Helga McIlrath

The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.
– Carl Rogers

 

Areas of Special Interest

• Trauma and Dissociation.
• Emotion dysregulation, including self-harm behaviour.
• Eating Disorders.
• Depression and Anxiety.
• Grief. Self development and growth.
• Interpersonal difficulties.

Counselling/Therapy Services

My therapeutic interventions are always led by what is most helpful to my client. I also believe in a constant balance between gaining understanding, and making changes. Therefor, I focus both on exploring and understanding a specific situation, and then on skills and techniques to make changes in your life.

Above all, I believe that the most important aspect of therapy, is the therapeutic relationship. I constantly use our interactions in therapy to identify patterns of behaviour and understand emotional responses.

Counselling/Therapy Approach

I mostly work from a psychodynamic framework. This means that I attempt to help you find patterns in your emotions, thoughts, and beliefs in order to gain insight into your current self. Alongside this framework, I incorporate concepts and techniques from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This allows us to focus on behaviours that you want to change, as well as working toward greater flexibility and tolerating difficult emotions.

Background and Experience

I have extensive experience in working with adolescents and adults with complex and longstanding psychological difficulties. I have worked in adult mental health services, intensive residential programs and private practice.

I have a particular interest in working with complex trauma and dissociation, as well as individuals who struggle to regulate emotion and have difficulty in interpersonal relationships. This includes adults and adolescents with disordered eating as well as those who engage in self harm behaviour.

Supervision Services

I am available for clinical supervision for psychologists, psychotherapists and counselors.