How to find a good therapist in Ireland?
FInding the right therapist can be a challenge for several reasons. First of all, there are hundreds of therapists and counsellors out there. There are also numerous therapeutic approaches, not to mention different titles that mental health professionals might have: psychotherapists, counselors, trauma-informed therapists, somatic therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and so many others. What makes things even more complicated is that many therapists don’t actively advertise their services as they rely mostly on referrals and recommendations.
This means that the easiest way to find a therapist is to:
- ask your GP,
- ask your friends,
- google it.
Doing any of the above won’t guarantee that you’ll find the right therapist for you, so in this article you’ll find some information on what to pay attention to and what to consider during your search.
How to find a therapist in Ireland?
There are several different ways we can find a therapist in Ireland.
1. Private Practice
Many therapists are self-employed. They rent rooms or own offices in various locations where they see their clients. Some of those therapists may have good online presence (website, social media accounts), while others may not have any online visibility.
One way to find a therapist who doesn’t advertise online is through the websites of accrediting bodies such as:
- Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP)
- The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)
- Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP)
The rules and regulations in the field of counselling and psychotherapy aren’t streamlined, so choosing an accredited or pre-accredited therapist means that you’re working with someone who received a high quality training. There are many “therapists” out there who didn’t actually complete a full psychotherapy training (!) yet they call themselves “therapists”. Working with someone who is accredited or works toward accreditation means that your therapist meets the acceptable standards.
When you visit any of the websites mentioned above, you will be able to find a list of therapists in your area, along with their contact details.
Prices: the cost depends on the therapist. Pre-accredited therapists are slightly more affordable than those fully accredited, but in general it can vary between €50 to €100 depending on the therapist’s location, experience and other factors..
Note: counselling psychologists and therapists with very specialised knowledge and training might charge €120 per session.
Where to find them?
- Websites of accredited bodies,
- Sometimes in google,
- Rarely on social media.
2. Therapy centers
You might or might not have heard of different therapy centers such as Insight Matters, Dublin City Therapy, Cork Psychotherapy and Counselling Centre, etc.
These centers usually bring together a group of various therapists. A center like that is basically a building with several rooms and there are often numerous therapists to choose from. Many of these center have a good online presence and you will be able to find them in google.
Prices: Each center might have their own pricing range, but in general you can expect similar prices as in case of private practice.
If you decide to go that route, make sure that your therapist is either accredited or pre-accredited.
Where to find them?
- Google,
- Social media.
3. Health insurance or EAP
You might be entitled to “free” therapy sessions under your private health insurance or through your employer.
Some insurers offer a limited number of therapeutic sessions to their customers so it’s worth checking with your provider if your own policy covers it. Furthermore, some employers offer what’s known as an Employee Assistance Programme which may cover free counselling as well.
One thing to note here is that these sessions are limited – it can be 6 or 12 sessions. This doesn’t mean that you need all of these or that it’s all that you need.
Where to find it?
- Ask your insurance provider,
- Ask your HR team.
4. Low cost therapy
Low cost therapy is delivered by psychotherapy students. One way to think about it is that it’s a clinical placement. It’s similar to what medical students do on their journey to becoming fully qualified doctors. Psychotherapy students have the knowledge and theory, and most of them have some experience. Their work is supervised and supported by more experienced and fully qualified trainers.
Many psychotherapy centers offer low cost therapy, though not all of them advertise it. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, it’s worth reaching out to ask.
Cost: up to €25
Where to find it?
- Check the websites or email psychotherapy centers (you can find them in google or on social media),
- Or ask therapists you know / would like to work with if they offer low cost counselling or if they know someone who does.
5. 3rd level colleges
If you’re a student at one of the 3rd level colleges in Ireland, you may have access to free counselling support. Many colleges have been investing in mental health support services over the past few years and some of them currently have counsellors and psychotherapists on their teams.
Check out the website of your college to find out more about it.
Reaching out to book your first appointment
You can either call or email the therapist or center that you chose to ask if they have available appointments. I know that it can be scary if you’re doing it for the first time, so here is a little sample email that you can copy/paste:
Subject: Interested in Therapy / Low Cost Therapy / Other?
Hi (Name),
I’m seeking a therapist in.. [Dublin / Cork / Limerick] and came across your profile on… [IAHIP/IACP/google/Instagram]. I thought you may be a good fit. I’m struggling with… [want to explore / looking for support around.. / skip this sentence].
I would like to schedule an appointment or a consultation with you if you’re taking new clients. Please let me know your availability.
Thank you,
Your Name
Note:
- Most therapy centers are contactable via email, though some of them might ask you to arrange a call as well.
- You don’t need to disclose your reasons for seeking therapy in your initial email, though you may be asked about it over the phone.
Things to ask a therapist during your first appoitnemnt / phone consultation
Some therapists may offer free 15 min phone consultations. You don’t have to avail of this option, however, if there are any questions you have about the way the therapist you chose works, this consultation is a chance to get the answers before you commit to having your first session.
Below are some questions you may want to ask:
- What is your training / qualification?
- Are you accredited or working towards accreditation?
- What is your approach to therapy?
- How long is each session and how often would I need one?
- Is medication an option for me?
- Do you offer therapy online/offline?
- Are you flexible when it comes to the time of our sessions?
- What is your fee?
- What is your approach to working with people with my cultural / sexual / racial / religious / gender identity?
Please know that you don’t have to ask these questions before you start your therapy and in practice many people never do. However, if you feel unsure about whether the therapist is good for you, asking these questions may give you a better feel of what the therapy with that person would be like.
How to know if the therapist is a good fit for me
As mentioned at the start of this article, there are many different therapists out there trained in many different areas of psychotherapy (more about the types of psychotherapy some other time). What’s important here is that there are thousands of great therapists out there, and there are also those not-so-good ones. The tricky part is that sometimes even a great therapist might not be the right fit for you, so how do you figure it out?
Here are some sings you can look out for when you want to know if your therapist is a good fit for you:
- you feel heard by your therapist,
- they validate your feelings (as opposed to judging you),
- they keep strong boundaries (for instance, if they disclose something about themselves, it is related to your therapy as opposed to being a casual chat about their personal experiences),
- they answer your questions honestly,
- you feel safe in their presence,
- they don’t try to convince you to continue working with them, but they encourage you to make the right choice for yourself.
Final (but important) piece of advice
If you decide to start therapy with a therapist of your choosing, give yourself (and your therapist) time to develop your relationship. It takes a while to build a therapeutic alliance with your therapist. Most therapists recommend that you give it at least 6 sessions on consecutive weeks before you decide if you wish to continue.