FAQ's

The first step is filling out my contact form with details about your availability and a very short description of what brings you to therapy.  

Once you have registered your interest,  I will contact you  directly if/when I have an appointment available that matches your needs.

I am in solo practice and unfortunately I cannot accomodate all inquiries. While I do take into account when people first registered their interest, I no longer keep a traditional waiting list and only answer emails when I have a suitable appointment to offer.

I know it can be hard to find the right therapist at the right time. If I  am unable to see you in a timely way I hope you'll keep looking until you find a colleague who can. If, by the time I contact you, you have found another therapist you work well with,  that's of course absolutely fine and I wish you well on your therapy adventure.

This varies quite a bit depending on my current availability and how well my open slots match what you're looking for. Sometimes I might have something suitable within a few weeks, other times it could be longer. 

I wish I could give you a more definite timeframe, but since I work mostly on an open-ended basis with clients, it makes openings for new clients harder to predict.

I keep inquiries on my interest list for three months. If I haven't been able to offer you something by then, I'll remove your inquiry from my system. If you're still interested after that time, please feel free to reach out again - things change and I'd be happy to hear from you.

If you feel that you need to start therapy more urgently, I am unfortunately not able to assist you at this time. 

For some pointers on how to find the right therapist, you can click here

Most of my clients find that weekly sessions work well, especially when starting therapy. This gives us consistent momentum while allowing time between sessions to process and practice what we've discussed. 

Some people prefer fortnightly sessions, particularly once we've established a good working relationship.

As for duration, this really depends on what brings you to therapy and your personal goals. Some people find what they need in a few months, while others benefit from longer-term work. We'll talk about this together and check in regularly about how things are feeling for you. You're always in control of how long you'd like to continue, and there's no pressure to commit to a specific timeframe upfront.

I'm flexible about adjusting frequency as we go - what works at the beginning might change as your needs evolve. 

If you're a former client wanting to return, please get in touch! I'm always happy to hear from people I've worked with previously. I can offer both ad-hoc sessions for specific issues that come up, or we can discuss resuming regular therapy if that feels like what you need. 

Just drop me a line and we can chat about what would work best for you.

Crea counselling/psychotherapy fees 2025- 2026

€90- per 60 mins weekly session 

Counselling/psychotherapy

€110 - per 80 mins session 

Depending on circumstances, I will offer fortnightly or ad-hoc sessions to clients I have had an initial number of weekly sessions with. Fees will vary depening on frequency and duration of sessions. 

Relationship Counselling / Couple sessions fees

Block-booking Reduction

A €5 reduction per session applies when 4 weekly sessions are booked and paid in advance. 

Counselling/Psychotherapy fees are subject to yearly review 

I am aware that people's incomes vary greatly and that therapy is costly. I offer a limited number of therapy slots on a sliding scale.

If you wish to discuss this option please let me know in your initial email and in advance of booking your first therapy session. For low/no cost counselling please check the resource page.

**Sliding scale counselling fees only apply to weekly therapy on a time-limited counselling contract (up to 8 sessions).  

IACP updated information on Irish Health Insurers Cover for counselling sessions with IACP accredited  therapists

VHI

Members are encouraged check their benefits on their own plans via their policy documents or directly with Vhi

Irish Life Health 

Any benefits that allow for visits with either a psychologist/ psychotherapist or counsellor allow members to claim a contribution towards visits to a practitioner who is an accredited member of the IACP. The following benefits offer contributions towards a practitioner who is a member of the IACP (where eligible and up to the amount listed on their plan): 

• Child Psychologist

• Child/ Teen counselling

• Psychologist

• Psycho-oncology counselling

• Psychotherapy and counselling benefit

• Counselling

These benefits are available on a wide range of plans.

Laya Healthcare

AI am an approved laya healthcare psychotherapist/psychologist under therapist Id: 11026. Adult Counselling claim back amount depends on the plan. The counsellor or therapist must be a full member of the Irish Association of Counsellors and Pyschotherapists (IACP),

Members on the ExcelCare, 360 Care, and 360 Care Select, Care Select, ConnectCare, Connect Choice, Connect Choice 500, Connect Simplicity, Control 150 Create, Health Secure Plus, Inspire, Inspire Plus, Prime, Principle, Simply Health Choice, Simply Health Plus, Simply Health Plus 500Total health Complete 175 and Total health Plus are eligible to claim this benefit.

All claims are assessed in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the policy.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND EXCEPTIONS

As an accredited IACP member, I maintain strict confidentiality with limited exceptions where professional and legal obligations require disclosure:

• Risk to children 
• Risk of harm to you or others
• Medical consultation (only with your permission and consent)

SUPERVISION AND RECORDS

I attend regular clinical supervision to maintain professional standards. Your identity remains confidential.

I keep minimal records on session themes and interventions used, but no personal history, diagnoses, or identifying details. Records are securely stored and are disposed of after therapy ends.

ONLINE THERAPY CONSIDERATIONS

Sessions are conducted from my secure counselling room using encrypted platforms (Zoom)

You should ensure a private, quiet space free from interruptions

Switch phone to flight mode and use headphones for better privacy and audio quality

Important: I do not provide assessments, reports, or materials for insurance claims, mediation, or legal disputes.

I require 48 hours notice to change or cancel appointments, allowing me to offer your slot to another client.

You may switch to online format up to 10 minutes before our scheduled session by email.

Full fees apply for cancellations with insufficient notice if I cannot accommodate an alternative slot that week.

Please text if you're running late - delays reduce your session time as appointments cannot be extended.

I am committed to maintaining a safe environment for all clients through regular sanitization of contact surfaces (door handles, chair arms) and ventilation.

Client guidelines:

• Tissues are available but I ask you to please dispose of your own after sessions.
• If experiencing cold/flu symptoms: Please contact me to arrange an online session instead of attending in person
• If you become unwell: Let me know as soon as possible if you need to cancel due to illness - standard cancellation policies apply
• Therapist illness: If I develop mild symptoms of any contagious illness, I may offer online sessions until no longer contagious
• Online options: Telephone and video sessions (via Zoom) remain available for clients outside Galway or those temporarily unable to attend in person.

I know meeting with a therapist online for the first time can feel unfamiliar. Many of my clients are surprised by how quickly we can connect despite the physical distance; the therapeutic relationship can develop just as naturally through a screen as it does in person.

What you need:

• A reliable internet connection
• A private space where you can speak freely without being overheard or interrupted
• A device with camera and microphone (laptop, tablet, or smartphone)
• Headphones (recommended for better privacy and audio quality)

How it works:

•  I use Zoom, a secure, encrypted video platform. 
• I'll send you a link shortly before our appointment.
•  Simply click it to join our session. No special software or preparation is required on your end.

Privacy and security:

• Sessions are conducted from my secure counselling room
• I use encrypted platforms to protect your confidentiality
• Please ensure you're in a private location
• Consider switching your phone to airplane mode to avoid interruptions

Online therapy can offer the same confidential, therapeutic space as in-person sessions, with the added flexibility of attending from your own home.

We'll start by sorting out any technical bits - making sure the audio and video are working well and that you're in a space where you feel comfortable talking freely. This is part of creating the secure therapeutic space we both need.

If you experience technical difficulties, don't worry - we can troubleshoot together. Common solutions include:

• Checking your internet connection
• Refreshing your browser or closing other programmes
• Using the Zoom app instead of browser
• Switching to phone audio if video isn't working

If we can't resolve the issue quickly, we can try to reschedule the session within the same week without penalty, or switch to a phone session for that appointment.

If we haven't worked together before, I'll explain how I work and we'll go through our counselling agreement, including any specific considerations for working online together.

You can then start sharing what you'd like to address in therapy. I might ask some questions about your background and current situation, but please know that trust takes time - I'll always respect your pace and your choice about how much you feel comfortable sharing in our first meeting.

At the end of our session, we can talk about how it went for you. If you'd like to continue, we can arrange another appointment. There's absolutely no pressure to commit to ongoing therapy after just one session.

Yes, absolutely! I offer both in-person counselling at my practice in Lower Salthill, Galway, and online sessions via Zoom.

Many clients use a combination of both formats, and you're welcome to switch as circumstances require- for example, if you're travelling, unwell, have scheduling conflicts, or simply prefer the convenience of online on a particular week.

Just let me know by email or text at least 10 minutes before your session if you need to switch to online format for that appointment.

If online sessions  don't feel quite right, we can chat about what's not working. Sometimes it's a technical issue we can resolve together - perhaps adjusting camera angles, improving audio quality, or experimenting with different lighting. Other times, it might be a preference for face-to-face connection.

 If you are able to travel to Galway, we can simply adjust the format, if not, there's no obligation to continue and we may use the time we have together to explore what may best suit your current needs.

Payment for online sessions is made via bank transfer to my Irish bank account. I'll provide you with my account details when confirming your appointment.

Payment is due within 24 hours of each session.

If you use Revolut: You can send payment directly to my regular bank account through your Revolut app - just add me as a recipient using my bank details. Revolut users don't pay fees for EUR transfers to Irish bank accounts. 

For guidance on sending money from Revolut to a bank account, see Revolut's transfer guide. 

Block booking option: You can also book and pay for 4 weekly online sessions in advance at the reduced rate of €340.

All the same cancellation policies apply to online sessions as they do to in-person appointments.