Therapy with Steven

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Therapy with Steven

Therapy with StevenTherapy with StevenTherapy with Steven
  • Home
  • About
  • Adult Counselling
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  • Contact Me

About Steven

Integrative Counsellor | Psychotherapist

Welcome. My name is Steven O’ Riordan (he/him).

I am an accredited counsellor and psychotherapist offering adult counselling and psychotherapy in Portlaoise and online, by appointment. 


I support adults from Laois and across the Midlands, including Kildare, Offaly, and Westmeath, as well as clients throughout Ireland.

Photo of the therapist with glasses, a beard, a grey cardigan and a white shirt.

Counselling in Portlaoise and Online

My Specialities

While every person's journey through life is unique, I have experience working with a wide range of concerns, including (but not limited to): 


  • Anxiety Therapy Treatment
  • Depression Therapy Treatment
  • Family Dynamics and Conflict
  • LGBTQ+ matters
  • Men's Issues and Masculinity 
  • Relationships
  • Grief, Loss and Bereavement
  • Self-Worth and Confidence
  • Spirituality Therapy
  • Stress Management and Burnout
  • Trauma / PTSD Counselling
  • Work-Related Challenges

My Approach

My approach to psychotherapy is to offer a gentle and welcoming place to land — a supportive space where you can pause, speak openly, reflect, and begin to find your way forward, at a pace that feels right for you.


I’m interested in your lived experience: what matters to you, what you need, and where you find yourself in life right now. Therapy is never a “one-size-fits-all” process; instead, our work together is shaped by your unique concerns, hopes, and goals.


Rooted in acceptance, steadiness, and compassionate curiosity, the therapy I offer is a space where all parts of you are welcome — from tears to laughter, and everything in between. We work collaboratively, allowing the therapeutic process to unfold in a way that feels supportive, respectful, and attuned to your needs.

My Experience

I have supported people from a wide range of backgrounds — adults, teenagers, LGBTQ+ individuals, and families — through many different life challenges.


I bring over 16 years' experience in community development and social care, having worked in frontline and senior roles within non-profit organisations. My background includes supporting individuals, families, young people, and marginalised communities across areas such as mental health, LGBT+ services, homelessness, youth work, and social services. These experiences continue to shape a grounded, socially aware, and compassionate approach to my therapeutic work. 


This breadth of experience has deepened my listening, compassion, helping me meet each person with care, openness, and respect for where they are today.

My Philosophy

I believe you are the expert on your own life, shaped by your unique history and experiences.


In our counselling and psychotherapy work, we collaborate to explore what may be challenging for you and to support growth, clarity, and fulfilment — one step at a time.

Approaches to Therapy

In-Person Therapy

Therapist Counselling Sofa with white and black blanket and cushion

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.

Online Therapy

Laptop for online therapy

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.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT model on thoughts, behaviours and emotions

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 (MBCT)

a piece of paper with the word mindfulness on it

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.

Body Psychotherapy

A couple sitting together holding their hands

We often try to understand our difficulties through thinking alone, yet the body holds its own wisdom. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a body-focused approach that gently supports reconnection between mind and body by bringing awareness to physical sensations, emotional responses, and habitual patterns.


By working mindfully with the body, this approach can help release held tension, process overwhelm, and support healing from trauma. It encourages grounding, regulation, and a deeper sense of balance and embodiment.

Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diversity (GSRD)

an lgbtq lego set

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

two adult hands holding a baby's hand

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

a couple holding each others hand

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.

Existential Therapy

Existential Therapy

a piece of paper with a question park, a pencil and an eraser

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.

Professional Education and Ongoing Training

My professional education is grounded in recognised, accredited training in counselling and psychotherapy. I hold a Master of Science (MSc) in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, awarded by University College Cork (UCC), and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care, awarded by Munster Technological University, (formerly Cork Institute of Technology). This academic foundation supports my integrative, relational, and client-centred approach to therapy.


I am deeply committed to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and engage in regular training to ensure my work remains ethical, evidence-based, and responsive to the real-life challenges clients bring to therapy. My ongoing CPD reflects my specialised interests in trauma-informed psychotherapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and inclusive practice.


My professional training includes Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Trauma Themes – Level 1), Professional Certificates in Couples Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a Diploma in Personal and Business Coaching, Therapeutic Life Writing, Non-Violent Communication (NVC), Insight Dialogue, Facilitation and Group Work Skills, LGBTQ+ affirmative practice, Healthy Boundaries Facilitator Training, Train the Trainer, ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Child Protection and Safeguarding, and Mental Health First Aid.


Alongside my psychotherapy training, I maintain extensive mindfulness-based training. This includes completing the Mindfulness Teachers Development Programme with Bodhi College, training in Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness for Safe and Transformative Healing, an Applied Specialisation in Mindfulness Meditation with the University of Toronto, professional training in the Therapeutic Use of Mindfulness with Padraig O’Morain, and formal teacher training in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies, Toronto, Canada.

Accredited Psychotherapist

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.

Laya Healthcare Approved Psychotherapist

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.


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