welcomed to the space and invited to bring in what prompted you to seek therapy i.e.(in your own words) where you are coming from, your values and your past and indeed, where you would like to go to move forward.

My primary objective is that I understand you and your goals as clearly as possible. This is not an exhaustive or diagnostic assessment, but curious dialogue to clarify what is important for you in as much (or little detail) as you wish to bring.

Following our first meeting we collaborate on a basic agreement and core goals to guide our work, which are reviewed periodically and revised by the client.

What brings one to therapy is different for everyone

consider two broad examples:

1) Short-term counselling; you're fundamentally ok with where you are at, however, you're having issues like loss/grief, change of life, circumstances, an accident, workplace conflict etc.

2) Open-ended psychotherapy; unpack the past in a gradual manner to reappraise or change ways of living presently i.e. trauma, sexuality or gender identity, working on boundaries, addiction, self-esteem issues, anger management, depression, anxiety or neurodiversity.

I invite clients to meet with me for six initial sessions.

Research indicates* that the loose median amount of 20-45 sessions lead to a sufficient improvement and recovery in clients in general.

*from findings out of University College Dublin:https://www.psychotherapycouncil.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/The-Effectiveness-of-Psychotherapy.pdf)

My practice is based on 28 South William Street, Dublin City. Online and hybrid sessions are also available.

Additionally I have very limited 'walk and talk' sessions from the Phoenix Park.

I am very glad to offer online sessions, both as a dedicated arrangement or indeed in a hybrid manner. I am keenly aware that between work demands, illness, weather, transport or other last minute commitments it may be more practical and comfortable for some to elect for online sessions.

Our modern lifestyles sometimes ask us to be versatile and fluid and so I would be glad to offer online as an option.

Yes, as an IACP-accredited therapist I am recognised by the primary health-insurance providers in Ireland such as; Laya, Irish Life, VHI and Aviva*.

*I would invite clients to clarify the cover offered by their own policy. In all cases I provide itemised receipts for services rendered.

Sessions cost €80, payable by card or cash.

As an IACP accredited counsellor I am linked with major health insurance providers.

For those seeking sliding-scale cost counselling and third level students I have limited slots assigned.

Cancellation

I operate under a 48 hour cancellation policy. In good faith I will endeavour to offer another arrangement, but due to demand this cannot be guaranteed.

Under circumstances where one cannot make it to the practice, you can avail of the option of a session via video or phone call.

Initial booking

To secure the initial session clients are requested to pay for the first session in full via SumUp link provided. This is refundable within the cancellation policy above.

Upon conclusion of the first session I will take a referral basic personal details and ask you read through our therapist-client agreement for working together.

I practice in adherence to rigorous best practice guidelines outlined by the professional accrediting body IACP*. Materials discussed in our sessions are held in the strictest confidence and will not be inappropriately disclosed to other persons outside of exceptions below.

- If I perceive a client will cause harm to themselves or others.

- If a client discloses information around harm or abuse to a person who is a minor.

- As part of best practice guidelines I attend regular supervision whereupon a highly experienced clinical supervisor acts as arbiter to my professional competency. In some cases I bring in case materials which are explored without naming clients or materials being recorded on paper/digital formats.

*IACP Code of Ethics for practitioners https://iacp.ie/iacp-code-of-ethics

All materials are stored securely and in a manner in adherence to current GDPR law in Ireland.