Services
We provide Addiction and General Counselling/ Psychotherapy to Individuals (Adults, Teenagers), Couples.
We offer in person counselling at our Centre in Limerick City and remotely via video conferencing or telephone depending on the requirements of our clients.
COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY
Many people come to counselling with general feelings of unhappiness, confusion or dissatisfaction. Others may come with specific difficulties, such as: substance abuse, bereavement, anxiety, depression, trauma, abuse, relationships etc. There are situations when discussing your problems with someone impartial is particularly beneficial.
You may find that a few sessions can help you to address a specific problem, or you may choose to work on a longer-term basis in order to focus on deeper issues. At Cúlra Counselling we do not use 'labels' or diagnoses but see the person as an individual, with a unique biological, psychological and social background. In this respect we will work with you to explore and implement a treatment plan specific to your needs.
The counselling process as one of partnership in which we work together to understand the meaning of painful emotions and patterns and find to find release from emotional pain and recurring, unhelpful patterns of behaviour. This collaborative effort helps to empower the individual to make informed decisions and choices that are right for them.
Aims of therapy are to grow, to gain insights, to create (better) ways to cope, to adapt behaviours, to see choices, to increase control, to find direction and ultimately to improve quality of life. For counselling to be of maximum effectiveness, clients must feel able to establish a trusting relationship and at Cúlra we are committed to offering an ethical, safe, confidential, non-judgmental space where you can be heard and supported by a knowledgeable professional.
Supervision
Supervision plays a fundamental role in counselling, psychotherapy, and other helping professions by providing support, guidance, challenge, a space for reflection, and resolving issues which may arise. The IACP regard Supervision as a collaborative process between Supervisor and Supervisee. It is essential for the safety and protection of the client and the growth and development of the practitioner (IACP, 2018). The supervisory approach integrates three functions: developmental, supportive, and qualitative the role of a supervisor is, therefore, to encourage and support their supervisees, within a safe environment, where the supervisees concerns can be addressed, reflected upon, and learned from.
A supervisor, therefore, assumes the role of an educator and also a provider of support for counsellors. Supervision provides a container for holding the helping relationship in the therapeutic triad. Supervision is recognised in counselling and psychotherapy as well as in other helping professions, including social care, nursing, and other helping professions, which has led to the recognition of the benefits of supervision in these professions.
Group Supervision
Supervision can be done individually or in a group, Group supervision provides a supportive atmosphere where supervisees can share their different experiences and realise that they all are facing similar challenges. The group also learns a lot from the reflections, feedback, input, and sharing from fellow supervisees and the supervisor. Group supervision helps in greater empathetic range group in achieving greater empathic range and diversity in terms of race, gender, age, and personality types. Group supervision also makes it possible to use action techniques.
Addiction
Addiction is any behaviour that is repeated over and over despite significant negative consequences. A symptom of addiction is when your desire for something becomes a compulsion. You describe yourself as “needing” something, as opposed to wanting or liking it.
Addiction can be viewed as a maladaptive way to avoid or get rid of unwanted thoughts and feelings (boredom, loneliness, anxiety, depression etc.). The addictive behaviour then becomes self-sustaining, because it provides a quick and easy way to alleviate cravings and other painful feelings. The more time and energy we spend trying to evade undesirable private experiences the more we are likely to suffer psychologically in the long term.
Through Therapy, clients develop an acceptance of unwanted thoughts and/or feelings and work towards identifying and experiencing alternative ways in which to relate and cope with the unpleasant experiences associated with drug/alcohol use. This helps to disrupt the link between psychological/physical suffering and alcohol/drug use. In this mindful context clients ideally make decisions and choices based on important personal goals and values rather than on avoidance or control through substance use.
Clients focus is now invested in taking effective action (guided by their values) to change and improve their lives. Identifying values dignifies the unavoidable suffering involved in abandoning a well-established behaviour (substance abuse) that served as an escape from painful thoughts, feelings and emotions.