Individual Psychotherapy in Dublin 2

Our Counselling services and Psychotherapy in Dublin, can offer a confidential space in which to explore past or present issues that may be affecting your life.

There are times when we are going through difficult transitions or the challenges of life leave us feeling stressed, isolated or overwhelmed and we need to take some time and space to reflect and sort through the events and issues in our lives which are causing confusion or distress. During these times, talking to a qualified mental health practitioner can be hugely beneficial.

Together with your counsellor or psychotherapist you will look at the current issues affecting you today and work through any unresolved trauma so you can find better ways to cope and manage your current life stresses. You will also explore and come to a deeper understanding of how the roots of these issues may come from unresolved experiences from your past and how this affects both your view of yourself and your life.

Individual psychotherapy and counselling offer a non-judgmental place to explore limiting beliefs and insecurities that you may hold about yourself and with the help of your therapist you can develop a better self relationship, learning to replace negative self talk with compassion and self belief. Through this new awareness and understanding, you can make different choices about how to be in relationship to yourself and to the world, that are more congruent and aligned with your deeper emerging self.

Our psychotherapy in Dublin city centre, can enable you to find better ways of coping with present difficulties and gives you an opportunity to work through issues and limiting beliefs that may be holding you back so that you can move forward and create a more meaningful life in line with your deeper values and aspirations.

Although each psychotherapist and counsellor has their way of working we all share the same core values of empathy and unconditional positive regard towards our clients and a willingness to provide a safe and nurturing space for the client to grow into more of themselves.

The sessions usually occur on a weekly or fortnightly basis at the same day and time and are 50 to 60 minutes long. In person sessions take place at either of our practices at 37 Wexford st, Dublin 2 or 13 Fade st, Dublin 2.

Some issues psychotherapy can help with:

• Depression and sadness
• Lack of direction and motivation
• Identity issues — who am I? what do I want from life?
• Anger and issues around self-assertiveness
• Relationship breakdown, loss and grief
• Negative thinking
• Low self-confidence and self-esteem
• Sexual trauma and abuse
• Anxiety and stress
• Trauma and unresolved childhood issues
• Work place issues and related stresses
• Issues around sexuality
• Creating healthy boundaries
• Addiction and substance abuse
• Bullying and emotional abuse
• Feeling alone and isolated

What makes psychotherapy different

Psychotherapy is usually longer-term, in-depth work. There is no set length. Some people come for a few months, others for a year or longer. The time is what allows the work to go deeper than the problem that first brought you in.

A lot of what shapes how we feel and react was learned early, long before we had words for it. Psychotherapy gives you the space to notice those patterns as they show up in your life now: in your relationships, at work, and in the way you speak to yourself. Seeing them clearly, over time, is what makes it possible to choose differently.

The relationship with your therapist is a big part of the work. Meeting the same person, in the same room, at the same time each week builds a steadiness and trust that many people have not had much of in their lives. That regular, face-to-face rhythm is one of the reasons so many people choose to see a psychotherapist in person.

If you are looking for help with one particular issue or life event over a shorter period, counselling may suit you better. The two overlap, and many of our practitioners offer both, so you do not need to get the label right before you get in touch.

Different approaches to psychotherapy

Every psychotherapist trains in a particular approach, and many draw on more than one. You will see these words on our therapists' profiles, so here is a plain guide to what they mean.

• Humanistic and integrative psychotherapy puts the relationship between you and your therapist at the centre, and draws on different approaches depending on what you need. Fionnuala Morrin and Milly Burke Cunningham both work this way.
• Person-centred therapy treats you as the expert on your own life. Your therapist listens closely and without judgement and helps you find your own way forward. Martin O'Gorman has person-centred therapy at the core of his work.
• Psychodynamic psychotherapy looks at how early relationships and patterns we are not always aware of shape the present. Joe Kelly is a relational psychodynamic psychotherapist.
• Psychoanalytic psychotherapy pays close attention to what you say, and to what is harder to say. Anna Wolniak, Laura Garbataviciute and Lucy Carr work psychoanalytically.
• Psychosynthesis holds that every person's life has meaning and purpose, and gives room to the emotional, psychological and spiritual sides of life. Trish Nelis Kenny works in this way.
• Body psychotherapy pays attention to how feelings and experiences are held in the body as well as the mind. Mallika Lancaster has trained in body psychotherapy.
• Some psychotherapists also bring in CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), a practical, structured way of working with thoughts and behaviour, alongside deeper work. Gráinne Noone and Clare Flynn both draw on CBT.

No one approach is right for everybody. In practice, many people find that feeling at ease with a therapist matters as much as the name of the approach they use.

How to choose a psychotherapist

Because psychotherapy is a longer commitment, it is worth taking a little care over who you choose. Here are a few things to look at.

• Training. Each of our therapists lists their qualifications on their profile page. Look for a recognised degree or diploma in psychotherapy or counselling.
• Accreditation. Many psychotherapists in Ireland are members of a professional body such as the IACP (Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or IAHIP (Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy). Accredited members have met that body's standards for training and supervised practice. Pre-accredited therapists have completed their training and are working towards accreditation. Both work here, and all of the therapists have professional insurance.
• Approach. If a description on someone's profile speaks to you, that is a good place to start.
• Experience. Most profiles list the areas a therapist has worked with most, such as trauma, grief or addiction.
• A time you can keep. Weekly psychotherapy works best when you can come at the same day and time, week in, week out, to a building that is easy for you to get to.
• Feeling at ease. This matters most of all, and you will only know it once you meet someone. It is perfectly fine to meet more than one therapist before you decide.

What happens in your first session

Your first session is mostly a conversation. Your therapist will ask what has brought you, what is going on in your life at the moment, and what you would like to change. You can say as much or as little as you like. There is no need to prepare, and no need to know where to begin.

It is also your chance to get a feel for them. Notice whether you feel listened to, and whether you could imagine coming back to this person and this room each week. Ask anything you want to know about how they work.

Many therapists are happy to have a short chat first, before you book a session. That is up to each therapist, so check their profile or ask them.

You do not have to decide anything on the day. If it feels right, you agree a regular day and time and carry on. If it does not, it is fine to try someone else.

What people come to psychotherapy for

People come to psychotherapy for all sorts of reasons. Some arrive after a crisis. Others have lived with something for years and feel it is time to understand it. Here are some of the things people bring, with a few of the therapists here who list them among their areas of experience.

• Anxiety and low mood that keep coming back. When the same feelings return again and again, psychotherapy gives you time to get underneath them. Fionnuala Morrin, Joe Kelly and Gráinne Noone all work with anxiety and depression.
• Trauma and difficult childhood experiences. This is careful work, at a pace that feels safe. Caroline Maher, Gráinne Noone and Lucy Carr have experience here.
• Relationship patterns. Finding yourself in the same kind of relationship, or the same argument, again and again. Joe Kelly's work draws on attachment theory, and Caroline Maher works with relationship difficulties. If you and a partner want to work on things together, see couples counselling.
• Grief and loss that has not eased. Laura Garbataviciute, Trish Nelis Kenny and Mallika Lancaster work with bereavement and grief.
• Identity, sexuality and gender. Martin O'Gorman, Siobh McGrane and Erich Keller have particular experience working with LGBTQIA+ clients.
• Addiction, and relationships with substances or behaviours. Siobh McGrane, Clare Flynn and Martin O'Gorman work in this area.
• Self-esteem and self-worth. A harsh inner critic is one of the most common things people bring. Milly Burke Cunningham and Anna Wolniak both list low self-esteem or self-worth among the things they work with.
• Wanting to understand yourself better. Not everyone comes because something is wrong. Some people come for personal growth, or because they feel stuck and want to know why.

Psychotherapy is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, please contact your GP or the emergency services, or call Samaritans free on 116 123. There are more support services on our useful links page.

The psychotherapists at The Iveagh Practice

More than twenty psychotherapists and counsellors see clients at our two buildings. Each one works independently, in their own way, and sets their own hours and fees. That gives you a wide choice of people, approaches and appointment times in one place.

You can see our psychotherapists below, or browse all our therapists. If you would like help narrowing it down, Find a Therapist asks what you are looking for and which days and times suit you. If cost is a worry, some of our psychotherapists offer sessions through our low cost therapy service on a sliding scale.

Where to find us

Psychotherapy sessions take place in person at our two buildings in Dublin 2, which are under ten minutes' walk apart.

• 13 Fade Street, Dublin 2, D02 RR22. Fade Street runs between South Great George's Street and Drury Street, a few minutes' walk from Grafton Street. The rooms are on the first, second and third floors.
• 37 Wexford Street, Dublin 2, D02 F652. Wexford Street runs on from Camden Street towards Aungier Street, a few minutes' walk from St Stephen's Green and the Luas Green Line. The rooms are on the first and second floors.

To get from one to the other, walk south along South Great George's Street and Aungier Street. Both buildings have good bus links and paid parking close by.

The centres are open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 10pm, and Friday to Sunday from 8am to 7pm, so early morning, evening and weekend sessions are all possible. Each therapist keeps their own hours within that. Please note that the rooms in both buildings are reached by stairs only, as there is no lift.

Questions about psychotherapy

How long does psychotherapy take?

There is no fixed length. Some people come for a few months, others for a year or longer. You and your therapist will look at how things are going along the way, and you are free to finish whenever you choose.

Will I have to talk about my childhood?

Only if and when you want to. Psychotherapy often touches on the past, because it can help make sense of the present, but you set the pace and you decide what to bring.

Is a psychotherapist the same as a psychologist or a psychiatrist?

No. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and prescribe medication. A psychologist has studied psychology and may carry out assessments. A psychotherapist is trained specifically in talking therapy. Some people see more than one of them at the same time.

Do I need a diagnosis to see a psychotherapist?

No. You do not need a diagnosis or a referral. You can contact any of the therapists here directly and arrange a first appointment yourself.

There are more answers on our frequently asked questions page.

• Read about the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICHAS).
• Read our Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy.
• Find out more about our Online Therapy options.