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087 656 8545
oisin@welldunne.ie
Address
36B The Square, Skerries, Co. Dublin, K34 E296
Hours
My hours are flexible to suit my clients' needs and preferences
I’m Here to Help
Once you have decided to begin your therapy journey with me, you are encouraged to reach out and schedule your first appointment. I aim to reply to all messages within 24-hours. In taking this first step, I know you are committed to finding solutions and seek change in your life and I look forward to supporting you to bring about this change.
If you can’t find the information you need or you have any special preferences, please make sure to let me know in the ‘Get In Touch’ section above.
I offer a no-cost 20-minute phone or video consultation to determine whether working together would be a good fit. To schedule a consultation, please use the ‘Get In Touch’ section above.
Before reaching out with general questions about the therapy process, you may find answers covered in the section to the right or in the FAQ at the bottom of this page. Should you not find it there, please use the ‘Get In Touch’ section above or give me a call on 087 656 8545.
Why come to see me?
I will provide you with a safe, confidential place to talk about the things that are troubling or confusing you. I will listen to you, empathise with you and support you. I will not advise, judge, diagnose or in any way dis-empower you from finding your own solutions. From time-to-time, I will provide some theoretical insight. Hopefully, through our working together, you will find a way to change what is possible and/or accept better that which you are not in a position to change. Hopefully, by working together, you will find your way to better live your life.
What you can expect in the first session?
We will sit in a room with comfortable chairs. Initially, I’ll take some of your background details from you and explain how I work. We’ll go through our contract and I’ll then ask you to outline why you have come to counselling and what expectations you have for your counselling. This will last for 60 minutes and there is absolutely no obligation to proceed. At the end of this stage, I will ask if you think we would be good to work together and I’ll share my feeling on that too. If we are happy to proceed, we start the therapy. Naturally, if you would like more time to decide whether or not to proceed in therapy with me that is ok too.
Will counselling/psychotherapy help?
Chances are that if you are on this website, there is something in your life that is causing you concern or confusion. Perhaps there is something you want support with and/or clarity on. However, I can’t say that counselling/therapy will definitely help you. What I can say is that the vast majority of people who I’ve seen have benefited from our work. Naturally, though, not every therapist is compatible with every possible client. So it can depend on how well the client and counsellor connect and communicate with each other.
Questions which can help you ‘the client’ decide on whether therapy is right for you, are; Does the therapist have experience with the issue you want to deal with? Does it feel like a “good fit” between you and the (potential) counsellor? Are you willing to explore and take the risk to share and be open? Are you ready to work? If you answer yes to any of these questions, I reckon therapy could be good for you.
How many sessions should you do?
It depends on what brings you to therapy and what may arise during it. What is it you want to work on? How is it impacting on you? What level of understanding do you have of yourself or the issue at hand? Short-term therapy is often appropriate for a specific problem (perhaps one that has recently arisen), to help reclaim control in life and usually entails 6-12 sessions to be truly effective. Long-term/open-ended therapy is often appropriate for difficult, historical and on-going issues to facilitate a deeper exploration and awareness of the problems, possible solutions, understandings and/or acceptance. I often “check-in” with clients during sessions to see how we are getting on and how the therapy is working. These mini-reviews help to see if we are on the right track and how things need to be altered if not.
What if you can't make a session?
If you need to cancel your appointment due to illness or emergency, I would look for as much notice as possible. In all other cases, a minimum of 24 hours’ notice period for cancellation of an appointment is required. This helps me schedule my work as best as possible for me and all my clients. Frequent cancellations indicate that something is not working and will necessitate re-negotiating the terms of our contract. Failure to attend two sessions in a row without notifying me will be considered as disengagement from the service and could jeopardise your place.
How much do I charge?
For individual therapy the fee is €50, per one-hour session; Online/telephone counselling and Walk and Talk therapy are also priced at €50 per one-hour session. Payment is made at the end of each session with contactless payment available on site. Alternatively, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) can be arranged. Receipts are provided upon request.
Frequently Asked Questions
The purpose of this section is to provide some answers to questions that you might have about the counselling process and the services that I provide. Such questions are often asked of me by potential or new clients. I have included some questions below. These questions are written from the readers’ perspective, with answers written from my perspective.
With Covid-19 what ways are you working?
I have recently opened face-to-face counselling at my beautiful new office in Skerries, North County Dublin. I encourage the use of face coverings when entering and leaving my practice. Social distancing, hand hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette are observed and encouraged in my practice. I also offer online/telephone counselling and walk & talk therapy. Contactless payment is available and all guidelines from the HSE and Irish Government are observed and adhered to in my practice.
Where are you based?
I am based in Skerries, which is located in the Fingal area of North County Dublin, click here for map location. I also provide online counselling and telephone counselling, click here for more details. I am happy to offer walk and talk therapy. A modern twist on counselling which is provided in the community at a location pre-agreed with the client, out in nature, click here for more details.
Is there a difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
The difference between the two was wonderfully described to me by a college tutor as, counselling fits for short-term work and things impacting on a person right now. Whereas, psychotherapy is for the broader issues, like an exploration into a person’s childhood or psychological developmental issues. As such, psychotherapy can require more theory (on behalf of the therapist) and include more sessions than counselling would. In the main though, there is little difference between the two, leaving some to describe themselves as integrative therapists, which will incorporate many similar techniques and theories and require exploration of a client’s inner worldview and feelings.
How long is a session?
All therapeutic sessions I provide, whether it’s one-to-one counselling at my office, online or over the phone or walk and talk therapy, are for one hour (60 minutes).
Do you provide online counselling and telephone counselling?
Yes. I offer therapy online and by telephone for established and new clients. Both forms of counselling have become increasingly popular in recent times and have many benefits that face-to-face counselling doesn’t have; for example, counselling online or by telephone can minimise travel time, minimise any potential anxieties of leaving home, leaves more freedom for other demands on time, enhances privacy as it can be done from home, and during the Covid-19 pandemic vulnerable individuals may find this to be a safer alternative to face-to-face counselling.
Regarding online counselling, I use Zoom or Whatsapp, if you are not familiar with either of these that is not a problem as Doxy.me is a great platform, where I send a link to your email and once you open it we are in business, no need to download anything and it is totally secure and meets the criteria for use in Ireland and the EU.
Will counselling/psychotherapy work for me if I find it hard to talk?
Counselling/psychotherapy can help us to express ourselves more clearly, more precisely, or indeed, for the first time. It can help to find the words as well as the feelings. It can help to explore our own value systems and beliefs too. Whereas a therapist with whom you can connect can ask you the right questions at the right time to help you explore, a therapist may also know when to say nothing to give you a comfortable space for you to more easily find your words to express yourself. A part of my job is to help clients find their way to express themselves and to do so at their own pace.
Can I use medication and see a counsellor/psychotherapist?
Whether or not you are on medication does not preclude you from attending therapy with me. Furthermore, I will not advise you on the best course of action regarding your use or not of medication. I will, however, be willing to explore with you your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, etc. on any issues you are experiencing in this area if this is relevant.
How do I make an appointment?
If you would like to make an appointment, or to seek more clarity about my work, you can contact me by leaving your name, email address, and a message by clicking here, by email, or by phone 087 656 85 45 (if I don’t answer you can leave a message with your name and number on my voice mail). All modes of contact are only accessible by me. Please note that due to the nature of the work, I am not always available, but I will aim to reply to your contact within 24hrs.
What issues do you work with?
I am experienced in helping people with a wide variety of issues, including, but not limited to; anxiety, bereavement, depression, existentialism, general counselling, grief and loss, identity, LGBT, men’s issues, personal growth, relationships, sexuality, self-harm, and shame. I work with individuals (adults +18) on a one-to-one basis.
What type of counsellor/ psychotherapist are you?
My core training leads me to take an existential approach, with my central threads being psychodynamic and person-centred counselling. To put it in basic terms, I work with the best interests of the client front and centre. I want to ensure that my clients feel they are listened to and validated. I have a keen interest in the power of unconscious expression, where I based my undergraduate research on the use of art therapy to treat compassion fatigue. Other theorists of interest to how I work, include: Irvin Yalom, Bessel van der Kolk, William Glasser, Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, Melanie Klein, Donald Winnicott, Viktor Frankl, Shaun McNiff, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Eckhart Tolle, John Gottman, R.D. Laing, Brian Thorne, Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn, to name a few. I counsel individuals (adults +18) one-to-one.
Are sessions confidential?
Yes, my counselling is confidential, however, there are some limits to this confidentiality as laid down by the IACP Code of Ethics. These include: I regularly present my work in clinical supervision. The aim of this is to monitor and improve clinical work undertaken. All supervision is done on a one-to-one confidential basis; If I evaluate that the client is a danger to self or others; and If a disclosure with identifiable information of abuse involving a minor (under 18 years) or any other child protection issue emerges. If it was necessary to break confidentiality, it would be done with the client’s knowledge when possible and with the aim of making sure that the client (or others) are cared for and safe at all times. This is an extension of care rather than a breach of confidentiality.
Additionally, to aid effectiveness, I keep summary notes of sessions. In accordance with the Data Protection Act (GDPR 2018), notes are encrypted to maintain confidentiality. Notes and administration sheets, which are available on request, are securely stored in my personal office. Records are destroyed after 7 years or upon your request.
Are your offices wheelchair friendly?
Yes, my office in Skerries is wheelchair accessible.
How frequent are sessions?
Ideally, sessions take place weekly and missed sessions are kept to a minimum. Best outcomes occur with consistent and regular meetings which will help us to connect more and make the process more fluid, trusting, and meaningful. Naturally, life events get in the way of attending every week; however, commitment is an important feature of success in therapy.
What if I tried counselling/psychotherapy before and it didn’t work?
Although counselling can be monumental when it works, sometimes it doesn’t work. It’s unfortunate if you tried counselling before and it didn’t work for you. I encourage you to consider giving therapy a chance and more importantly to also consider why it didn’t work for you. Was the therapist right for you? Was how the counsellor worked right for you? Were you ready at that time for therapy? Whatever the reason, explore this with a phone call or in the initial consultation with which ever counsellor/psychotherapist you decide to call or meet.
Does counselling/psychotherapy work for men and women?
Society dictates what “male behaviour” and “female behaviour” is. Traditional rules require men to be tough, independent, and unemotional and women to be soft, dependent, and emotional. However, things are changing: whereas modern rules coming to the fore, permit men to ask for and to receive help, to be stuck and to be unsure, to have and to express emotions, these new rules also permit women to be strong and in charge of themselves. Society has changed. As such, reasons for attending counselling, experiences in counselling, and counselling techniques can vary with men and women. However, regardless of gender, counselling can support you and help you understand yourself better and help you deal with the confusion or difficulty being experienced. Counselling can help you express your values, beliefs, concerns, and feelings, and therefore give you clarity in your life.
What if I have another question that isn’t asked here?
I’d be happy to give more clarity or answer any other questions if I can. As above, you can contact me by clicking here, by email, or by phone 087 656 85 45.