About Me
Welcome from Steven O' Riordan
Helping people remember their wholeness.
"Clients often describe me as calm, thoughtful, and easy to talk to - someone who brings warmth, curiosity, and gentle challenge without rushing to provide quick answers".
I've always been drawn to the deeper questions of life.
What helps us heal? Why do we suffer? What does it mean to belong - to ourselves, to one another, and to something larger than ourselves?
These questions have shaped my personal journey and the work I feel called to offer in the world.
Before becoming a psychotherapist, I spent many years working in social care and community development, supporting folks through times of great challenge, change, and uncertainty. Those experiences taught me the importance of compassion, connection, and community. They also taught me that behind every person is a story - a unique story shaped by their experiences, relationships, struggles, resilience, and hopes.
My own path has always been one of exploration and learning. Alongside psychotherapy, I have been deeply influenced by contemplative practice, spirituality, nature, and wisdom traditions. I am a mindfulness practitioner in the Plum Village Tradition founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, where I have learned the importance of cultivating presence, compassion, and peace in everyday life, even in the midst of suffering.
My journey has also brought me into Celtic spirituality, pre-Christian traditions, shamanic practice, depth psychology, and the exploration of consciousness through ceremony and plant medicines. Through my training and experiences, I continue to deepen my appreciation for the many ways we seek healing, meaning, connection, and a deeper relationship with ourselves and the world around us.
Nature is one of my greatest teachers and a constant source of connection and wonder. I feel most at home among forests, beside the sea, and in the rhythms of the changing seasons. I have a deep love of poetry, music, and mythology, and I am continually reminded that we are not separate from the world around us, but part of a living web of life that is ancient, interconnected, and much larger than ourselves.
Outside of my professional work, I am a husband, a cat dad, and someone who believes that humour belongs alongside depth. I believe life asks us to hold many things at once - joy and sorrow, uncertainty and hope, grief and gratitude. Healing is not about becoming someone different; often, it is about reconnecting with the parts of ourselves that have always been there.
I have a particular interest in supporting men. Many men have learned to carry their struggles quietly, believing they must remain strong, provide for others, or navigate life's challenges alone. I believe there is great courage in turning towards our inner worlds, and I value creating spaces where people can show up honestly, without judgement or expectation.
Psychotherapy is the heart of my professional work, but it is not separate from the rest of my life. It is informed by my experiences, my relationships, my ongoing learning, my contemplative practice, and my lifelong curiosity about what it means to be human.
I don't claim to have all the answers. What I bring is a willingness to walk alongside people with curiosity, humility, and trust in our innate capacity to reconnect, grow, and remember our wholeness.
Areas of Interest and Experience
My Specialities
I welcome individuals from all backgrounds and have a particular focus on men's wellbeing and the LGBTQ+ community. My experience includes supporting those who may find it challenging to express their feelings or who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected in their lives.
While every person's path in life is unique, I work from the premise of "all parts are welcome" to support individuals with a wide range of concerns, including (but not limited to):
- Anxiety Therapy Treatment
- Depression Therapy Treatment
- Family Dynamics and Relational Conflict
- LGBTQ+ and GSRD therapy
- Men's Issues and Masculinity
- Relationship difficulties
- Grief, Loss and Bereavement
- Self-esteem, confidence and personal growth
- Spirituality, meaning-making and Integration
- Burnout and work-related stress
- Trauma / PTSD Counselling
- Life Transitions and Existential Concerns
My therapeutic orientation
My Approach
My approach to counselling and 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 a holistic, whole-person view: what matters to you, what you need, and where you find yourself right now. Therapy is never a “one-size-fits-all” process; instead, our work together is shaped by your unique and individual 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 you.
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 of 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.
I work in an integrative way, meaning I draw on different therapeutic approaches depending on what best supports your individual needs.
My Philosophy
I hold a deep belief in the innate worth and resilience of every person who walks through the door and attends online.
I believe you are the expert of your own life, shaped by your unique history and experiences.
In our counselling and psychotherapy work, I believe in collaboration in exploring what may be challenging for you and to support your own innate wisdom, clarity, and fulfilment - one step at a time.
Approaches to Therapy
In-Person Therapy
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 Counselling
I offer online counselling and online therapy across Ireland, providing a secure and confidential space to speak openly from wherever you are. My professional, compassionate virtual sessions deliver the same depth and care as in-person therapy, with the flexibility of connecting online. If you’re looking for a trusted online therapist in Ireland, you’re welcome to get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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)
Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diversity (GSRD)
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 attention, people can respond to difficult emotions with greater clarity and ease. This practice strengthens emotional regulation, slows thinking and supports well-being.
It involves being receptive to current experiences, thoughts, and sensations without trying to control or suppress them.
Body Psychotherapy
Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diversity (GSRD)
Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diversity (GSRD)
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)
Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diversity (GSRD)
Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diversity (GSRD)
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 for LGBTQ+ folks 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
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
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
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.
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.