Counselling & Psychotherapy

Our counselling and psychotherapy services offer a safe, supportive space to talk, reflect, and heal.

What is Counselling / Psychotherapy?

Sometimes, life can feel overwhelming—especially when facing illness or big life changes.

Counselling and psychotherapy, often called “talking therapies”, offer a safe, confidential space where you can explore your feelings, gain clarity, and build emotional strength with the support of a trained professional.

These therapies can help when you want to make changes in your life, work through difficult emotions, or simply understand yourself better.

Counselling vs. Psychotherapy – What’s the Difference?

We’re often asked what sets counselling and psychotherapy apart. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, here’s a general guide:

Counselling

A form of talk therapy that offers support and guidance for personal or emotional challenges. It often focuses on specific issues or current life situations and can be shorter term.

Psychotherapy

A deeper therapeutic process that explores longstanding patterns or emotional difficulties. It often involves regular sessions and aims to help change behaviours, beliefs, and emotional responses over time.

Art Therapy

In addition to talk therapy, we also offer art therapy. This is a form of psychotherapy where creative expression—like drawing, painting, or working with materials—becomes a powerful tool for healing.

Art therapy can support:

You don’t need to be “good at art” to benefit—just a willingness to explore creatively.

What to Expect from a Counsellor

Counsellors don’t give advice or tell you what to do. Instead, they listen and support you in understanding what’s troubling you, helping you identify patterns, root causes, and practical ways forward.

Together, you’ll work at your own pace to explore challenges, build resilience, and find strategies that feel right for you.

Meet our Counsellors and Psychotherapists

James is the Head Psychotherapist /Chief Operating Officer of Iris House.
Valerie is currently completing a BA (Honours) Counselling & Psychotherapy in Cork Institute of Technology.
Lynn is currently in her final year of a BA in Counselling and Psychotherapy at Munster Technological University.
Rachel is an Accredited Art Psychotherapist, registered with IACAT the Irish Association of Creative Art Therapists.