You might not be sure if therapy is for you, and need a bit more information about it. You might be skeptical about therapy, scared of it, or you mightn't have found it particularly helpful in the past, or perhaps you are struggling but feel you can help yourself with just a little bit of guidance or some recommended reading. Here are some resources and some information that you might find of use:

 

 

Useful websites:

- Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy

Regulatory body of psychotherapy professionals in Ireland

www.irish-counselling.ie

 

- Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy

Regulatory body of psychotherapy professionals in Ireland

www.iahip.org

 

- The Oxford Mindfulness Centre

International centre of excellence within Oxford University’s Department of Psychiatry that works with partners around the world to prevent depression and enhance human potential through the therapeutic use of mindfulness. 

www.oxfordmindfulness.org

 

- Self-compassion

Website of Psychologist Kristin Neff, with lots of information and free exercises and meditations on the practice of self-compassion for mental health.

www.selfcompassion.org

 

- IICP Education and Training

Training institute of Counselling and Psychotherapy and NGO

www.iicp.ie

 

- The Tivoli Institute

Training institute of Counselling and Psychotherapy

www.tivoliinstitute.com

 

 

- Your Mental Health

Useful HSE website with information on mental health:

http://www.yourmentalhealth.ie

 

- Mental Health Ireland

National voluntary organization that promotes positive mental health

http://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/what-we-do/

 

- Wellbeing Foundation

Helpful site with information on Depression, Anxiety and Mental Illness

http://wellbeingfoundation.com/

 

- Grow

Mental health support and recovery.

http://grow.ie

 

 

What books can I read that might be helpful?

 

Books can be a fantastic and really empowering way to help yourself, and there is a type of therapy called Bibliotherapy. The HSE has a special section on Bibliotherapy on their website, and if you click not he link below, you will go directly to their list of books, organized in categories. The lists have been circulated by HSE to all public libraries in Ireland, so you should be able to find a copy at your local library:

http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/Mental_Health_Services/powerofwords/booklist/bibliotherapy.html

 

 

If you need urgent help or are feeling suicidal:

- Pieta House

Organisation that offers crisis intervention and aftercare for people who are feeling suicidal and their families. Free of charge counselling.

www.pieta.ie

 

- Samaritans

24 ur phone helpline

Call 1850 60 90 90 

 

- 1Life

24 hour Suicide Helpline

Call 1800 247 100 or text HELP to 51444

 

 

Useful videos:

- Dr. Mark Williams (Mindfulness)

British Psychologist and researcher who works in the University of Oxford and helped develop the Mindfulness Based Cognitive therapy programme for people who get depressed recurrently. 

Introduction: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egdqnodiy60&list=PL821C6C0EE540E130

 

- MBCT and depression: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG4xaA3y948&index=3&list=PL821C6C0EE540E130

 

- Kristin Neff (self-compassion)

American psychologist and researcher, who advocates and researches the benefits of practicing self-compassion for mental and physical health.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvtZBUSplr4

 

- Carl Rogers

American psychologist. Founding father of humanistic, client-centered psychotherapy.

Carl Rogers interview on Humanistic (or client-centered) psychotherapy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjTpEL8acfo&feature=related

 

- Irvin Yalom MD

American Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, well known for his model of Existential Psychotherapy.

Irvin Yalom interview on Humanistic Existential psychotherapy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdTFqpItd8I&feature=related

 

- Viktor Frankl

Austrian jewish neurologist and psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor. Well known for his model of Logotherapy and for the concept of Meaning.

Viktor Frankl on the concept of meaning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGOa77E9ZtE

 

- William Glasser

American Psychiatrist who advocates the power of counselling as opposed to the 'medical model' which focuses on classifying and medicating "mental illness". Creator of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy.

Glasser interviewed on the dangers of overmedicating in Psychiatry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGOg5uqrlXY