
My name is Steven O' Riordan (he/him). Welcome!
I am an accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist providing adult therapy in Portlaoise and Online, by appointment. If you’re considering therapy, I would be happy to connect and explore how we might work together. I invite you to reach out.

My approach is tailored to you - your needs, your experiences, and where you are today. There’s no “one size fits all.”
Guided by acceptance, calm, and gentle exploration, this is a place where tears and laughter alike are all welcome. Together, we’ll navigate your therapy at your pace.

I’ve had the privilege of supporting people from all walks of life - adults, teens, LGBTQ+ individuals, and families - through a variety of challenges. This experience has deepened my understanding and compassion, helping me meet each person where they are on their journey.

I believe that you are the expert on your own life, shaped by your unique experiences. In our counselling and psychotherapy work, we collaborate to explore the challenges you may be facing and support your journey toward healing, one step at a time.

Our one-to-one sessions are tailored to your unique needs and aspirations. Together, we create a space where you can explore your experiences openly, at your pace. I’m here to support you as you navigate challenges, build resilience, and nurture a greater sense of clarity in your life.

I offer online therapy sessions that allow you to connect from your own home or another private location that suits you. These sessions provide the same professional support as in-person therapy while offering flexibility and convenience.

CBT is a practical and supportive approach that helps you work through the challenges you may be facing. In our sessions, we’ll explore the ways your thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and behaviours interact, and we’ll work together on strategies that bring meaningful change to your everyday life, which can help you feel more empowered with goals that matter most to you.

Mindfulness-based approaches cultivate present-moment awareness and acceptance, supporting individuals to notice thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment.
By developing this capacity for mindful observation, people can respond to difficult emotions with greater clarity and ease. This practice strengthens emotional regulation, slows thinking and supports well-being.

We often try to think our way through challenges, but the body carries its own deeper intelligence. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy supports individuals in reconnecting with the mind–body relationship by noticing physical sensations, emotions, and patterns held in the body.
This body-based approach can help release stored tension, integrate overwhelming experiences, and support healing from trauma. Using gentle, mindful awareness, it encourages balance, grounding, and a greater sense of well-being.

I offer an affirming space for clients whose identities or relationships fall within the spectrum of Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity (GSRD). I recognise that each person’s experience with gender, sexuality, and relationships is unique. Therapy can provide a supportive place to explore identity, expression, belonging, and the challenges and joys that come with them.
You are welcome here.

Attachment-based therapy explores how early relationships shape emotional and psychological development. Rooted in attachment theory, it emphasises the importance of a secure, trusting relationship between client and therapist as a foundation for healing.
By creating a safe relational space in the present, attachment-based therapy can help repair earlier attachment wounds and foster more resilient ways of relating to oneself and others.

Trauma-focused therapy supports individuals in healing from the emotional and psychological impact of difficult or overwhelming life experiences.
It offers a space to process traumatic memories, including symptoms related to PTSD, while learning to regulate emotions and build personal coping resources. This approach helps people move toward greater resilience, stability, and empowerment in their lives.

Counselling for existential concerns supports individuals in exploring deeper questions about meaning, purpose, identity, and what it means to live a fulfilling life. Whether someone is reflecting on their values, life direction, or sense of purpose, this approach offers a compassionate and supportive space to explore these themes.
Together, we look at how these insights can be integrated into daily life, helping to create a greater sense of authenticity, meaning, and choice.
Before becoming a Psychotherapist, my journey took me through Community Development and studies in French and Information Technology. Even then, I knew I was searching for a more meaningful path, one rooted in purpose and social connection. That search led me back to education, where I completed a degree in Social Care.
During my career in Social Care, I developed a strong interest in holistic well-being – physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual. I worked with adults, teenagers, LGBTQ+ individuals, and families, supporting people through a wide range of personal challenges and life transitions. These experiences shaped my belief in the strength, resilience, and complexity of every person’s life story.
In my counselling and psychotherapy work today, I continue to be inspired by the courage and vulnerability of the people I meet. I’m glad you’ve found your way here, and I hope I can support you on your journey.
I know that taking the first step towards therapy can be difficult. That's why I offer a free 15-minute phone/video initial consultation to help you determine your needs, ask questions and if my practice is the right fit for you.
Contact Me today to schedule a call!
My professional education in Counselling and Psychotherapy includes a Masters of Science (MSc) in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy validated and awarded by University College Cork (UCC), as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care, awarded by Munster Technological University, previously Cork Institute of Technology.
I have also completed Further Training in my areas of interest:
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - Trauma Themes (Level 1), Professional Certificate in Relationship Therapy, Professional Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Diploma in Personal and Business Coaching, Therapeutic Life Writing, Non-Violent Communication (NVC), Insight Dialogue, LGBTQ+ Training, Healthy Boundaries Facilitator Training, ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), and Child Protection and Safeguarding.
Mindfulness Teachers Development Programme, Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness, Applied Specialisation in Mindfulness Meditation, Professional Certificate in the Therapeutic Use of Mindfulness, Teacher Training in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Programme.

I am an accredited member of the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP), and I work in line with their Code of Ethics to ensure safe and professional practice.

I am an approved Psychotherapist with Laya Healthcare. Counselling sessions may be covered for Laya members, depending on their specific health insurance plan and benefit limits.
Copyright © 2025 Therapy with Steven - All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to Therapy with Steven
New Appointments available in 2026.
You're welcome to contact me to join my Waitlist for in-person and online therapy. Spaces will become available in 2026. You are welcome to get in touch!