Finding the right psychotherapist or counsellor for you:
With so many psychotherapists, counsellors and clinical psychologists out there it can be difficult to know who to choose, especially as you may be feeling particularly vulnerable at the moment. This article might help demystify the process for you.
On first looking online there are many different letters appearing relating to accreditation bodies: ICP, IACP, IHIP, PSI etc. You also may notice that there are also many different methods of psychotherapy; Integrative Psychotherapy, Psychoanalytic, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychotherapy. It’s hard for people to know what to choose. Terms such as ‘psychotherapy’, ‘counselling’ and ‘psychology’, ‘psychiatry’, come up, you are probably asking yourself what is the difference? And which one is right for me? It may feel strange calling someone that feels like a complete stranger. I imagine many of my clients feel this way before the call; questioning whether they are doing the right thing, and hoping that the person on the other end of the phone will be kind to them.
Firstly you will want to know the difference and meaning of all the terminologies. IACP stands for Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, this is a governing body which regulates all its therapists ensuring that they are meeting the standards of education, practice and ethics. Another is ICP, which stands for Irish Council for Psychotherapy , another governing body in Ireland. IAHIP stands for Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy. PSI stands for Psychological Society of Ireland.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist, psychologist, a psychotherapist and a counsellor?
A psychiatrist is a medically trained doctor, who is trained to prescribe medication. Whereas a Psychologist studies the science of the mind, this is often to do with research methods, and to carry out assessments. A psychotherapist is a mental health professional who has been trained to focus on helping people to overcome emotional stress in their lives. This stress could be due to a bereavement or loss suffered in their life, childhood trauma or everyday problems such as difficulty in their relationships or at work. A psychotherapist can also help a person to feel more confident in their lives, and give them back a sense of focus and help them to experience more joy.
The term counsellor is often interchangeable with psychotherapist. Both are mental health professionals who help individuals to cope with stress and difficulty in their lives. The main difference relates to the amount of time it takes to qualify as a psychotherapist versus a counsellor. Someone can usually train to be a counsellor in 2-3 years, whereas a psychotherapist will usually take 4-7 years.
How much will it cost?
My sessions are €50 per hour.
I offer discounted fees for students and those experiencing financial hardship.
