Frequently Asked Questions - Counselling & Psychotherapy

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Yes, I am a fully accredited counsellor and psychotherapist and a registered member of the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP). My IAHIP membership number is 1821, and I am listed on their professional directory here.

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 ongoing supervision, and follow an ethical framework.

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

The first session is an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to therapy and to get a sense of whether it feels like a good fit. There is no pressure or obligation to continue.

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. 

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

At the end of the first session, we'll discuss 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.

The standard exchange for a 60-minute therapy session is €70.

I recognise that the cost of therapy can be a barrier for some people. To support greater accessibility, I offer a limited number of reduced exchanges of €50 for people on a low or reduced income, those who are unemployed, and students. Please ask me about this if you are eligible, and happy to discuss.

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/. 

An online counselling and psychotherapy session lasts 60 minutes.

If you would like additional time, this can be arranged in advance and paid for on a pro-rata basis according to the standard session exchange. 

Please note that if a session starts late due to the client’s arrival or connection, the session will still finish at the scheduled time.

I have experience working with a wide range of concerns, including (but not limited to): 

• Men & masculinity 
• LGBTQ+/GSRD 
• Trauma & difficult life experiences 
• Psychedelic experiences & integration
• Anxiety, stress & burnout 
• Relationships, attachment & boundaries 
• Life transitions, identity & meaning

I also work with grief, depression, self-esteem, family dynamics and many other concerns that can arise at different points in life.

Therapy is not about fitting you into a particular approach. Instead, we work collaboratively to understand what you are experiencing and find ways of working that feel meaningful, supportive and appropriate for you. I aim to create a space where there is room to explore not only what you are struggling with, but also what may be asking to emerge, change or be better understood.

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. Samaritans can be contacted 24/7 on freephone 116 123.

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.

Starting counselling is a meaningful step, and maintaining a gentle, consistent rhythm of sessions can greatly support the work we do together. Counselling and psychotherapy are processes of personal reflection and growth, which typically unfold over time rather than through quick solutions. Regular attendance provides the continuity and safety that allow insight and lasting change to emerge.

I usually work with a minimum frequency of once-weekly or every two weeks, as we agree during our initial session. Sessions are scheduled on the same day and at the same time each week to foster consistency, build trust, and strengthen the therapeutic relationship. In certain situations, and when it feels appropriate, we may later move to a biweekly schedule. Any changes are always discussed and agreed upon collaboratively.

Sessions are paid for either before or at the end of each session. 

Revolut is the preferred payment method. You can also pay by debit or credit card (without needing a Revolut account). 

For clients in Ireland and across Europe, a secure payment link is made available for convenience.

Receipts are provided for all attended sessions, and annual statements can be provided upon request.

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 (2 working days). 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 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.

Yes, as a registered and accredited member of IAHIP, clients attending my practice have the right to raise any professional concerns or grievances through the organisation’s formal complaints process.

The IAHIP Complaints Policy supports the maintenance of high standards of professional practice among its members.

You can find further information about the complaints process here: https://iahip.org/Complaints

I am an approved Psychotherapist in Ireland 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 arrive late for your session, it will still need to finish at the scheduled time to avoid impacting other clients. However, I recognise that exceptional circumstances can arise, such as severe weather, bereavement, illness, or emergencies. In these situations, special consideration will be given where practical.

Where possible, an alternative appointment time will be offered, subject to availability.

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.