What is counselling?
In brief, during counselling, a person talks about their experience of the world and their difficulties in life, while a counsellor provides a safe space in which to listen attentively with empathy and offer some direction when necessary. This can give people relief from their inner turmoil and show them possible ways out of their predicament.
How long is a counselling session and how much does it cost?
Sessions last 60 minutes and my fee is €50 per session. I also have some low-cost slots for unwaged/students – please ask for details.
Is counselling confidential?
For the most part, yes, but there are some exceptions. We can speak about those during our first session together.
Where do you work and what hours?
I work from my home about 1 mile outside Milltown Malbay in County Clare and I also work online.
How long does it take for Counselling to ‘work’?
Everyone is different and the answer depends on many things; for new clients I typically suggest 6 sessions to begin with and taking things from there. Some people find that just a few sessions are enough but others need and want more. Research shows that counselling is most effective typically, between sessions 10 and 20:
Is counselling effective?
Short answer, yes, but not always. All things considered, most people find counselling to be of some benefit and some people find it to be of huge benefit.
What types of issues do you work with?
Some of the issues that I encounter most regularly in my practice are, anxiety, depression, trauma, and general lack of life-satisfaction. However, I have worked with clients who had a wide variety of other mental health issues.
What kind of counsellor are you?
I am an integrative psychotherapist; this means that I use a range of counselling tools from different ‘schools’ of psycho-therapeutic thought. In my practice, I mostly I use Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, Existential Therapy, and CBT.
Fun fact: Most research shows that the counsellor’s orientation is of relatively minor importance to client’s improvement and that the therapeutic relationship between the client and counsellor is in fact, the main agent of change.
How should I contact you?
The best way to make initial contact is by email because I might be working: mbdalycounselling@gmail.com
If that does not suit you, feel free to call me and leave a message (087-7614862)
When I contact you, what happens then?
We have a chat about what is ailing you, either through email or by phone. After this, we can decide whether to take things forward and start counselling proper, or not. In that case, I can suggest alternatives which might be useful. The telephone/email consultation is free of charge.
How should I pay you?
On the day, face-to-face is fine, but I can also accept payment through bank transfer.
Is online therapy OK?
Absolutely. I counsel online using Zoom or Google Hangouts. If you prefer just by phone without video, that is also a possibility.
