About Eamonn Meaney

Qualifications and Experience:

Hello my name is Eamonn Meaney. After four years professional training I graduated with a First Class BSc (Hons.) in Counselling & Psychotherapy from Middlesex University. Adhering to the IACP Code of Ethics, my work is fully insured and I attend regular clinical supervision.

I have worked professionally in a therapeutic role from Clare Street Medical Centre in Dublin 2 since 2010 and I am currently undergoing further training in addiction counselling and interventions with Merchants Quay Ireland and UCD. I possess a special interest in process addictions involving problematic or dysfunctional behaviours surrounding gambling, sex, pornography, gaming and other internet based activities.

Additionally I am a fully trained facilitator for SMART Recovery support groups which utilise a 4 point programme to help individuals to recover from all kinds of addictive behaviours. I am active in a voluntary capacity with Waterford Community Based Drug Initiative (WCBDI) and have extensive group work experience with anxiety and depression , as both a facilitator and a trainer with Aware since 2011. Having held the anchor role facilitating weekly support groups in the Dept. of Psychiatry in University Hospital Waterford from 2011-2013, I now deliver regular informational talks for inpatients in this setting.

I served as a Samaritan volunteer for 5 years and have sat as a committee member for the Suicide Prevention Working Implementation Group for Waterford City. Post graduate training upon the IICP Child and Adolescent Counselling and Psychotherapy programme has further informed my work with children, adolescents  and adults both privately and at Waterford’s St Brigid’s Family Resource Centre. Cognisant of the immense benefits available to clients through the use of mindfulness  I have upskilled my competency further in this area.  I am also engaged as a bereavement support worker  at St John’s Pastoral Centre in Waterford City.

Presently I am studying for a Masters in Psychology which is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).

Summary of Qualifications:

My Approach:

My initial core training encompassed family systems, humanistic therapies, CBT, psychodynamic and attachment-based approaches, with additional study concentrated in the areas of sexuality, loss, bereavement and abnormal psychology. Having utilised those components from the varying perspectives that I considered to be most responsible for beneficial and effective change in an individual, I now describe myself as employing an integrative-cbt approach. This means that whilst holding particular preference for scientific and evidence based cognitive behavioural therapy methodologies, I believe the therapeutic benefits available to clients can sometimes be enhanced by integrating CBT with timely and appropriate elements from a range of other orientations.

 

Therefore my work with clients will often involve a 5 level integrative-cbt approach (Stephens, 2012):

This holistic and integrative approach works by treating the whole person as a unique individual and not just the specific presenting problem.

Beyond their basic structure, your sessions are very much about the two of us working together on agendas that you set for yourself. Therapy really is one of those processes where the rewards and benefits available to your life are largely dependent on your commitment and input. The work undertaken within sessions sets the ball rolling for gradual changes in perspective and action in the outside world.

Further specifics about the counselling process can be found here.

Seeking and accepting support is a strength and not a weakness so please feel free to contact me to take the next step.