When I tell people that I am a Psychotherapist, I mostly get asked “What kinds of people do you see are they “crazy” or do they have “Psychological Problems”?” I get the impression that people think Counselling or Psychotherapy is only for a particular “Type” of person. My answer is always, that I see very normal everyday people with very normal issues.

Psychotherapy can help all sorts of people in many different situations. Research shows that talking therapies work just as well whether you’re old or young, male or female, white or black, gay or straight, working class or middle class. Your educational background makes no difference either. National and international studies suggest that 25% of the population will experience a mental health difficulty at some point in their lives and that 44% of people in Ireland have had a direct experience of mental health problems (either their own, or within family/friends). (National Health Reform)

Many people attend Psychotherapy when they experience a period of emotional or psychological distress which is getting in the way of your normal ability to arrange your life more effectively. Psychotherapy provides an opportunity for you to talk to a qualified, professional and empathic therapist who can help you better understand what’s going on for you and how you might improve your situation. This can involve reflecting on your life experiences and your responses to new situations. The counsellor will also help you to identify what changes in life style or behaviour could reduce any distress you feel. You will be supported as you consider how to go about making these changes. Depending on what you are able to share, the psychotherapist works with you to explore how you can work towards living in a way that is more satisfactory and resourceful for you.

Psychotherapy benefits issues such as; just not feeling happy or feeling yourself, Bereavement, Depression, Anxiety, Lack of self Confidence, Phobia, Relationship Issues, Drug or Alcohol Misuse, Sexual Abuse, Childhood Trauma, to name but a few.
 

For these issues Psychotherapy will:

1. Give you a narrative. Most of us spend a good portion of our adult lives trying to figure ourselves out. Therapy is a useful tool in that process because -- if you stick with it long enough -- you gradually acquire a story that you can tell yourself to make sense of your past.
2. Identify patterns of Behaviours. As you begin to unearth your own narrative, you'll discover that you have a pattern of repeating particular behaviours. It's not until you can clearly see the patterns that you can think about change.
3. Normalizes problems. Are you experiencing "Ordinary Misery" or "Ordinary Unhappiness,” Which is another way of saying that if you stay inside your own head too long you run the risk of thinking that your problems are worse than they are? By talking to someone else about your problems you come to see that 1.) You aren't crazy 2.) Lots of other people have the same issues as you and 3.) All of these things are fixable.
4. Change your life. Psychotherapy gives you the tools to do so.  Therapy offers you a chance to take insights about yourself and apply those towards concrete changes in your life.
5. It gives us Hope......................................................................................