www.sophiacounselling.ie

MARY COLE

Mary is an accredited counselling psychotherapist, with 14 years’ experience with clients, having studied in PCI College, Kilkenny and Dublin. She has facilitated groups for those with experiencing depression and for Al Anon.

She helps clients with issues such as anxiety, abuse, depression, bereavement loss and grief and personal development. She has a particular interest in loss through suicide. The principal approach used in client work is cognitive behavioural therapy. She has done additional training in art therapy and uses this approach with clients who may struggle to express their feelings.

Mary works with individual adults.

ELIZABETH (LIZ) DOHERTY

Elizabeth has a background in the Adventure Sports industry working with children and adults from different socio-economic backgrounds. She found that during this time she was drawn to working with people from marginalised communities and those struggling with their mental health. This is where Elizabeth’s counselling and psychotherapy journey began.

She has over 10 years of experience working in the area of addiction, and currently works as an Addiction Practitioner in Dublin.

Elizabeth holds a Masters in Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy, a BA in Addiction and Community Development and a BA in Outdoor Education and Business. Elizabeth is also a SMART Recovery facilitator.

Elizabeth embraces the pluralistic approach, in that it is collaborative, integrative and rooted in humanistic and person-centred values. Its fundamental premise is that each client is unique and therefore may need different things from therapy.

Elizabeth works with individual adults with a wide range of issues and facilitates group sessions. She is accredited with the IACP.

EVA ABBEW

Eva is a pre-accredited psychotherapist specialising in child and adolescent counselling (IACP), with a Master's degree in child and adolescent psychotherapy and Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy. Eva has many years of experience working in The Gorey School Completion Programme, supporting children and young people in primary and secondary school in both one-to-one and group settings.

Eva works from a person-centred, integrative approach, using creative techniques tailored to individual needs.

She strives to create a supportive environment for clients, working with a wide range of challenges including anxiety, depression and self-identity.

Eva works with children, adolescents and adults.

BARBARA HANBIDGE

Barbara holds a Master’s in Integrative Child and Adolescent Counselling and Psychotherapy, a B.A. (Hons) in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and is IACP accredited. She has completed a B.A. in Social Care and has over 25 years of experience working with children/adolescents. Barbara is a Family Constellation therapist with Professional Certificates in Understanding the Therapeutic Power of Play and Counselling Children/Adolescents, Mindfulness, Workplace Burnout and Solution Focus Therapy.

Barbara was a therapist for adolescents at a Post Primary School in Ballymun, Dublin. She has worked with three different Counselling Services over the years: The VCS, Tallaght, where she worked with individuals and children/adolescents; Pieta House, where Barbara supported adults and adolescents with suicidal ideation and self-harm. She has worked at a Counselling Service in Carlow and Portlaoise, where she saw adults, couples, children and adolescents presenting with a wide range of issues such as child sexual abuse, grief and loss, etc.

Barbara has co-facilitated Family Constellation and Take Charge of Your Life workshops and has delivered her pilot Mindfulness/Visualization Workshop to support Leaving Certificate students at several local schools. She also ran the School Therapeutic Support Group for the Village Counselling Service during lockdown to many schools in Kildare and Dublin.

CATHY O’TOOLE

Cathy has a background in both childcare and landscaping/garden design. She worked as a childminder for 10 years and also worked in a pre-school before undertaking training in and running her own landscaping/garden design business. Cathy then moved in 2012 to completing a BSc (Hons) Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy and she also holds Professional Certificates in Children and Loss, and in Couples Counselling.

She has done intensive training in group therapy with experts Gerald Corey and Marianne Schneider. She has a long history of volunteering and community work, including serving as Chairperson/Director of the Founders of "Kids Aloud" not-for-profit child care facility in Baltinglass, during its early years and was founding member of Baltinglass Forum. She also helped set up the Baltinglass Youth Club and was involved in its running for its first 5 years.

Cathy works with children, teenagers, adults and couples.

DEBRA FRIEL

Debra is an accredited psychotherapist with a Masters in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, a BSc in Psychotherapy, a BA in Theology and Psychology and a Diploma in Group Work.

Debra has a background in social services working with those who are homeless, families who live on the margins, in women's refuges and children's residential care, with the HSE, ISPCC, Crosscare and with Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy at the Sanctuary. She has also facilitated adult education courses on the Enneagram, and set out programmes for sixth class primary students for a number of schools in west Wicklow.

Debra works with adults, couples, children, adolescents and families with a vast range of issues and also offers a space for those who wish to reflect on their life's journey.

EMMA NELSON

Emma qualified as a doctor in 1990 and worked as a GP for 20 years as well as working as Programme Director of the RCSI & HSE GP Training Programme. She also has some hospital-based experience, including in psychiatry. She found that as a GP, she was best at and most interested in, helping people struggling with life challenges, their emotional wellbeing, or mental health and made a decision in 2014 to do a degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Institute of Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy (IICP), in Dublin where she attained a Distinction. She has been working in Sophia Counselling Centre since 2017, working with adult clients with a broad range of issues and difficulties.

Her approach is rooted in person centeredness and she could be best described as an integrative humanistic practitioner, with a gentle, unhurried style. She is fully accredited with the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP). She also facilitates Balint groups which provide GPs, Psychotherapists, Social Care workers, Psychiatrists and other caring professionals an opportunity to process and reflect on their relationships with clients and patients.

Emma works with individual adults with a wide range of issues and facilitates groups.

JENNIFER KELLY

Jennifer is a compassionate, pre-accredited therapist with the IACP and holds a BSc in Counselling & Psychotherapy. Her passion for supporting others through life’s challenges stems from a personal calling to help those in need. Drawing from her own life experiences and deep empathy, Jennifer creates a safe space where clients can explore their struggles. She offers an integrative approach, blending person-centred therapy, CBT, psycho-dynamics, and creative therapies to meet each individual’s unique needs.

With over 25 years of experience working in early years, preschool, and after-school settings, Jennifer brings a strong understanding of children, adolescents, and families. She also has experience working with neurodivergent clients, tailoring her approach to meet their specific needs. Jennifer has further experience supporting individuals affected by childhood sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment, having worked with the Rape Crisis Centre. She also leads educational programs on bullying, consent, and sexual violence awareness. Jennifer is dedicated to helping clients build resilience, self-compassion, and personal growth. She supports individuals in overcoming life’s difficulties, fostering a safe and non-judgmental space for healing and transformation.