Counselling Smithfield, Dublin

Psychotherapy and counselling gives you a regular time to think and talk about the issues, which are stopping you from living a happier and fuller life. This is carried out in a confidential, safe and non-judgemental space. You and the therapist will explore thoughts, feelings and behaviours that may be causing emotional and physical distress. Together you will discover new healthier ways of coping and letting go of past experiences, enabling you to move forward with your life.  At Insight Matters we are committed to providing services built on the highest ethical standards, care and respect for our clients. FAQs: Can psychotherapy or counselling help me? Psychotherapy has helped many people deal with mental or emotional distress, which can be experienced in many ways including: •Anxiety or an inability to cope or concentrate •Inability to deal with stress or recover from stressful situations •Lack of confidence or excessive shyness •Feelings of depression, sadness, grief or emptiness •Extreme mood swings •Difficulty making or sustaining relationships, or repeatedly becoming involved in unsatisfying or destructive relationships •Sexual problems •Difficulties in coming to terms with losses such as bereavement, divorce or loss of employment •Exploring Sexuality (LGBTQ) •Questioning gender identity •Eating disorders •Suicidal thoughts, effects of suicide and self-harm •Obsessive behaviour •Panic attacks and phobia •Addiction Therapy works best when a collaborative relationship is formed between therapist and client. When you see a psychotherapist or counsellor you get to learn more about yourself and how your mind and body works and the relationship between your beliefs and thoughts and how you feel and behave.

Initial Meeting This may be your first time entering therapy; here is a list of what we have seen to be true for many people about therapy: •It takes time to establish a trusting relationship with a therapist. •It is important to go at your own pace and not overwhelm yourself.  •We all resist change. Don’t be surprised if you are tempted to quit right before some real changes or breakthroughs are about to happen. •Becoming more healthy and balanced can feel very unfamiliar and uncomfortable at first. •Therapy is hard work. •Some therapy is short term (usually focusing on one issue and situation) and other therapy may be longer term (more than one or complex issues.)  •Expect your therapist to hold strong boundaries, be ethical, and treat you with respect.  •Remember that therapy, in the hands of a skilled therapist, is a powerful and life-changing experience. It has been shown to be effective for a variety of difficulties and problems. If you need therapy and work as an active participant in your own treatment, you can expect it will be well worth the time and money you invest.

Insight Matters offers Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for all conditions including: depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, eating distress, low self-esteem, anger management, relationship difficulties, sexual problems, work/career issues and phobias/obsessive compulsive disorder. What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)? Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an evidence-based treatment based on the idea that thoughts, feelings and behaviours are interconnected. The essence of cognitive therapy is to examine underlying thoughts behind the emotional problems and to generate alternative, more balanced thoughts. Cognitive therapists aim to work on your thoughts and behaviours to help improve how you feel. How many Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions do I need? The number of Cognitive Therapy sessions depends on your presenting issues. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy tends to be short-term. A first consultation will establish how many Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions may be indicated. What evidence is there for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence based therapeutic approach and is regarded as a treatment of choice for a number of mental health issues. This is based on numerous studies showing the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Issues for CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is suited to a wide range of issues including: anxiety, stress, depression, relationships, work/career, self-esteem, anger, eating disorders, trauma, bereavement, phobias, addictions, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sexual problems, and self-development. Further reading on Choice Theory Ronald M. Rapee: Overcoming Shyness and Social Phobia: A Step-by-step Guide (Clinical Application of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy)

Zak Powers  Psychotherapist is based in wicklow Street Dublin 2.  As a practitioner of hypnotherapy, Zak Powers has used his skills of hypnosis and psychotherapy to produce the ideal approach to controlling stress and building self-esteem. Zak has worked as personal hypnotherapist to World Boxing Champion Steve Collins and has also treated 1000s of people who have championed their own personal battles. REMEMBER HYPNOSIS IS EASY It is also one of the few complementary therapies that is practised by the medical profession. Controlling stress does not have to be hard work. This programme is designed to instill into your mind a new programme of thinking. It will allow you to clear out your minds overload of stressful thoughts and enable you to think clearly. Once this sence of control and clarity has been achieved, Zak will build your confidence level to an all time high.This is easily accomplished using your imagination and Zaks renowned motivation techniques. YOU DO NOT NEED WILLPOWER Willpower (or conscious determination) is one thing, but because it only uses one part of the mind, its effects are all temporary. Hypnosis operates at the sub-conscious level and uses all of your senses, which is the very foundation of emotional intelligence. HYPNOSIS * Enables you to understand and eliminate anxiety.* Boost control and self esteem.* Provides the motivation for change.* Puts an end to panic thinking. Please contact the Clinic for current rates. quit smoking - weight management - phobias - stress - anxiey - depression - insomnia - O.C.D.

What is psychotherapy? Psychotherapy is the treatment of psychological, emotional, or behavior disorders through the communications between the client and a therapist. The goal of therapy is to establish a central relationship of trust in which the client or patient can feel free to express personal thoughts and emotions and thus gain insight into his condition and generally share in the healing power of words. (Britannica) Will it work for me? Many people feel a great deal of benefit from psychotherapy, some even after comparatively few meetings. Like any other treatment or life experience, psychotherapy may not be suitable for everyone. Each individual has to make up their own mind about whether therapy is helpful for them. Clinical experience shows that if you are motivated and set yourself realistic goals, psychotherapy is likely to be of benefit.How long will it take?The length of treatment will be determined by what you are offered following assessment. How often are the sessions? Most psychotherapy is once weekly, although sometimes client’s circumstances won’t allow for this, so an alternative arrangement will be made. How long does each session last? Individual psychotherapy sessions normally last fifty minutes. How much does it cost? A one on one session costs E85.00. What benefit should I feel afterwards? Research has shown that psychotherapy is effective in reducing symptoms, improving relationships and self esteem. However, as each person is an individual it is difficult to generalize at the beginning as to which benefits a person may feel. The exploration and the journey is often as important as the goal. Does it usually work? A great deal of research has been done which shows C.B.T to be effective. However, it only works as a catalyst with the person undergoing treatment. This means that in order for therapy to be effective, the "work" is not done to you - but by you and with you.Can I stop if I feel its not working? It is always possible to leav

Cognitive therapy seeks to help the client overcome difficulties by identifying and changing there thinking errors, behaviour, and emotions. This involves helping patients develop skills to change beliefs, identifying thinking errors and changing behaviours. Treatment is based the collaboration between the client and the therapist. Once those thoughts have been challenged, your feelings are easier to change. I believe that most people can overcome any emotional disability by ‘Working harder’. So be prepared for some homework, as C.B.T does require you the client to record your progress and challenge your behaviour in between sessions. But it’s not just about working harder; I will help you to ‘work clever’. The techniques of C.B.T will allow you to see your world from a new angle and this often brings relief and a new found ability to change behaviour that up until now, you may have felt would never change.

Counselling works with more surface level issues like day to day difficulties and helps to focus on the issues that arise in your present life.  The difference between Psychotherapy & Counselling is that Psychotherapy works at a deeper level, looking at past traumas & child hood issues.  Counselling works more in the present with issues in day to day living. Counselling can help with difficulties in decision making, anxiety, stress, panic attacks, depression, bullying.  Counselling can work short term giving support in a particular difficulty in your life and help you move forward.  A therapist may use both counselling and psychotherapy to help with the issues you are facing.

Psychotherapy works with unconscious processes to help support you in becoming more structured and better able to cope in your day to day life.  Looking at past traumas and childhood issues to help better understand present behaviour.

I work from a humanistic & psychodynamic framework, bringing in elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness.  Working in general practice providing one to one therapy sessions for adults, some of the issues dealt with include;  Anxiety, Stress, Bereavement & Loss, Commitment issues, Eating Disorders, Sexual Difficulties, Addiction recovery, Abuse, Panic Attacks, Loss of Direction, Bullying, Relationship Difficulties, Stress, Trauma. I also have experience and work with clients who are suffering with Suicidal Thoughts and who Self Harm.

Prices range from € 50-70 per session