Carolyn has a special interest in working with Depression/Low mood and Anxiety. Anxiety Disorders such as Social Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic , Health Anxiety. Intrusive/ Obsessive thoughts and feelings. Emotional Regulation, Abandonment, and  Attachment issues. Difficulties and insecurities/ trust in relationships.

The difficulties that she works also include but are not limited to:

Carolyn offers 60-minute sessions for individuals. During sessions, she will guide you in a process in which you will both talk and have space to explore things that may be difficult to do in the outside world, or with friends and family.

Carolyn is fully accredited Integrative Counsellor & Psychotherapist   and Supervisor with the IACP,. She has also trained in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) and is an accredited DBT therapist.

Appointments are normally given within two to four weeks depending on availability.. Evening  appointments are available.

Depression

Every single year, 1 in 5 people experience clinical depression, which goes beyond mild sadness or the blues. Depression steals life away from both the person who struggles with it and their loved ones. One of the most common mental health issues in Ireland; depression can be debilitating, if untreated and can greatly impair the everyday life of sufferers. People living with depression may also be dealing with another mental health issue, including anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Recovering from depression is possible; and with the right depression therapy,.

There are various forms of depressive disorders (depression). Whilst there are many common features (symptoms) of depression, no two people will have the exact same experiences of depression and you will have your own ‘depression fingerprint’. Whilst many of us can experience a case of ‘the blues’, clinical depression and depressive disorders are distinctly characterised and significantly impact the functioning and well-being of sufferers. Some people may also be advised by their General Practitioner or a Psychiatrist to take medication (anti-depressant medication or similar) in conjunction with therapy. This recommendation may be for the short, medium, or longer term. Regardless, depression treatment and therapy can improve and in some cases alleviate the symptoms of depression so clients can return to a fuller and more meaningful life.

• Feelings of helplessness and heaviness
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
• Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
• Irritability, restlessness
• Loss of interests in activities or hobbies once pleasurable (anhedonia)
• Overeating or appetite loss
• Persistent sad, flat, or overwhelming feelings
• Sadness
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Slowed physical movements.
• Agitation
• Decreased energy or fatigue
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Excessive guilt
• Indecisiveness
• Inability to concentrate.
• Feelings of separateness from others, including loved ones.
• Thoughts of suicide and self-harm, or suicide attempts

Taking the first step towards help and treatment can be the toughest.

Anxiety

Anxiety in its’ various forms can be a debilitating condition for many people, if left untreated. Anxiety is a relatively common mental health issue. For many clients, it can feel as though anxiety has crept up over a period of time and can significantly impacts a persons’ quality of life, interfering with important life experiences and goals.

There is hope, and good results can be achieved through anxiety counselling and other evidence based approaches to treat anxiety.

There are different types of anxiety disorders and treatment guidelines will vary depending on the type of anxiety you are dealing with. Different types of anxiety disorders include:

• Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Phobias
• Panic disorder and Panic Attacks
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
• Agoraphobia
• Anxiety related to a medical condition.

Self-esteem refers to an inner sense of value that gives a person resilience. Every person has ideas about their own self-worth. Having good self-esteem does NOT mean being proud or having an overblown “ego.” Rather, it has more to do with confidence and self-respect. Low self-esteem can cause:

• Feelings of self-hate
• Believing that one is unworthy or incompetent.
• Refusal to get close to people.
• Belief that one does not deserve supportive relationships.
• Refusal to trust others.
• Inability to accept oneself as special or unique.

Poor self-esteem is often the result of prolonged periods of negative feedback in a person’s life. This results in deep wounds and emotional pain.

Not to mention that today, people are finding that they feel completely alone The problem of isolation gets even worse when we work long hours, have moved several times, or when our social support system has left us. Sometimes, working through these relationship or loneliness issues takes expert help.

Grief and Bereavement

Bereavement is a natural part of life, but if you find yourself unable to function in your daily activities, it may be time to seek support through grief counselling and therapy. support you to cope with an unexpected or anticipated loss or separation from a family member, partner or friend.

Grief reactions can also be experienced in connection with relationship breakdowns, separation or divorce as well as through a loss of an opportunity, a job, or loss of good health through illness. At  we understand that grief and bereavement issues can be complex and that good counselling and therapy can help navigate these issues to a place of clarity and growth.

We offer grief counselling and support to a range of people experiencing bereavement across the lifespan. Through grief counselling and therapy, we can support you to identify and work with your feelings; recovering a sense of hope whilst honouring your loss.

The grieving process can be difficult to face on your own.

Stress

The pressures of everyday life can be overwhelming and can take a toll on us. Whilst everybody experiences stress at one time or another, when we experience high levels of stress constantly, our physical health and well-being can be compromised, leaving us susceptible to illness, fatigue and even exhaustion. Stress does not exist in isolation, often co-existing with other mental health concerns including anxiety and depression.

Our stress response is a complex array of patterns that occur in our mind and body (via our brain and nervous system). Better, more functional responses to life stressors can be learnt and healthier habits can be put in place. If stress is an issue for you, perhaps you may wish to consider if you manage your stress or if stress manages you?

If you feel that you are struggling with the demands of everyday life and would like to know how to deal with stress, help is at hand. During this process you can expect to learn the steps to manage the stress in your life and to regain the balance and harmony you so rightfully deserve

an individualised stress management program that best suits your needs. From identifying the problems in your life, through to providing options for you on the best ways to approach these hurdles, our stress management approach is designed to ensure you can work through life’s complexities with assurance and