COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
THERAPY & MY APPROACH
What therapy with me looks like
Therapy is a space where you can slow down and pay attention to what is happening beneath the surface of everyday life.
You may come with a clear problem, or you may simply know that something does not feel right. You do not need to arrive with a perfectly formulated question.
We start from where you are. Together, we explore what is happening in your life now, what you are feeling, what you need, how you relate to other people and what patterns may be repeating.
Sometimes this means making sense of experiences from the past. Sometimes it means paying closer attention to what is happening in everyday life or between us in the therapy room. Often, it is a combination of two or three.
My approach
Gestalt therapy is the main approach I use. It places particular attention on awareness — of your feelings, needs, body, relationships and the ways you respond to what is happening around you.
The aim is not simply to understand yourself intellectually. Greater awareness can create more choice: you may begin to recognise old patterns, understand what they have been helping you to manage, and experiment with different ways of responding.
I also use CBT, EMDR and mindfulness-based techniques when they are appropriate for your needs and the work we are doing. With couples, I draw on Emotionally Focused Therapy to help partners understand the patterns they can become caught in and to develop a more secure connection.
What happens in the first session?
The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and talk about what has brought you to therapy.
We will discuss what you would like support with, what you hope might change and whether the way I work feels like a good fit for you.
You do not have to decide at the first meeting whether you want to continue. Finding the right therapist matters, and it is completely reasonable to take some time to see whether you feel comfortable working together.
How often do we meet?
Sessions are 50 minutes and are usually weekly, although the frequency can be discussed depending on your needs and circumstances.
Therapy does not have a fixed number of sessions that applies to everyone. We can review the work as we go and talk together about what feels appropriate.
Online and in-person therapy
I offer online therapy across the world and in-person sessions in Tramore, co Waterford.
The same therapeutic principles apply in both formats.
For online sessions, it is important to have a private space where you can speak freely and without being overheard.