I believe everybody should be able to live a life that is free of depression, fear, anxiety and anything that holds them back from experiencing freedom. I value peace, kindness integrity and sincerity in a world I see as becoming more and more self obsessive and self preoccupied. I value the traits of empathy and compassion and their power to nurture those who are hurting, confused and in pain. I value the process of therapy which sets people free from the constraints that bind them. I value healing which sees individuals and families set free to reconnect and find their way forward in renewed confidence and energy.

 

I became a psychotherapist because I saw the need in people’s lives for healing from depression, anxiety, trauma in my own sphere. I witnessed how loved ones were not free to live full lives. I witnessed how childhood trauma, unaddressed, can dictate the path of life and prevent real lived experience, how the shame of difference, in whatever area, can hold one back from a quality life.

 

Therapy works, a simple statement but a true one. The method of client centered therapy to build trust and instill confidence in a hurting person is a catalyst to their healing. Unconditional acceptance, empathy and the ability of the therapist to ‘walk in your shoes’ are core beliefs within the therapeutic process and are instrumental in leading to the ultimate healing.

 

CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy is a therapy that helps individuals identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours that negatively impact their emotions and wellbeing.By challenging negative thoughts and developing coping strategies, CBT aims to improve emotional regulation and help individuals address specific problems. CBT helps individuals recognise and question distorted or unhelpful thought patterns, beliefs, and attitudes.

 

EMDR ( Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy treatment that people process and resolve distressing memories and emotions, particularly those related to trauma. It involves a structured approach where clients focus on a disturbing memory while experiencing bilateral stimulation, typically but not confined to eye movements. This process helps to desensitise the memory and reprocess it, reducing its emotional impact and enabling the individual to access more positive and empowering feelings. EMDR helps individuals reprocess traumatic memories, which are often “stuck” in the brain and can lead to ongoing distress. By focusing on the memory while experiencing bilateral stimulation, the brain can work through the unprocessed information and integrate it into a more adaptive framework. EMDR reduces the emotional intensity associated with the traumatic memory, making it less distressing and overwhelming.

 

My professional background is in the area of education having completed a Masters in Education in the areas of Psychology and Social Science. I taught students from the ages of seventeen to mid sixties for 25 years. I decided to return to study midway through and completed a Masters and Bachelor of Science in Psychotherapy and Counselling. I counselled many people within the area of Education and also in private practice in Waterford.