Psychotherapy Training and Accreditation
Elaine is a fully qualified Gestalt psychotherapist and researcher. She completed her training and an M.A. in Gestalt Psychotherapy with the Gestalt Institute of Ireland, validated by the South East Technological University.
She is an accredited and Certified Associate of the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP) and works under the code of ethics of this organisation. She is a member of the International Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy (IAAGT).
Elaine’s research interests are in the area of sexuality and gender, and how we adjust and shape our body and identity to belong to the groups and cultures we live in, often to the detriment of our whole health; biological (physical), psychological (mental) and social (relationships).
Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Approach
As a Gestalt psychotherapist, Elaine travels alongside you on a journey towards greater self-awareness to help you heal the hurts of past and present, and grow and evolve into living a more choice-full life.
She works with a relational, embodied, creative and dialogical approach. This means she will support you in exploring your relationship with yourself and others by becoming aware of your whole body’s innate way of knowing, and ultimately learning to trust and honour your life experiences as being uniquely true to you. She does this by staying present to her experience of and with you, dialoguing with care and without judgement.
Key to Elaine’s approach is recognising the environment, family, and community you live and work in and how this shapes your sense of who you are and how you act in the world.
Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Experience and Areas of Interest
She has particular experience working with fertility, pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage and birth, and the loss and grief embodied in such life-changing experiences. Perinatal mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety during pregnancy and the first postnatal years are also an area of interest. She works with both men and women in these contexts.
Elaine’s experience also extends from working with ISPCC Childline, Lets Get Talking and the University of Galway’s Student Counselling and Wellbeing Service.
Before working as a psychotherapist Elaine worked for nearly 20 years in development, communication and management roles in education, the arts, media and business, in Ireland and abroad. She previously studied a B.A in Mathematics and Economics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Studies, both with the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Elaine is committed to creating a safe and trusting therapeutic space for experiences such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, sexual abuse, trauma, relationship difficulties, loss, grief, serious life changes, gender, sexuality, belonging and a greater desire for self-knowing.
