Debbie Keenan
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is currently not accepting new clients at this time.
This professional is currently not accepting new clients at this time.
About me
'Awarded The Dean’s Prize for Most Outstanding and Notable Achievement, in the School of Psychology and Therapeutic Studies, University of South Wales (2019)
MEDIA WORK
Interviewed for The Times newspaper (2025), Women's Health magazine (2025), HuffPost (2025) and Stylist magazine (2024)
Several written articles published in BACP Therapy Today and The Counselling Directory, October, November and December (2024)
'Winner of several leading and outstanding ground-breaking Mental Health Awards and Achievements'
TikTok @theirishcounsellor
Hello, my name is Debbie, and I am a Senior Accredited, multi award winning Integrative Psychotherapist and published writer in the field of psychotherapy and counselling. I have studied counselling and psychotherapy for twelve years now, and am currently completing my Doctorate Degree in Psychotherapy and counselling. The way I work, is to draw on different theoretical models to provide my clients with a tailored and bespoke approach to match their individual needs. I help clients gain a deeper understanding of their self by working through obstacles and difficulties, exploring why these may have arisen, and how to learn and move on from them. I know first hand how daunting it can be going into therapy, but even though making that first step is hard, it is undeniably a step towards healing. I will be alongside you every step of the way, offering warmth, support, an open mind and understanding.
In addition to having a Master degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, I have two Post Graduate diplomas, one in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), one in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, and a diploma in Couple Counselling Advanced Specialist Diploma NCPS. I believe in healing the whole person, which includes the mind and body. I will walk alongside you to make sense of your experiences and explore new ways of being. In this way, I hope to help you gain greater insight and understanding of yourself.
How counselling can help:
I provide a compassionate, open, non-judgemental space. I want to support you in gaining a deeper insight into drivers of distress, overcome emotional barriers and find alternative ways to cope or bring about change so that you can achieve an optimum state of mental health and wellbeing. Please get in touch and take the first step in owning your future.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Doctorate Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy-present
- Interviewed for The Times newspaper (2025), Women's Health magazine (2025), HuffPost (2025) and Stylist magazine (2024).
- Written article published by the Counselling Directory (2024)
- Written article published by BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) (2024)
- Couples Counselling Advanced Specialist Diploma NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) (2024)
- Master Degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, University of South Wales (2022)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative counselling and Psychotherapy, University of South Wales, 2 year study (2021)
- Co presented and helped produce, in conjunction with Monmouthshire Educational Psychology Service, a training video to be used as CPD for educational staff on coping skills/strategies for managing anxiety -2020, and again in 2021
- Post Graduate Certificate in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of South Wales in 2019
- University of South Wales 2019, The Dean’s Prize for Most Outstanding and Notable Achievement, in the School of Psychology and Therapeutic Studies
- Post Graduate Level 4 Diploma in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), 2 year study, 2018
- Level 2 and level 3 in Counselling Skills, 2 year study, 2016
- Established a ground breaking provision for counselling children within an educational setting in 2014, earning recognition and awards as the first of its kind in the field.
- Honoured as the NIACE Monmouthshire Student of the Year in 2013, a prestigious recognition celebrating exceptional academic and personal achievement.
Achievements/training
- As a school's Wellbeing and pastoral support leader, I led the school to achieve the Carnegie Centre for Excellence in Mental Health Bronze Award in 2019 and in 2020 my leadership saw the school becoming the first school in Wales to achieve the Silver Award.
- Interviewed by The Chair of The Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition, for setting up emotional check-ins, for staff in an educational setting, 2019
- I successfully led my current educational setting, to become the first school in Wales to attain all three prestigious Young Carer awards, setting a benchmark for excellence in supporting young carers.
- As a Wellbeing Lead, I conducted comprehensive observations and evaluations of wellbeing provisions across diverse educational settings in Finland and Italy.
- Collaborated with Cardiff University in 2019 by observing the delivery of my mindfulness teaching as part of a ground breaking PhD research project
- Keynote guest speaker at MISP International Conference 2020, speaking about the importance of Mental Health Awareness and Mindfulness. Also, I have been used as an exemplary case study for other schools in the UK, on how to embed Mental Health awareness and cascade to all staff teams and pupils, Whole School Approach.
- Authored and presented an autobiographical personal case study to the First Minister of Wales in 2019, showcasing the creation and successful implementation of a pioneering Whole School Approach to Mental Health and Mindfulness.
- Counselling and mindfulness skills, level 3 Teacher/Trainer education qualification (PTLLS)
- Counsellor at the University of South Wales Therapy Clinic, providing professional support to both NHS and private clients in a dynamic and diverse therapeutic setting.
- Provided dedicated volunteer counselling services to individuals facing addictions, personality disorders and a range of mental health issues, delivering compassionate support and tailored therapeutic interventions.
- Achieved the prestigious Lead Mindfulness Teacher Qualification from Oxford in 2019, signifying advanced expertise in mindfulness education and practice
- Level 3 Award in Education and Training (PTLLS)
- Advanced Safeguarding Level 3 Award
https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/memberarticles/embracing-change-transforming-pain-into-a-new-beginning
https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/articles/divorce-the-lonely-bedfellow
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
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
Fees
£85.00 per session
Additional information
- Face to Face therapy
- Remote therapy via telephone, Teams, WhatsApp or Facetime
- Couple sessions £110
- Evening sessions availability
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
- Remote Therapy via telephone, Teams or Skype
- Face to Face therapy
- Couple therapy sessions available £110
Further information
I regularly attend training events such as Mental Health First Aid, The Freedom Programme, Domestic Abuse, Suicide Intervention, Child Abuse, Emotional Freedom Therapy, (EFT), ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences), and Family Support Training.
I am a Senior Accredited Member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists MBACP (Snr Accred). This status means that my practice has met BACP's highest standards as a competent, ethical and independent practitioner.
I have vast experience and training in working with the following areas/people
- Self-regulation
- Anger
- Psychoeducation
- Critical Inner Voice
- Mood disorders
- Panic attacks
- Low self-esteem
- Sexuality
- Trauma and PTSD
- Relationship issues
- Health anxiety
- Women issues
- Men's issues
- Teenage issues
- Body dysmorphia
- Stress
- Deep rooted childhood trauma
- Loss
- Transition
- Low self confidence
- Catastrophizing
- NAT's (Negative Automatic Thoughts)
- Learning and physical disabilities
- Affairs
- Dysfunctional vicious cycles of thinking and behaviour
- Neurodiversity
- Sexuality
- Bereavement
