Frequently Asked Questions - Counselling and Psychotherapy

Counselling and Psychotherapy are closely related and often overlap in practice.

Counselling typically focuses on present-day challenges and specific issues. It is often shorter-term and can be particularly helpful when working through a current difficulty, life transition, or decision.

Psychotherapy tends to involve a deeper exploration of both past experiences and their impact on your present life. It often addresses long-standing patterns, trauma, relational dynamics, and unconscious processes. The therapeutic relationship itself is considered a central part of the healing process.

In reality, the distinction between counselling and psychotherapy is not always clear-cut. Both approaches use talking therapy to support emotional wellbeing and personal growth.

Psychotherapists usually train to postgraduate level and undertake extensive personal therapy, ongoing clinical supervision, and adhere to a professional code of ethics. Counsellors also complete several years of professional training, engage in personal therapy, receive supervision, and follow an ethical framework.

In my practice, I draw from both counselling and psychotherapy approaches. I adapt the work to your unique needs, goals, and pace, whether you are seeking short-term support or deeper, longer-term exploration.

Your first session is a gentle starting point. It’s a chance for us to get to know one another and to begin building a sense of safety and trust, which is at the heart of meaningful therapy. We'll have already spoken on the phone before we sit down to chat face-to-face. 

An initial session is an opportunity to:

• Share what’s bringing you to therapy in a confidential space
• Discuss your goals and what you hope to achieve
• Ask questions about the therapeutic process
• Determine if we are the right fit to work together

This initial meeting is also an opportunity to see how it feels to work together. There’s no pressure and no obligation - it’s simply a chance for us both to sense whether this feels like the right fit and how I might best support you. If it doesn't feel right, that's quite normal, and I can make recommendations for next steps if requested.

While every person's path 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 Relational Conflict
• LGBTQ+ and GSRD matters
• Men's Issues and Masculinity
• Relationship difficulties
• Grief, Loss and Bereavement
• Self-esteem, confidence and personal growth
• Spirituality and meaning-making
• Burnout and work-related stress
• Trauma / PTSD Counselling
• Life transitions and existential concerns

As a Psychotherapist, I work within clearly defined areas that reflect my training, qualifications, and professional scope of practice. As such, I do not currently provide crisis counselling, suicidal intervention, or therapy for severe psychological and psychiatric conditions, nor do I work with active addictions.

Please contact your GP, visit an Emergency Department or Dial 999 or 112 in Ireland for emergency services.

In addition, for clinical, ethical, and insurance reasons, I am unable to work with individuals involved in sexual exploitation or sexual offending (including online offences), intimate partner abuse, or those who are awaiting legal charges or sentencing.

You can find more information about the areas I work with on this website.

I do not work with clients who undermine the role of a professional therapist, make unrealistic requests, or are passive-aggressive or disrespectful during appointments.

No. I do not provide crisis counselling to clients who are not already in treatment. This is because I have no immediate availability to support clients in need of urgent support. Please visit www.iahip.org  to find a crisis counsellor.

Please contact your GP, visit an Emergency Department or Dial 999 or 112 in Ireland for emergency services.

Samaritans Ireland are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can contact them free of charge on 116 123 or by email at jo@samaritans.ie.

‍I currently only work with individual adults over 18+. I may refer to colleagues or community support(s) for particular support needs or specialisations, where this is appropriate, always in discussion and exploration with you.

The number of sessions varies and depends on what you would like support with. Some folks come for short-term counselling to work through a specific issue, while others choose to stay longer to explore deeper patterns around relationships, identity, or self-esteem and confidence.

I work at a minimum frequency of once-weekly sessions. These sessions will also occur on the same day and at the same time every week. Many clients find 6 initial sessions helpful to get to know each other and their presenting concerns. From there, we review how things are going and discuss next steps together, based on your needs and goals.

Choosing to begin counselling is a meaningful step, and creating a gentle, consistent rhythm of sessions can really support the work we do together. Counselling and psychotherapy invite personal reflection and growth, and this kind of healing tends to unfold over time rather than through quick fixes. Regular attendance helps provide the continuity and safety needed for insight and change to emerge.

I work at a minimum frequency of once-weekly sessions. These sessions will also occur on the same day and at the same time every week. This regular contact supports the development of trust and helps establish a strong therapeutic relationship. In some situations, and where it feels appropriate, sessions may later move to a biweekly schedule, always discussed and agreed upon together with your therapist.

The duration of a counselling and psychotherapy session whether in-person and online is 50 minutes.

Should additional time be required, it can be prepaid on a pro-rata basis of the original session fee. Please note that delays cannot be compensated with additional time at the end of the session.

Individual: €70 (50 mins)

Many therapists see a set number of reduced-cost clients to make therapy accessible to all. For those who are struggling financially, the unemployed and/or students, I offer a limited number of reduced-cost sessions at €50.00. Please ask me about this if you are eligible. 

I review my fees annually, and any changes take effect on the 1st of January and apply to new and existing agreements.

Psychotherapy is now considered a qualifying expense for tax relief by the Irish Revenue. More information can be found on Citizens Information: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money-and-tax/tax/income-tax-credits-and-reliefs/taxation-and-medical-expenses/. 

Sessions are paid at the end of every session. I use a card machine, Revolut and online and cash payments are accepted. 

Receipts are provided for all attended sessions, and I am able to provide annual statements for attended sessions.

When you book an appointment, that time is reserved exclusively for you, usually every week, unless otherwise agreed. 

I understand that circumstances can arise which make it necessary to cancel or reschedule. However, cancellations should generally be limited to genuine or unavoidable situations.

Appointments may be cancelled or rescheduled without charge where a minimum of 48 hours’ notice is provided (excluding weekends). Where less than 48 hours’ notice is given, the full session fee will apply. This includes cancellations due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances. The fee remains payable even if the session is subsequently rescheduled. Where possible, an alternative appointment time will be offered, subject to availability.

Responsibility for communication regarding cancellations or rescheduling rests with you. Please contact me directly by phone, text, or email in relation to your appointment.

If cancellations begin to occur frequently, we will take time to discuss this together, and it may be necessary to pause therapy until regular attendance can be re-established.

Ongoing appointments are held on the understanding of regular attendance and timely communication. As you can appreciate, I cannot hold appointments indefinitely without communication. If I do not receive communication from you regarding your scheduled appointment for a period of one week, I reserve the right to release your allocated time and offer it to another client.

If this occurs, you are welcome to contact me to arrange a further appointment, subject to availability. At that stage, we can agree together on how you wish to proceed. Where appropriate, I encourage arranging a final session in order to bring the work to a thoughtful and considered conclusion.

This policy helps to support consistency for all clients and allows my psychotherapy practice to remain sustainable. Thank you for your understanding and consideration.

I am an approved Psychotherapist with Laya Healthcare. Laya Therapist ID: 19648.

Counselling sessions may be partially or fully covered for Laya members, depending on individual plans and benefit limits.

I am not affiliated with any insurance providers apart from Laya Healthcare. Please check with your insurance provider before booking to confirm your eligibility.

Receipts are provided for all attended sessions, and I am able to provide annual statements for attended sessions.

If you are late attending your session, we will still end at the scheduled time in order to avoid impacting other clients. However, I understand that there may be exceptional situations such as severe weather, bereavement, illness, or emergencies, and in those cases, special consideration will be given, where it is practical.

For online counselling sessions, if you are late attending, I will stay online for 15 minutes to allow for any eventualities. If you do not make contact at this time, then the session will be considered missed and will be cancelled. If you fail to cancel, you will be charged the full fee for this missed session. 

If you are late attending your session, we will still end at the original time for the session. Special consideration will be given in exceptional circumstances and where it is practical.