About Caroline Crotty

My Road to Psychotherapy

My road to counselling and psychotherapy has been interesting. Having worked in London for circa ten years, predominantly in the area of commercial property, I returned to Ireland in the late 1990s and have lived in Cork since. In need of an academic and personal challenge, I undertook a Social Science degree at University College Cork (B.Soc.Sc. 2001-2004). Following graduation, I began working with a Cork-based legal firm where I gained experience of working with people going through family, immigration and employment law difficulties.

Experience and Training

That involvement, of being with people experiencing life crises, provided an invaluable background to my therapeutic work with adults and adolescents. Having completed a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy (M.A. 2010-2012), the time came to take a leap of faith and I reluctantly left my salaried position with the law firm to concentrate on my private practice and set up therapy clinics in Cork city and county.

Since then, I have undertaken a broad range of training including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), EMDR, solution-focused therapy, managing anxiety and compassion-focused mindfulness, coaching, supervision, problem-solving and process management, domestic violence, self-harm, suicide and smoking cessation. I have researched areas as broad as reactions to an adult autism diagnosis and parenting an adolescent with type 1 diabetes. I hold an MSc in Psychology undertaken in Sweden, and at the University of Limerick I studied Psychological Science (MPsychSc). I also hold a Higher Diploma in Psychology from Dublin Business School which was another wonderful learning experience even though I was older than all of the lecturers.

Over the years, I’ve completed a variety of training courses, including the HSE’s Sexual Health Promotion programme, which I absolutely loved. It fits so well with my interest in helping people feel more at ease with who they are. I’m especially drawn to working with adults and adolescents who are navigating stress, anxiety, self-doubt, or who simply want to feel better in themselves. My focus is very much on supporting emotional wellbeing, building self-acceptance and promoting positive mental health. While I’ve trained in areas like disordered eating and family systems, I don’t work with eating disorders or offer couples therapy. My work is one-to-one, with adults and adolescents who want to feel calmer, more confident and more themselves.

My Therapeutic Approach

My goal is to help people understand how to be more accepting of themselves and ultimately be and feel content. I often view my role as spotlighting the positive, and I work with groups to help safeguard and nurture emotional wellbeing. In one-to-one therapy, I work with adults (with or without a mental health diagnosis) and with teenagers attending secondary school.

Workshops, Talks and Writing

Another facet of my work involves workshops, talks, and training, which allow me to reach a wide audience. I promote wellness, wellbeing, and positive parenting through devising and delivering workshops, courses, and presentations to businesses, youth and community groups, as well as the education sector (to teachers and students at all levels).

I write for publication to promote awareness of how to overcome challenges we all experience, such as anxiety, disturbed sleep, anger and emotional regulation, parenting challenges, relationship issues, bullying, rejection, self-doubt, or negative self-talk.

How I View Therapy

I view my role in therapy as nurturing self-reliance, fostering self-belief, helping people achieve acceptance, and effecting positive change. Therapy helps people learn how to believe in themselves and in their abilities. It teaches the importance of liking ourselves a whole lot more. This is accomplished through learning how to change unhelpful habits of thinking and behaving, acquiring and practising new coping skills, accepting the past, and setting attainable goals for the future.

From experience, I know just how good we all are at being self-critical. One person said he was “a dinger” at being hard on himself. Another said the only thing he excelled at was self-criticism. I enjoy working with adolescents and adults experiencing self-doubt, anxiety, and stress-related issues, and being with them as they progress and learn how to change.

Who I Work With

In therapy at my Cork city practice, I work one-to-one with adults and adolescents. I also work directly with parents of children in primary school who wish to make home life more calm and happy. I alter my therapeutic approach to best suit the individual and their presenting issue. My style of therapy is humanistic and person-centred, which means that you are the expert on your thoughts, feelings, and experiences but we all get a little stuck sometimes, and it helps to speak with someone objective.

The person coming to therapy is best placed to decide what to do with their life. I do not tell people what to do. For example, if someone asks whether they should marry their fiancé/fiancée, I do not say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Through discussing the relationship, decisions regarding the best course of action are arrived at.

Confidentiality and Supervision

An important aspect of therapy is that I listen and hear what is being said and what is not being said. Regardless of what I hear, I remain non-judgemental. Everything said in therapy remains confidential (with some exceptions, which I explain at the outset). This is central to building a good therapeutic relationship where a person feels safe to discuss anything.

I routinely attend supervision where I discuss client issues in a completely anonymised way. Supervision ensures that my accreditation remains in force and that everyone attending therapy is best supported, as my supervisor has decades of experience.

Therapy Appointments

In-person appointments for counselling and psychotherapy are held at Caroline Crotty Counselling and Psychotherapy Limited, Suite 7, Block A, South Terrace Medical Centre, Cork T12 WF40. If you prefer, we can meet online via Zoom for virtual sessions anywhere in Ireland.

Finding the Right Therapist

I may not be the best fit for every person and that is okay. I often refer people to others. Therapy works for most people, but it is important to find a therapist who suits your needs. Use the initial session to explore whether you feel comfortable and understood. Counselling and psychotherapy are about you – the person attending – and what you hope to achieve.

Therapy may involve making changes, coming to terms with events, or simply being heard. Some attend to gain clarity or acceptance. Others attend because something has happened and they need support. Whatever your reason, therapy can help you navigate life more confidently.

Professional Accreditations

Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) – MBACP (Accred), 388243

Member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) – M9032

Member of the Association of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists in Ireland (APCP) – MBR10440

Contact Me

If you’d like to book an appointment or enquire further, please visit my contact page.