counselling dublin 6w

The risks of delays & difficulties accessing counselling services in Ireland

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While mental health is certainly very much part of the national conversation these days it is disturbing to hear regularly how many aspects of our mental health service remain many years behind.

A clear illustration of this in a recent Irish Times article describes a situation where over 6000 individuals are awaiting counselling services through the HSE with over 1200 waiting 3 months or more. There seems to be particularly disturbing backlogs in the West of Ireland & North Dublin. Many of these individuals could be extremely vulnerable and may not have the resources to access private or alternative services.

Recently in my own practice I became aware of an individual who recently made a serious attempt to complete suicide but through complete chance was prevented.

This vulnerable person ended up being referred by a GP to the A&E department of a major hospital where they ended up walking out due to pure frustration waiting. They were to be contacted by phone as a follow up to this visit which apparently, unbelievably, has still not occurred weeks on. This individual & his network were not aware of the alternative free supports available even those provided by well known organizations such as Pieta house.

Luckily in this instance friends and family have rallied around and got the information & support required shoring up this deficit but for such a high risk individual’s life to be left to chance is extremely disturbing and seems to highlight the vestiges of an archaic, disconnected system with regards to identifying appropriate care for vulnerable people and their mental health.

Accessing Counselling Services in Ireland – the three main options for clients

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A variety of people including those working in community & health settings regularly ask me about how to access counselling supports in Ireland, often confused about options outside private practitioners. This brief article explains the three main options available to clients seeking access to talking therapies in Ireland.

Talk Therapy Dublin is happy to provide free information & advice for anyone curious or confused with respect the accessing the right services or supports.

Why do people become counsellors/psychotherapists?

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This is a question I am often asked by people in general.   As can be seen from the below IACP video the reasons that bring people to train as a therapist are varied and tend to come on the back of previous work & life experiences.

Of course there are also those who work in the counselling/psychotherapy profession directly from training as psychologists having undergraduate and doctorate level training that can take nearly a decade.

Also see a second video below where IACP accredited therapists explain what they feel are the best things about the work of being a therapist.

 

“Going To Therapy For The First Time? Here’s What To Expect.

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Below is a recent promotional video the IACP  made at a recent conference explaining to prospective clients what they might expect from their first session of counselling/psychotherapy.

“Going To Therapy For The First Time? Here’s What To Expect.

“Perhaps you’re struggling with anxiety or depression. Or maybe you’re unhappy in your job, and need some guidance in figuring out what career will really make you happy. Or, it could be that you’re having relationship difficulties or simply not feeling fulfilled but you are not entirely sure what makes you feel this way… 

If any of the above situations applies to your life, counselling/ psychotherapy could be helpful.   So what is stopping you?

Some clients say it was fear of the unknown keeping them from seeing a counsellor  because they just didn’t know what to expect…

So what happens during the first session. Here is what some experienced therapists have to say.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=NJEh-8J3fz8

 

 

How is your therapist doing?

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Many clients (and people in general) become curious about the therapists they are talking to especially as the therapeutic relationship builds.  Indeed sometimes a client may bump into their therapist outside the therapy room, out shopping, with their family etc.

All sorts of questions seem to emerge – has my therapist children?  what issues have they experienced themselves?  What brought them to this vocation? How much money are they making from this?

While in many modalities  limited self disclosure does occur within the therapeutic relationship the process is obviously not focused on the therapist.

This article explores the issue from the perspective of a practitioner in private practice in Ireland and highlights issues many therapists will relate to.  Might have some answers for those curious too!