Maria Irwin

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(QuestNI)
No current availability
No current availability

This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

Bangor BT20
No current availability
No current availability

This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

About me

How counselling can support

I am an accredited Integrative Counsellor with substantial experience in working with adults and young people.

I provide a safe, warm and confidential space in which you can explore the problems you are facing and reflect on your thoughts and feelings. I will listen to you in a non-judgemental and open way. Counselling is at your pace and you will not have to talk about things that you don't want. Through the safety of counselling, you can begin to make sense of your feelings, gain greater self-awareness and find new ways of coping with the difficulties that you face.

What services do I offer?

I provide individual counselling or group sessions for all ages. I also offer support sessions for parents. I have experience of working with children, young people and adults with special needs. I also offer telephone or video counselling.

Why do people come to counselling?

People come to counselling for a wide range of issues, big or small. I can support you as you work through whatever is causing you distress. I am experienced in working with people who facing issues such as:

  • abuse
  • anxiety
  • bereavement
  • bullying
  • depression
  • family issues, difficulties or change
  • impact of illness,
  • loss
  • low mood
  • managing strong emotions
  • relationship difficulties
  • self esteem
  • separation and divorce
  • work-related stress

My approach

My approach is integrative which means that I will adapt counselling to best suit you and the issues you bring.

What to expect?

I meet with you for an initial session. In this session we look at how things are for you now, where you would like to get to and how to best support you. We decide together whether counselling is right for you.

If you decide to continue with counselling, we typically meet weekly for 6 sessions. However, we agree what is right for you.

How do I find out more?

If you would like to find out more, please look at my website www.questni.co.uk. Or you can call me to arrange a confidential chat to see if counselling is right for you.

Training, qualifications & experience

My counselling training

I trained for 4 years to become a counsellor. I have a Foundation Degree in Counselling (Distinction) from University of Ulster at Jordanstown and a Counselling Certificate from The Queen's University Belfast. I also have a CPCAB Level 5 Post-qualifying Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People and a CPCAB Level 5 Post-qualifying Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills and Theory. I am undertaking a CPCAB L6 Post-qualifying Certificate in Create Supervision of Practice Across the Age Range.

Professional Membership & Accreditation

I am a Senior accredited member of the National Counselling Society (NCS) and a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This means that my practice reaches a high level of competence.

Continuous Professional Training

Since becoming a qualified counsellor, I regularly develop my expertise through professional development in many areas including counselling survivors of child sexual abuse and sexual violence, working with self-harm, the developmental origins of anxiety and depression, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and working with bereavement.

My Practice & Experience

In my private practice, I provide counselling to men and women of all ages, children and young people. I also for some of the leading counselling service providers in Northern Ireland. Previously I worked as a School Counsellor (Primary, Secondary and Special Needs), Community services, GP surgery and a bereavement support organisation.

I have worked for several years as a senior manager of a large young people and adult counselling service, managing counselling teams and services.

Member organisations

Registered / Accredited

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
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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.

NCPS
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)

The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society

This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations.

In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

Accredited register membership

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Fees

£35.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Keyworkers

Additional information

Sessions cost £35 per session (individual)

First session (assessment) costs £15

Concession rates are available

When I work

Appointments available during the day Some appointments in evenings and weekends

Further information

For more information, please either

Sessions are available Monday - Friday including some evening availablity.

49-51 Main Street, Bangor, County Down, BT20 5AF

Bangor, County Down, BT20

Type of session

In person
Phone

Types of client

Children
Young people
Adults
Older adults
Families
Groups
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

My room in Main Street, Bangor does not have disability access. However I can offer: * telephone counselling or * arrange a room in a different building

Supervision

In person
Phone

I am a qualified and accredited counsellor working with children, young people and adults.

View supervision profile

Maria Irwin
Maria Irwin