About me
Hello, my name is Aoife ('ee-f-a', an Irish name) and I am a qualified psychodynamic psychotherapist. I specialise in working with people who are experiencing difficulty in their relationships.
Are you someone who finds themselves repeating the same behaviours in new or past relationships and not really understanding why? Perhaps the same doubts, frustrations, or anxieties enter your mind, and you find it difficult to trust people. I believe this can stem from our early years; specifically, the way that our environment and our significant relationships can shape how we relate to others and influence our perception of the world. Sometimes if we have had a negative experience, or many negative experiences, in our significant relationships it can lead to us internalising a negative self-image and we can feel unsafe in relationships. Part of our therapeutic work together would be to explore some of the difficult feelings that may be holding you back and to begin to develop a stronger sense of self. This can be achieved through co-emotional regulation, calming the body, and exploring the way you have learn to adapt and protect yourself in relationships.
There is no expectation or pressure, you can share anything in your own time. I value the importance of listening to and believing every individual’s unique experience. This has been greatly enhanced by my background in supporting neurodivergent students with ADHD and Autism.
I provide a confidential, non-judgemental, LGBTQIA+ welcoming space where you can be heard, and together we can discuss what you are looking for. We would meet weekly, either online or in-person, and explore any challenges you may be facing. After we agree a set time to meet weekly, this will be your space and set-aside therapy time.
I understand that talking to a therapist can feel daunting, especially if you have been trying to manage by yourself for a long time. However, I also know from years of working as a psychotherapist that sharing your experiences with a trained professional can allow you space to process your emotions and develop new ways of being. Quite often we can get stuck in life. Logically we can recognise our problems, but if we do not allow space to understand and process the emotions, that could be unconsciously driving our behaviours, and it will be difficult to change.
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” (C. G. Jung)
I practice from a psychodynamic perspective, which helps people to understand how their early experiences may be unconsciously influencing their current thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. In our work together we may consider how the strategies that you developed as a child to cope may be creating unhelpful patterns in your current situation. Personally, I value an adaptive approach of therapy that caters to the unique needs of every individual. I have particular experience in supporting individuals who are experiencing loss, self-hate, and difficulty in relationships.
I offer an initial free 20-minute phone call or video meeting to give us an opportunity to discuss what you are looking for and if we would be a good fit.
For more information, you are welcome to visit my website: www.aoifetherapy.com
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- MSc Psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy with adults (Birkbeck, University of London)
- Cert HE Psychodynamic Counselling & Counselling Skills with adults (Birkbeck, University of London)
Training
- Healing Trauma with Janina Fisher: Essential Strategies for Shame, Self-Loathing & Working with the Body.
- Working with Attachment Disorder in Children.
- Understanding the nervous system: Healing anxious attachment in relations.
- Understanding & Identifying Autism in women and girls.
- Working with ADHD in young people and adults.
- Working with Autism in young people and adults.
Experience
Alongside my private practice I work as a therapist for Women's Aid. I support clients who have experienced domestic abuse by offering trauma-informed therapeutic support and with a focus on empowerment.
I have previously worked as an honorary therapist at a charity that specialises in sexuality & relationships and has been openly campaigning for LGBTQIA+ rights since it formed in the 1950s.
As well as providing excellent training on difference and diversity, both roles have given me in-depth training in working with individuals who are experiencing anxiety, depression, low-esteem, panic attacks, and trauma.
Membership
MBACP Registered Member: 411137
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£75.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I understand that cost can be a barrier to therapy and provide a limited number of low-cost spaces to clients who are currently unemployed, students, refugees, or in low-wage employment. I am happy to discuss this during your initial free call.
