Why come to Counselling?
Beginning counselling can be a big step toward being the happiest and healthiest version of yourself and living the best life possible—no matter what challenges you may be facing. Through counselling, you can calm anxiety, release yourself from depression, change self-destructive behaviors and habits, resolve painful feelings, improve your relationships, and more.
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Come to counselling if you want to:
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What to expect?
- In our first session you will tell me what has brought you to therapy, and what you would like to gain from our time together. I will ask some questions to help me understand you, and what is going on in your life. Together. we will make a plan for how we would like to proceed.
- Then we will work together to open up new possibilities, facilitate growth, and cultivate the courage it takes to follow the path to your new future. Together we can make change real.
No matter how big or small your struggles may feel, whether the challenge is a specific event or a recurring pattern that you want to leave behind, I am here to help you help yourself. I have a pragmatic and straightforward approach, I want to see you moving toward your goals, and being all that you can be. You can have a life that is rich and free from limitation.
Counselling works best when:
- You are committed to coming regularly.
- You allow yourself the time to do the work of therapy both in the session, and in between sessions.
- Our relationship is right for you - If you do not feel comfortable with me for any reason, talk to me about it. If it is something we can't work out, then I would encourage you to see another therapist.
- You are as honest as you can be with yourself, and with me.
- You are willing to seeing it through - Getting to know yourself better can be incredibly rewarding, but there may be rough patches along the way. If you are finding it difficult, talk to me about it, and we can adjust where necessary. If you stick with the process, it will be worth it!
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Someone asked me recently why I became a therapist. It's really about the little moments where I realise that our work together has really helped someone:
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Here are a few things people have said about working with me:
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"Since I have come to therapy I have started living again, and I found out that it's quite nice to be me! I am not looking for approval from other people any more, and I realised I have the power to move past the past.
Coming to therapy has made a huge difference in my life. I didn't realise I was in chains until I started talking about it, I only wish I had done it sooner!" - L
Coming to therapy has made a huge difference in my life. I didn't realise I was in chains until I started talking about it, I only wish I had done it sooner!" - L
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"I really don't know where I would be if I didn't decide to get help, now I am feeling great, doing well. I'm full of positive energy and doing things in the house, helping people, and finding time for myself and my hobbies. Thank you! You are amazing person and I'm glad I met you!" - P
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"I spent around six months working, being guided, or helped along - to guide myself, by Claire. I felt at great ease talking with Claire, and she always shed light with insight from previous sessions.
She has great emotional awareness and is a fantastic person. I am hugely grateful for her support and the experience shared. I would highly recommend her as a counsellor to anyone." - K
She has great emotional awareness and is a fantastic person. I am hugely grateful for her support and the experience shared. I would highly recommend her as a counsellor to anyone." - K
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"I can wholeheartedly say, that Claire has brought an entirely new and positive energy to my life. Claire is an incredible listener, has a great sense of humour, is honest, relatable and offers wisdom at exactly the right moment. She is also very accommodating and professional. I would highly recommend Claire." - L
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"Claire helped me through the toughest time of my life. When I first started coming to therapy I wasn't sure I would make it to 21, but together we got my head straight and here I am. Claire is a great therapist!" - M
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"I found my sessions with Claire very beneficial. She has a wonderful ability to listen and focus, and shows great kindness." - J
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"I just wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for everything that you did for me and with me and helped me with. There were days when I really felt like running away or dying and sometimes a little bit of both and you helped me in ways I could never even explain. I am no longer lost, and I truly mean that. " - M
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"There are certain tools I have learned in therapy with Claire, and I've realised it's all about putting them into practice. It's been great and I'm really glad I did it." - E
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How long is a session?
A: Both in-person, and online sessions are one hour long.
Q: How often should I come?
A: Weekly is best, and preferably at the same time each week. Therapy is most effective with regular attendance.
Q: How many sessions do I need?
A: The answer to this question differs for each person. Once I have a sense of your specific concerns and goals, I will be in a better position to find an answer that speaks directly to you. We will decide on a number of sessions when we start therapy, and revisit this as we go.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: If a client cancels with less than 24 hours notice they will be liable for half the fee. If a client does not show up for a session, they are liable for the full fee, except in extreme circumstances. If absences are repeated regularly, this will be explored in session, and the contract may be ended. (Therapy is most effective with regular attendance).
On the rare occasion where I have to cancel, your next session will cost half the fee.
Q: Is what I tell you confidential?
A: Rest assured that all conversations you have with me are confidential. However, there are 3 conditions in which all counsellors are legally bound to break confidentiality:
Q: Galway is a small place, what happens if I run into you while I'm out with friends or family?
A: I will ignore you! But don't be offended. I understand that you may not want to tell just anyone that you are seeing a counsellor, so to avoid awkward questions and explanations, I don't greet any client I meet outside the office. But if you're ok with it, please feel free to say hi!
Q: Do you offer a sliding scale or reduced rates?
A: Yes, on a case by case basis. Please contact me for more information.
Q: What if I don't like you?
A: It's ok! It's really important that you talk to someone that you feel comfortable with, and, if for any reason you don't feel comfortable with me, just say so and I will be happy to refer you to another therapist.
A: Both in-person, and online sessions are one hour long.
Q: How often should I come?
A: Weekly is best, and preferably at the same time each week. Therapy is most effective with regular attendance.
Q: How many sessions do I need?
A: The answer to this question differs for each person. Once I have a sense of your specific concerns and goals, I will be in a better position to find an answer that speaks directly to you. We will decide on a number of sessions when we start therapy, and revisit this as we go.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: If a client cancels with less than 24 hours notice they will be liable for half the fee. If a client does not show up for a session, they are liable for the full fee, except in extreme circumstances. If absences are repeated regularly, this will be explored in session, and the contract may be ended. (Therapy is most effective with regular attendance).
On the rare occasion where I have to cancel, your next session will cost half the fee.
Q: Is what I tell you confidential?
A: Rest assured that all conversations you have with me are confidential. However, there are 3 conditions in which all counsellors are legally bound to break confidentiality:
- If a child is at risk of being harmed
- If you have a clear plan to hurt yourself or someone else
- If your records are subpoenaed by a court
Q: Galway is a small place, what happens if I run into you while I'm out with friends or family?
A: I will ignore you! But don't be offended. I understand that you may not want to tell just anyone that you are seeing a counsellor, so to avoid awkward questions and explanations, I don't greet any client I meet outside the office. But if you're ok with it, please feel free to say hi!
Q: Do you offer a sliding scale or reduced rates?
A: Yes, on a case by case basis. Please contact me for more information.
Q: What if I don't like you?
A: It's ok! It's really important that you talk to someone that you feel comfortable with, and, if for any reason you don't feel comfortable with me, just say so and I will be happy to refer you to another therapist.
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This short video gives an overview of what to expect, and what you could gain from coming to therapy.