Typically, I have a waitlist for new clients, so I cannot see you immediately unless a space opens up.

The waitlist is separate for both locations (Drogheda and Dundalk), with Drogheda usually having a longer wait time than Dundalk. As such, clients who can attend in Dundalk can usually be seen before those who can only attend in Drogheda.

With regard to waitlist times, it is very difficult to give a timeframe. Please check the CONTACT page for an up to date waitlist estimate, but be aware that this depends on client flexibility (a client who can attend any day or time is more likely to be able to start before a client who can only attend on a specific day and/or time)

I do not. My appointment times are Monday to Friday between 10am - 5pm, with last appointments typically being 4pm.

After you contact me by phone, text, or email, we setup a phone call for 15-20 minutes where we discuss your issues in brief, along with some physical and mental health questions, and your expectations from therapy.

By the end of the call, I decide whether we are a good fit, or if I am the right practitioner for you. If I am happy to take on your case, I ask you to take a few days to decide if you feel I am the right fit and practitioner for you, as the therapeutic relationship and your own wish for and readiness to change are the greatest predictors of a good therapy outcome.

If you and I both decide to proceed, you will either start therapy at the earliest available date or be placed on my wait list if there are no available slots at present.

Psychotherapy (also referred to as ‘therapy’ or ‘counselling’) is a group of mental health treatments where the aim is to help people to feel better and feel less psychological pain.

In order to feel less pain, talk therapy is used; this means sitting down with a therapist individually or in a group and using the conversation to work through the issues.

Psychotherapy usually takes place once weekly in the therapist’s office for a length of time agreed by therapist and client. Therapy can often feel like a conversation with sometimes unusual focus or depth. However, the therapist has a specific plan and focuses on different aspects of the client’s past or present in order to help them move toward a less painful and more fulfilling future.

The best outcome in therapy is when a client is no longer in distress with what brought them to therapy in the first place, and feels safe and equipped enough to step away from therapy and continue their life without it.

Each client is unique, and so too is every therapy session. Typically, however, the first 1-2 sessions are ‘assessment’ sessions where I get to know you. We first discuss and agree on our therapy contract, which includes the specifics of consent and confidentiality in therapy. We also details such as contact details and an emergency contact.

I then discuss your current issues and psychological pain, and we set our aims for therapy. I gather information about your physical and mental health history, childhood and family, relationships, education, and employment, and any other information which you or I feel is important.

At the end of the assessment, I offer a ‘formulation’ - this uses psychological theory to inform my professional explanation about what has led to the current issues. We then discuss the treatment plan, such as the type of therapy I believe is best suited and how many sessions I expect it to take. If this is agreeable, we schedule our next session. If goals or tasks for the next week have been set, we agree on these, after which payment is made, and the session concludes.

*At all times, I work at the comfort level of clients; there is no pressure to answer questions or discuss topics which are currently too uncomfortable or distressing to discuss.

There are countless types of psychotherapy, and no one ‘right’ therapeutic approach. All therapies are different, with different strengths, weaknesses, suitability, and limitations. Different clients may also work well with particular therapies, but not so well with other therapies.

Choosing the type of therapy is similar to choosing a vehicle for a journey. If your journey is on smooth roads, you’d choose a car, while if your journey was over rough terrain, you’d choose a 4x4. Your therapist should be able to work with you to figure out the most appropriate type of therapy that is best suited to you.

Some therapies focus on the past, others on the present. Some focus on very specific goals, such as regulating anger and violence, or improving time-keeping. Others focus on wider goals, such as accepting myself or putting a difficult childhood behind me. Some therapies are gentle but slower, while others are more intense but may bring change sooner.

Your therapist should be able to explain not only the type of therapy being suggested or used, but also the reasoning behind it.

Unfortunately, this can be a ‘How long is a piece of string?’ question.

The length of treatment depends on several factors. These factors include what the issue(s), problem(s), or psychological pain is as it can take a longer time period to reduce the pain if it has been present for a long time. However, the type of pain is also important, as some experiences which are extremely upsetting or distressing can also take time to resolve.

Another important factor is the client. For some clients, they are very ready, motivated and equipped to make changes immediately. Others may be ready to dive into deep, evocative, and challenging therapy sessions from the start. However, we all have our own unique journey and we may not all be ready or able for that from the start, which requires more time.

Regardless of how long therapy should take, your therapist should be able to provide to you a rough estimate (open to change) of how many sessions, and contract for a minimum number with periodic reviews to discuss progress and future planning.

There can be a lot of confusion around the differences, as there are some similarities shared between some of these professions.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who then go on to specialise in mental health through additional training.

Psychiatrists are trained to offer psychotherapy, and can prescribe medication. It currently takes a minimum of seven years to qualify as a psychiatrist in Ireland.

Psychologists can refer to many roles including research, organisational psychology, social psychology, and so forth. However, counselling psychologists, clinical psychologists and educational psychologists are the psychologists people think of when they talk about psychologists.
Psychologists are mental health professionals who specialise in the assessment and treatment of mental health issues, and hold a deep understanding of these issues through psychological theory. Psychologists are trained to provide psychotherapy and conduct assessments, but cannot prescribe medication. In addition, psychologists are ‘scientist-practitioners’ which means that they have typically carried out research, and that the approaches they use are supported by scientific research. It currently takes a minimum of seven years to become a psychologist in Ireland and requires completion of a professional doctorate.

Psychotherapists and counsellors are professionals who specialise in providing psychotherapy. Some professionals identify or are trained as either cousellors, psychotherapists, or both. Psychotherapists and counsellors are ‘scientist-practitioners’ which means that they have typically carried out research, and that the approaches they use are supported by scientific research. It currently takes a minimum of four years to become a psychotherapist in Ireland and requires completion of a B.A. Degree.

This is answered in greater detail below under ‘Consent & Confidentiality’.
In short - everything is private and confidential apart from three circumstances:
1) You are at risk
2) Someone else is at risk
3) A child (somebody under 18 years of age) is currently being or is at risk of being abused or neglected.

If any of the above is reported to me, I have to ensure that children are kept safe, and therefore would need to speak to someone to ensure their safety.

Consent in psychotherapy refers to informed consent. This means that part of my professional responsibility as a psychologist is to make sure that I work collaboratively with my clients, and that they fully understand and are aware of why we are choosing whatever professional action is being proposed - this includes making it clear why I’m suggesting a type of therapy, or why I am proposing a certain number of sessions, or other related matters. Consent also refers to a client engaging with therapy of their own free will, and of being able to withdraw this at any time.

Confidentiality in psychotherapy more specifically refers to the limits of confidentiality. Therapy is a safe space and what is discussed is kept confidential, but with some exceptions:

1. If a client is at risk of death or serious harm or injury, I have a professional duty of care to ensure their safety to the best of my ability. As such, if serious physical harm or death appear likely, I would have to seek assistance which may involve breaking confidentiality.

2. If a client threatens serious physical harm or death toward another person, I have a professional duty of care to ensure that person’s safety to the best of my ability. As such, if serious physical harm or death appear likely, I would have to seek assistance which may involve breaking confidentiality.

3. I am a mandated reporter, as per the Children’s First Act 2015. What this means is that if I am told about child abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual) or neglect which is taking place currently, I am legally required to report this to TUSLA. If child abuse ocurred in the past and you wish to report it, I will assist you th this.

Reading the above may seem scary, especially when we want therapy to be a safe and secure place. However, no action should ever be taken by a psychologist without informing the client first, so the client is always kept informed.

I am happy to discuss the above on our initial call and at any time in our sessions, as my goal is to make the therapy room as safe and open as possible.

A one-hour session of psychotherapy at MarrenPsych is €100.

Most Irish health insurers (including VHI and Irish Life) reimburse for therapy provided by me; the amount or percentage varies depending on the insurer and plan.

At present, I mainly work with adults, but am open to discussing work with adolescents and children.