The questions people actually ask before starting therapy
Starting therapy brings up real, practical questions, and some quieter ones underneath. Here are honest answers to the things most people want to know before they reach out, covering fees, online sessions, late ADHD diagnosis, and what the first session is genuinely like.
Is online therapy as effective as in person?
Yes, and for many people it's the format that makes therapy work. Online therapy offers the same depth and quality of care as in-person sessions, with the added flexibility to fit around your life. For clients balancing demanding careers, caring responsibilities, or living somewhere without access to specialist support, that flexibility is often what makes consistent therapy possible at all. There's no busy commute and no awkward waiting-room, and you can attend from the comfort and safety of your own home… with a cup of tea and all your home comforts, if that's what helps you feel settled. Over the years, clients have joined me from:
their car, parked somewhere quiet (this is actually the most popular)
a soundproof office on a lunch break
their kitchen table, with a cup of tea in one hand and a snack/fidget toy/knitting needle/marker/anything, in the other
a bedroom with the door shut and headphones in
out on a walk on their own, phone in hand
The right space is simply the one where you feel able to speak freely. I've also completed dedicated, certified training in delivering therapy online, so the same professional, trauma-informed care comes through clearly on screen.
I've also completed dedicated, certified training in delivering therapy online, so the same professional, trauma-informed care comes through clearly on screen.
Research consistently shows online therapy is as effective as face-to-face work for anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship difficulties, and removing those practical hurdles often makes it easier to keep showing up, which matters all the more if executive function or a full, overloaded life is part of what you're carrying.
What matters most is the therapeutic relationship - the trust, safety and connection we build together, and in my professional experience and as someone who has worked in person, that type of therapeutic relationships can form just as powerfully through a screen.
What is the first session actually like?
We'll have already met by then, through your free consultation, so you're not walking in to a stranger and I'll already know a little about what's brought you here. Most people feel a bit nervous before a first session anyway, even if they've done therapy before. That's normal.
There's no set structure and no agenda I'm taking you through. Some people want to start at the beginning and tell me the whole story from their earliest memory, for some people that’s five, for some that’s twelve. Others would rather talk about what's going on right now, this week. Both are fine, we just start wherever you are. You don't need to prepare anything or say it the right way, and if you've got a list building up in your notes app, by all means get it out and we'll go through it.
Really, the first session is just a chance to see how it feels to work together. There's no pressure to commit to anything after it.
Do you work with clients across Ireland and the UK, and with men?
Yes to both. I provide secure online therapy across Ireland and the UK through confidential, GDPR-compliant platforms, so the work stays consistent and private wherever you're based, rural or city.
My practice has a particular focus on ADHD, relational trauma and emotional burnout, but my clinical training is not gender-specific: I'm a BACP-registered therapist trained to work with all clients, and the principles of trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming work apply to everyone. If you're based further afield, you're welcome to enquire. Suitability can depend on location and professional guidelines, so we'd talk that through first.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
You don't have to be in crisis to come to therapy, and you don't have to be able to explain exactly what's wrong. A lot of people arrive because something simply feels off — the same relationship pattern keeps repeating, the self-criticism never quietens, or they're exhausted from holding everything together while looking fine on the outside. Therapy is a place to make sense of why you feel and behave the way you do, rather than a place to be told what to do. If you're not sure whether it's the right step, the free 30-minute consultation exists for exactly that — a no-pressure conversation to talk through what's going on and see whether working together feels right.
What can therapy help with?
You don't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Many of my clients come to therapy because something ‘feels off’, they're repeating the same relationship patterns, struggling with self-worth, feeling overwhelmed by daily life, or just tired of carrying everything alone.
Maybe you're feeling stuck, emotionally drained, or like you're just going through the motions and just need some more support or understanding.
I work with people navigating trauma and abuse recovery, toxic or unhealthy relationship patterns, low self-worth, anxiety, burnout, grief, life transitions, and the people-pleasing and boundary struggles that so often sit underneath all of it.
For many people, ADHD is part of that picture too, particularly a late diagnosis, with its mix of grief and relief and the work of understanding a brain that finally has a name. But ADHD is one part of the story, not the whole of who you are, and rarely the only thread worth looking at. Trauma, relationships, self-worth and how your nervous system learned to keep you safe are usually woven through it. Therapy is a space to untangle those threads with clarity and self-compassion, rather than more self-blame, whether you arrive feeling stuck and unsure why, or you already know exactly which pattern keeps repeating.
Do you specialise in ADHD, especially late diagnosis?
Yes. I'm a qualified, neuro-informed coach and psychotherapist, and I was diagnosed with ADHD myself at 36 - so I know what it's like to spend years sensing something was wrong before finally having a name for it. My approach is neurodivergent-affirming, which means I don't treat ADHD as something to fix. We work with how your brain actually functions rather than against it. In practice that means I don't pathologise topic-switching, thinking out loud, looking away while you talk, or time blindness, as these are neurological, not signs of resistance.
At the same time, I hold ADHD as a meaningful part of who you are rather than the whole explanation for everything. It usually sits alongside trauma, relationships and self-worth, and I pay particular attention to where those overlap, the ground standard ADHD support tends to miss.
How much does therapy cost?
Individual therapy (50 minutes) is €65, held weekly or fortnightly depending on what your goals and circumstances need. Payments due 24 hours before each session.
Extended sessions (90–120 minutes) start from €110 and can be useful when you're processing complex experiences or simply want more spacious, unhurried work.
All sessions are delivered confidentially through secure online platforms. The free 30-minute consultation lets you get a sense of fit before committing to anything.
Can I claim therapy back through tax relief or health insurance?
Sometimes. It really depends on your insurer and plan, so it's worth checking before you begin rather than assuming. I'm fully insured, tax-registered, and a BACP-accredited psychotherapist (MBACP Accred), and I provide proper invoices for any claim you'd like to make. In practice, some clients are able to claim back through their provider (Laya, for example), while others find their provider only covers therapists accredited with a specific Irish body and won't reimburse on that basis. Because cover varies so much between insurers and plans, the most reliable step is to contact your own insurer directly, ask specifically about online sessions and mental-health cover, and check your eligibility for medical-expenses tax relief through Revenue's myAccount. Whatever you decide, I'll provide a clear invoice showing the date, amount and my professional details.
Still have a question, or want to see if we're a good fit? The first conversation is free, and there's no pressure either way.