OUR VISION, MISSION AND VALUES:

Vision

That there is open, equitable and timely access in all communities, to an affordable professional counselling service, carried out by qualified accredited therapists in surroundings conducive to therapeutic work, and where clients and counsellors alike, are respected and valued.

 Mission

To provide open, equitable access, to an affordable professional counselling service, according to clients’ means, provided by qualified and accredited counsellors/psychotherapists in a fit-for-purpose, safe, nurturing environment, conducive to high quality therapeutic work and where clients and counsellors alike are respected and valued.  

 Values

We aim to empower clients to live full and fulfilling lives. The service is inclusive, welcoming, non-judgemental, confidential, client-centred and adheres to the ethical and best practice principals laid down by accrediting professional bodies. Counsellors are committed to continued personal and professional growth and development.

WHAT IS COUNSELLING? 

Counselling is a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues, problems, challenges, difficulty making changes etc. You can talk as much or as little, as you wish and what you talk about will be very much in your own control. 

IS PSYCHOTHERAPY DIFFERENT? 

Not really. Most therapists call themselves counsellor/psychotherapists and often use the words interchangeably. Some would say that counselling is more orientated to listening, airing issues, and helping a client in a supportive way to find their own solutions or acceptance, and that psychotherapy refers to longer term deeper work. 

WHAT KINDS OF PROBLEMS MIGHT BE HELPED BY COUNSELLING/PSYCHOTHERAPY?

Most kinds of distress and reasons for distress can be helped by finding a therapist with whom you can develop a trusting relationship. These include feeling worried or fearful/anxiety, low mood/depression, panic attacks, relationship problems, gender issues, work issues, stress, feeling lost, feeling unfulfilled, social anxiety, lack of confidence, lack of self esteem, addiction, lack of direction, sexual problems, sexual identity or orientation issues, anger issues, all kinds of trauma, displacement, illness, disability, a difficult diagnosis, bereavement, loss and grief, pregnancy loss, infertility........and so on. 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE CONTACT

You'll get a call back, return email or text to arrange a call from the Sophia Counselling Centre, manager Emma. You don't have to say what the issue you are seeking help is, but it can be of help to match you to a counsellor that is right for you. It is important to say whether the person seeking help is over 18 and if a child or teenager, what age. She will need your name and contact number. She will then get back to you to let you know which therapist has availability and will put you in touch with a therapist best suited to your needs. If there is a particular therapist you would like to see, please do say. 

After that there will be phone contact between you and your therapist and you'll make a plan to meet for a first session. Part of this first session will involve taking contact, GP and health details and going through how that therapist works, how you'll contact each other outside of sessions, all about confidentiality, cancellation and payment policies and so on. You'll then have some time to start saying a little about yourself and/or why you have come to counselling. At the end of the session you can decide if you would like to continue. 

Sessions last for 50 minutes . 

It will be you that decides when you need to come less frequently or stop altogether. The best reason for stopping is because you are feeling good again!

PAYMENT and LOWER COST COUNSELLING 

The standard full cost of a counselling/psychotherapy session is €70. However there is provision made for affordable lower cost counselling for those who need it, for example students, those who are out of work, on disability, on a low income or under financial pressure. We ask those who wish to avail of lower cost sessions to give a contribution of €25 - €60 per session. This is usually agreed with the therapist at the first session. Fees are payable on the day of the session. Should cost be prohibitive for you, even at lower rates, please come anyway and we will negotiate a lower subsidised rate that you can afford. Money should not be a barrier to getting the help you need.