FAQs – Serenity Counselling & Psychotherapy Cork

What is therapy?

Counselling and psychotherapy are both forms of talk therapy. Talk therapy is based on the core belief that by talking about problems or issues they can be fixed by gaining different perspectives or insights. Counselling and psychotherapy can be referred to as therapy. Therapy is different for each person. Each person is unique; therefore, each person’s experience of therapy is unique to them. Some people find having space to talk about their issues helpful. While others find the objective nature of therapy more beneficial to them.

Do 'normal' people need therapy?

Yes, many ‘normal’ people attend therapy. Life can be difficult enough and we may not be happy with some aspects of our life. You do not have to have a mental health issue to attend therapy. Many people attend to keep their mental wellbeing and their happiness in check.

How can therapy help me?

Therapy can help you by looking at your life, how different aspects of your life affect you, and if they can be changed for the better. For a lot of people attending therapy, it is having that time to talk about something they cannot with others that helps them. It is beneficial to discuss issues with a therapist as this person is not biased and will also not judge, while also being confidential making the client feel more at ease. The aim of therapy is to help the client live a more happy, balanced and, fulfilled life.

Is therapy right for me?

Therapy can be beneficial to anyone who gives it a go provided they are with the right therapist for them. Therapy might be just what you need right now, or maybe something you need when you feel more ready for it. A lot of the time, the success of therapy is based on how willing the person is to work on issues and what frame of mind they are in.

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or as you may know it CBT, is a relatively new approach to counselling and psychotherapy. It is probably the most popular approach today. It focuses on how our thoughts affect our emotions and how our emotions affect our behaviour. If our thoughts are negative, our emotions are negative, and our behaviours are negative. What CBT aims to do is break this negative cycle. CBT focuses on the present and the future.

What is Psychodynamic Therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy is an in-depth form of talk therapy which focuses on our past and how unconscious processes manifest in our behaviour today. The aim of this approach is for the client to understand how their past might be affecting them in the present; therefore, helping them change.

What is a Person-Centered approach?

Person-centered therapy was developed by Carl Rogers. Rogers believed that there should be 3 core conditions of therapy; Congruence (genuineness), unconditional positive regard (caring for the client), and empathy. I also believe this is vital to therapy, and this is why I use a person-centered approach along with CBT and Psychodynamic approaches. Person-centered therapy also puts a huge emphasis on the client-therapist relationship. It is proven by research that this alone is the most important characteristic of therapy in order for it to work.