Counselling & Psychotherapy 

At some point in your life it’s likely you have experienced overwhelming feelings that felt intolerable. Drugs, alcohol or gambling may appear to be the best or only options available to numb these painful feelings, but obviously, this behaviour lends itself to countless negative consequences.

If you’ve struggled with substance abuse, there is almost certainly a very good reason. Counselling for addiction expands your ability to find ways for you to be in touch with your entire spectrum of feelings so you can have a more authentic connection with yourself and a greater ability to have genuine and meaningful relationships.

Trauma is a normal reaction occurring after exposure to death, serious harm or injury to, oneself, a family member or close friend. How we react to a traumatic event can vary in its intensity from person to person. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an example of a reaction to a traumatic or stressful event. Where this leaves a person to experience severe physical or emotional pain for an extended period following a stressful event may indicate professional supports are required.

Therapy can help you to process the distressing emotions and memories that are associated with trauma. Understanding these symptoms is often the first step to reducing them.

Incidents of depression are more and more common. With ‘one in six’ said to experience depression at some point in their lifetime. Symptoms include; intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities, where mood or level of interest is impaired. In severe cases, where depression is untreated it may lead to more serious implications for health.

CBT, mindfulness and meditation are all proven therapeutic treatments to effectively treat symptoms of depression. Treating depression with therapy or psychotherapy has proven helpful in both short and long-term cases of depression.

The financial pressures associated with job loss can be overwhelming. For many of us, our jobs are a central component of our identity. Change in our employment status can directly impact our self-identity. The loss of employment coupled with financial strains can prove to be a very stressful and negative time.

Counselling provides a platform to adapt to changes in your employment status, where you can take stock of where you are at in the present moment and feel supported in realising your true potential.

If you’re struggling with finding a relationship or with the one you are in, therapy can be the gateway to unlock what works for and against you in relationships. Our most important relationship is the one with our self and in any healthy relationship, the right partner will add to and enhance a life that is already content.

Getting more comfortable with being vulnerable and authentic, communicating and asking for what you need, expecting respect – these are the pillars of a healthy relationship. Let’s build them together.

Lots of people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer (Questioning) seek counselling for similar reasons to non-LGBTQ individuals (i.e. – grief, anxiety, depression, loss, work stress, etc). Whilst some issues may have little to do with sexuality, gender or identity, the LGBTQ community also have their own set of unique challenges.

If you’re considering counselling and want to speak with someone who is compassionate, sensitive and understanding of the specific issues affecting the LGBTQ community get in touch.

Anxiety is a whole-body experience that can be crippling. Tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, twisting of the gut or trouble sleeping. These are common signs of anxiety and the mind being caught in a pattern of negative thinking. Why allow anxiety to take pleasure from your quality of life?

When you gain awareness of the roots of your anxiety, you can become mindfully aware of your triggers and develop strategies to cope. Learn ways to control your worry.

We’ve long been aware of how adverse childhood events, including sexual abuse, may increase the risk for serious health issues later in life. The present increase in cases of domestic abuse during the pandemic is alarming, with new legislation to criminalise coercive control, a welcomed new measure in Irish law. In such cases, help is also available for those who wish to stop abusing others. No matter the form; physical, emotional, sexual or neglect, the resulting effects of abuse often damage a person’s self-confidence, thankfully support is available.

Working always at your pace, I offer a safe and confidential space to rebuild your self-esteem and process the difficult emotions associated with your trauma, without fear of judgement of your response to the abuse.

Conflict occurring between spouses, partners, family members, co-workers and others are a natural part of everyday life. Yet, when in the thick of it, conflict can be all-consuming. Terms such as, ‘stonewalling’, ‘passive-aggressive’ and ‘blaming’ are frequently referred to in describing the unhealthy tactics used in a conflict.

Exploring your history of conflict in your past relationships or current ones will help in identifying and thinking about why it is you react the way you do to conflict. This can also offer you the opportunity to work on strategies to better manage conflict in a safe and non-judgemental space.

Experiences of childhood trauma and other adverse life circumstances can limit a young adult’s ability to fully engage with the world. Developmental gaps may require a more creative approach to attend to communication deficiencies. Both art and play, are creative variations that can be used in counselling to effectively bridge gaps in communication.

In all forms of therapy, the therapeutic relationship and the safety provided by the structure of the therapy, make it a safe space for young adults to engage in the process, explore their life experiences and find a suitable way of being in the world.