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About Robert Patterson

Membership of Professional Associations

  • Accredited Supervisor of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP)
  • Accredited Member of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP)
  • Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
  • Listed on the BACP Register of Accredited Counsellors and Psychotherapists
  • Fully Insured and Garda Vetted

Qualifications

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity Therapy
  • BA (Hons) Humanistic Counselling Practice (First Class Honours)
  • Diploma in Counsellor Supervision (IACP Accredited)
  • Practitioner Course for Helping Professionals Working with Autistic Adults (Ausome Training)
  • Certificate in Awareness in Bereavement Care
  • Certificate in Gender and Sexual Diversity Therapy
  • Certificate in Introduction to Psychosexual Therapy with Gender and Sexual Diversities

I am passionately engaged in further enhancing my practice by attending regular supervision, as well as carrying out my own personal research and attending workshops and seminars providing continuing professional development. I abide by the code of ethics of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP).

Specialisms

I have received specialist training in the following:

Bereavement Counselling

At some point in our lives, we all experience the pain of losing a loved one through death. Bereavement can have a serious impact on your health. When someone dies, you enter the process of grieving. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and you can experience a wide range of emotions as you come to terms with someone’s death. Normal feelings include being stunned at the loss, sadness or depression, longing for the person who has died, anger towards yourself or others, regret over a last encounter or regret that something was left unsaid. All of this can be part of the grieving process.

Working with Suicide or Self-Harm

Having thoughts of suicide is not uncommon. But it is very important to know that if you are having these thoughts, you need help and support to deal with whatever is causing you to feel this way. Every problem has a solution, but sometimes because you are feeling so low, you can’t see it. You are not alone, and there are people who can help you find a solution and help you work through your problems, no matter how difficult they appear to you. Talk to someone you can trust, and tell them how you are feeling. This first step can make all the difference. Self-harm means inflicting injury or harm on yourself as a way of dealing with emotional distress. Sometimes distressing problems can appear permanent and it can appear that things will never get better. This can be a scary and lonely place to be. Some people use self-harm as a way to try to escape from or deal with pain or stress that they cannot tolerate in their lives. Again, it is important that you tell someone who can help you find different ways of coping.

Working with LGBTQ+ issues

As we go through life, we all experience change and transition. Negative life experiences can be stressful, and this stress can affect our mental health. Stresses such as relationship problems or losing a loved one can be experienced by anyone. Homophobia and Transphobia can lead to specific stresses for LGBTQ+ people and this can also have a negative impact on your mental health. Most people know that they are LGBTQ+ for some time before they tell others. When someone is considering coming out, they may be afraid that family and friends will reject them if they know that they are LGBTQ+. This can be a lonely and worrying time and can put a strain on our mental health. LGBTQ+ people have to deal with the normal stresses of growing up as well as other stresses like isolation, name-calling, and homophobic bullying. Bullying and harassment can cause physical, mental and social pain and can make you feel alone, scared, angry, confused or sad. All of these can affect your mental health. If you experience bullying or harassment, then talk to someone about it, whether it’s a colleague, counsellor, family member, friend or your doctor.

Background

Before training as a therapist, I spent many years working in a management role within the hospitality industry. It is in this role that I developed some of the valuable communication skills, which are essential when establishing a good working relationship with my clients. I completed my training as a therapist at The University of Nottingham, a highly regarded university and member of the prestigious Russell Group.

I have many years of experience working in the independent charity sector, both in the U.K. and here in Ireland. My theoretical approach would primarily be Humanistic, however, I don’t believe in a one size fits all approach to therapy, and may use other approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [CBT] or Solution Focused Therapy, if I feel that they are more appropriate to my client’s needs.

My practice is located in a comfortable and very private setting, assuring my clients of a professional and confidential service at all times. The practice is open for appointments Tuesday -Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. The practice is closed on Sunday and Monday.

Robert Patterson counselling & psychotherapy Co. KerryRobert Patterson
IACP Accredited Psychotherapist & Clinical Supervisor
BA (Hons), PGDip, MIACP, Registered Member MBACP (Accred)