Counselling and Psychotherapy are talking therapies. At certain stages of life, anyone can experience personal difficulties, change, sadness or stressful situations.

There are occasions when the issue can be distressing and overwhelming. Other times there may not be a defined issue as such. It may be uncertainty or a wish to evaluate or explore the future or the past.

Counselling and Psychotherapy can offer caring support to listen to your concerns and discuss ways to manage them. Counselling and Psychotherapy can help address a variety of difficulties or situations you may find yourself in.

There may be little difference between the two titles and they are often used interchangeably.

“Counselling tends to deal more with immediate issues that may have arisen more recently e.g. bereavement or relationship breakdown. Psychotherapy tends to deal with deeper, more long- term issues that may be rooted in the past e.g. a trauma or serious mistreatment where the effects of such are ongoing.” www.iacp.ie (2020)

You are assured confidentiality during the counselling process. There are only certain times when your therapist is legally obliged to break your confidence. For example, if you disclose a danger or risk to yourself or to another. You will be aware if your therapist is taking this action.

All therapists are engaged in clinical supervision, however your anonymity is protected in this regard.

Aisling holds a Diploma and a BA in Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has trained at the Institute of Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and is a pre-accredited member of the IACP and follows their code of ethics.

Aisling also holds a BA(hons) in Social Care and has been working as a Social Care Practitioner for the past seventeen years.

Yes. Aisling has insurance with the Psychologists Protection Society.

Everyone is unique. We recommend at least six sessions to get maximum benefit but Counselling and Psychotherapy is a process. Some attend for a few weeks or months and revisit their journey sometime later. Others may attend for a much longer duration. Your individual needs are always respected.

The session itself is 50 minutes with an additional 5 minutes at the start to settle in and relax and 5 minutes at the end to review, arrange the next date etc.

The first time you come to therapy you may feel anxious, uncertain and apprehensive. This is completely normal.It can take time to get used to something new.

Typically the first session is to talk about the reason you have come to therapy, what you can expect and other areas such as fees, time, duration, counselling agreement etc.

You can expect and be assured of a safe, supportive and caring environment. You will be supported, listened to and guided in a completely non-judgemental way. The Healing Harbour is an open forum and whatever you wish to discuss is accepted and welcomed.

We will not tell you what to do and how to proceed. You are the expert of you. Your therapist is trained in a variety of techniques and approaches and their role is to listen, support and guide you in your exploration or areas of discussion.

You are always welcome to give feedback on how you feel the sessions are going for you, if you wish to change some element or how you wish to proceed.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions all our therapy sessions are currently offered online/over the phone.

We work on a sliding scale and tailor fees depending on individual circumstances.

Fees are typically transferred before the session or shortly afterwards.

For more information, please contact us in confidence to discuss your individual circumstances