Counselling in Rathfarnham
Mind and Body Works provides professional counselling and psychotherapy for adults, couples and families living in or near Rathfarnham. With three Dublin centres located in Dundrum, Donnybrook and Wicklow Street, plus comprehensive online therapy options, you can access qualified, accredited therapists without travelling far from home. Our team of over 200 professionals offers support for anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, workplace stress, grief and a wide range of other concerns.
Finding the Right Therapist When You Live in Rathfarnham
If you’re based in Rathfarnham and thinking about starting therapy, you’re already taking a meaningful step. The decision to look into counselling often comes after months, sometimes years, of wondering whether things might be different with the right support.
Research from Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin and National College of Ireland found that 42% of Irish adults meet the criteria for at least one mental health disorder. Yet according to Mental Health Ireland’s 2025 survey, only 11.6% of people actually access counselling or therapy for mental health support. There’s a significant gap between need and action, and much of it comes down to practical barriers: finding someone nearby, knowing where to start, or simply feeling ready.
Mind and Body Works operates three therapy centres across Dublin, each within comfortable reach of Rathfarnham. Whether you prefer the village atmosphere of Dundrum, the accessibility of Donnybrook, or the city centre convenience of Wicklow Street, you can attend sessions without a lengthy commute eating into your day.
We understand everyone can hit a bump in the road, but it is important to know that you’re not alone. Our fully qualified therapists are here to give you a listening ear and a helping hand. Whether you feel like you are suffering from anxiety, depression, bullying in the workplace, life problems, or relationship struggles, we cover it all.
Here at Mind and Body Works we have three Dublin centres located in Dundrum, Donnybrook and Wicklow Street. Each centre has many convenient transport options and ample pay and display car parking. Each of our fully qualified therapists are fully accredited with one of the following, Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP) or the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).
What Brings People from Rathfarnham to Therapy?
The reasons people seek counselling are as varied as the people themselves. Some arrive during a specific crisis: a relationship breakdown, job loss, or bereavement. Others have been carrying something quieter for longer, a low-level anxiety that never quite lifts, or a sense of disconnection they can’t quite name.
Aware’s 2024 national survey found that three in four Irish adults have experienced anxiety at some point, with nearly half of those affected saying they experience it frequently. One in five respondents reported an official diagnosis of depression. These aren’t abstract numbers. They represent colleagues, neighbours, family members. Quite possibly you.
Common concerns we see from people living in the Rathfarnham area include:
Workplace stress and burnout: South Dublin has a high concentration of professionals juggling demanding careers. According to an IBEC 2024 report, poor mental health can cost Irish employers up to €2,000 per employee annually, but the personal cost is harder to quantify. The creeping exhaustion, the Sunday dread, the feeling that you’re running on fumes. Therapists at Mind and Body Works are experienced in working with clients who are having work-place difficulties.
Relationship difficulties: Whether you’re navigating conflict with a partner, processing a separation, or struggling with family dynamics, therapy provides space to examine patterns that may have developed over years or even decades.
Life transitions: Moving house, becoming a parent, facing redundancy, adjusting to retirement, or simply reaching a point where the life you built no longer fits who you’ve become.
Anxiety and low mood: Sometimes there’s no obvious trigger. You may be noticing feelings of anxiety or depression without knowing why, and you’d like to understand this better.
How Counselling Actually Works
Contrary to what you may be imagining, therapy isn’t about lying on a couch while someone takes notes in silence. At Mind and Body Works, sessions involve genuine conversation with a qualified professional who helps you examine what’s happening beneath the surface.
The first session is typically about establishing where you are now and what you hope might be different. Your therapist will want to understand your situation, but they’ll also be assessing whether they’re the right fit for you. This matters. The relationship between therapist and client is one of the strongest predictors of successful outcomes.
Sessions usually run for 50 minutes and happen weekly, though this can be adjusted based on your needs. Some people attend for a few months while working through a specific issue. Others find ongoing support helpful for longer periods. There’s no fixed endpoint, and you remain in control of the process throughout.
Therapeutic Approaches Available
Mind and Body Works therapists are trained in multiple evidence-based modalities. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, your therapist will draw on techniques suited to your particular situation.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It’s particularly effective for anxiety disorders and depression, helping you identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy explores how past experiences, often from childhood, shape present difficulties. This approach suits people interested in deeper self-understanding rather than purely symptom-focused work.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) helps process traumatic memories that may be stuck and causing ongoing distress. It’s gained strong research support for trauma-related conditions.
Person-centred therapy provides a non-directive space where you set the agenda and the therapist offers unconditional acceptance and empathy. Some people find this approach particularly helpful when they need to be heard without being fixed.
Professional Standards and Accreditation
All therapists at Mind and Body Works hold accreditation or pre-accreditation with recognised professional bodies: the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP), or the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).
This accreditation matters. It means your therapist has completed extensive training, adheres to ethical codes, and engages in ongoing professional development.
The team includes over 200 therapists across all centres, each bringing different specialisms and approaches. This breadth means you’re likely to find someone whose expertise aligns with what you’re dealing with, whether that’s addiction, relationship difficulties, workplace stress, grief, or something else entirely.
Online Therapy: When Travelling Isn’t Practical
Perhaps you work shifts that make consistent in-person appointments difficult. Maybe you have caring responsibilities at home. Or possibly you just prefer the privacy of speaking to someone from your own space.
Online therapy removes geographical constraints entirely. You can access the same qualified professionals without leaving Rathfarnham, or anywhere else you happen to be. The research increasingly shows that video-based therapy can be as effective as face-to-face sessions for many conditions, though it’s not ideal for everyone or every situation.
Mind and Body Works offers online counselling, CBT, couples therapy and other services through secure video platforms. The technology is straightforward, and sessions maintain the same confidentiality standards as in-person appointments.
Addressing Common Concerns About Starting Therapy
“I’m not sure my problems are serious enough.” There’s no threshold of suffering you need to reach before therapy becomes appropriate. If something’s bothering you enough to search for counselling services, that’s sufficient reason to explore it further.
“I should be able to handle this myself.” Aware’s research found that 39% of people who delayed accessing mental health support cited shame or embarrassment as the reason. Self-reliance is generally considered a virtue in Irish culture, but it can become a barrier when professional support would genuinely help.
“It’s too expensive.” This is a real consideration for many people. Mind and Body Works offers a low-cost counselling service for those who are unemployed, students, working part-time, or experiencing financial difficulties. Worth asking about if cost is a barrier.
“I wouldn’t know what to say.” You don’t need to arrive with a prepared script. Therapists are trained to facilitate conversation. The early sessions are as much about building rapport as they are about diving into the deep stuff.
How do I book an appointment?
Getting started is more straightforward than you might expect. You can browse therapist profiles on the Mind and Body Works website to find someone whose background and approach appeals to you. Each profile includes information about their specialisms, qualifications and availability.
If you’d rather speak to someone first, the admin team can be reached at 01 677 1021. They are knowledgeable about the variety of our services and are happy to help you if you aren’t quite sure.
Alternatively, email enquiries@mindandbodyworks.com with a brief outline of what you’re looking for. Someone will get back to you.
You can book directly with your chosen therapist through the website, or arrange an online appointment through the admin team if that’s your preference. Either way, the process is designed to be as simple as possible.
Location Options Convenient for Rathfarnham Residents
FAQ
No. You can self-refer directly to Mind and Body Works without involving your GP. However, some people choose to inform their GP as part of taking a comprehensive approach to their health.
This varies considerably. Some people find that six to ten sessions provides what they need. Others benefit from longer-term work spanning months or years. You and your therapist will regularly review progress and discuss what makes sense.
Confidentiality is fundamental to the therapeutic relationship. What you discuss remains private, with limited exceptions required by law (such as risk of serious harm to yourself or others). Your therapist will explain these boundaries clearly.
In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably in Ireland. Psychotherapy sometimes implies longer-term or more depth-oriented work, while counselling may be associated with shorter-term support. What matters more than terminology is finding a therapist whose approach suits your needs.
Absolutely. Not every therapeutic relationship works, and recognising this isn’t a failure. Mind and Body Works has a large team, making it relatively easy to try someone different if your initial choice doesn’t feel right.