Our Therapists

Sonia brings many years of experience to the centre in the world of business having had a career in Industrial Engineering with her main focus on industrial disputes. Sonia studied Herbalism Medicine and Naturopathy with CNM. She believes that the mind has a profound effect on the body and with a holistic approach offers naturopathy and medicinal herbs to support both body and mind during challenging times.

Sonia also offers Sacred Esoteric Healing, this is a gentle hands-on energy healing that arrests the negative energies we align to, which may lead to a disease in our wellbeing.

As part of the body, mind Soul connection, Sonia offers gentle yoga classes.

Kathleen comes from a background of primary teaching. She has been working as a Counsellor/Psychotherapist for the past 21 years. She is also a Supervisor and former tutor of Foundation Diploma in Counselling Skills N.U.I. Maynooth.

Kathleen is the founder of the Acorn Counselling Therapy Centre which was established in 1995 and has continued to the present day, building up a solid reputation in the area of counselling in Drogheda.

Kathleen is a mature, warm, empathic person who has vast experience in working with a wide range of issues. Among them stress, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, abuse and grief. She has an eclectic approach incorporating client centred therapy, humanistic, gestalt and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).

Kathleen works with the Employment Assistance Programme in the workplace dealing with work stress & bullying using solution focused therapy, distressing and relaxation techniques.

My approach is primarily Person – Centred; believing individuals have the capacity “to strive to grow towards the best possible fulfilment of the potential” Mearns & Thorne, 2008 I integrate other Therapies such as Existential, CBT and Gestalt depending on the needs of the client.

I have trained in Bereavement Counselling helping to support clients following through their grief. I also have a Diploma in Parent/Mentoring and have facilitated Parenting Groups and individual parents over the years. I have also worked extensively with clients with Post Natal Depression.

I work by creating a sense of participating in a collaboration and partnership. I possess a thorough knowledge of addiction and the lifestyles of addicts while acknowledging that the client is the true expert in discussing his or her own life. I do this by listening accurately, empathize effectively, and avoiding passing judgment. By doing this I can convey to the client that he or she has an ally in the difficult progress toward recovery. These approaches have proved to strengthen the therapeutic alliance and make the relationship a collaborative one.

The metaphor of the hiker and the guide is useful for conceptualizing the counsellor-client relationship. The counsellor guides the client through at least the early stages of recovery, but the recovery process ultimately belongs to the client. It is the client alone who is responsible and accountable for his or her recovery.

By guiding my clients in new directions towards recovery we gain positive results that can then be explored and built on.

Pat's work is grounded in Humanistic/Person Centred approach in which everyone is seen as have "dignity and worth" in their own right. He integrates elements of other approaches when necessary, including Gestalt, Psychodynamic, Existential and Emotion Focused Therapies. Pat is professionally qualified in the therapeutic use of mindfulness and also holds a professional certificate in family therapy.

Pat is a mature, empathic person who strives at all times to work in an atmosphere of gentleness and respect. Breathing and relaxation techniques are used where appropriate. Issues dealt with in his work include:

- Depression,

- Anxiety,

- Stress,

- Anger,

- Loss & Bereavement & Low self-worth.

My main way of being with the client is an humanistic approach. This means that I respect the human capabilities of the client and have confidence in their ability to grow and to change. The goal is to find out how the client perceives himself in the here and now and to recognize growth. This is quite an optimistic approach due to the non-judgmental, non-directive attitude of the counsellor and helps the client become aware of their strengths and intrinsic goodness. But on top of this I incorporate psychodynamic elements. I look at what unconscious thought processes are showing themselves in the client's behaviour. The goal is to help the client become more aware of how the past has influenced their current thoughts and behaviours by helping them work through unresolved issues and conflicts they may have with significant people in their lives. In addition to the two approaches mentioned above, I would also work in a cognitive behavioural manner when a practical approach is needed to challenge the thoughts and perceptions of the client that lead to negative behaviour. In short, I use an integrative approach which allows me the freedom to be flexible with the client in the very present setting of the therapy room and to fully integrate my knowledge and training into the process in the here and now.

I am a fully accredited Psychotherapist with the Irish Association of Counselling Practitioners and qualified in 2015. I have been working with clients for over 8 years and have worked with lots of the varying presenting issues that life challenges us with. I have also completed level 1 of the Gottman Couples Therapy, which is a very practical way of working with couples to help them overcome conflict and challenges. I have worked as a HR Consultant for over 20 years and understand all work-related challenges.

My own life experience has given me great insight into how to navigate through some very challenging times which helps me greatly in supporting Clients through similar scenarios. I really enjoy being able to support clients through challenges and see people come through the other side of difficulties happier and more in control of their lives.

How I can help you

I really enjoy my work as a Psychotherapist and value being in a position to support Clients through difficult times. I have a very informal and warm approach to sessions with Clients as I feel it is important for you as the client to feel comfortable and safe opening up. I work in a very person-centred way, allowing you the space to explore what is going on and how we can work together. The aim of the therapy is to work together to find the way forward. I have helped Clients with: depression, anxiety, relationship issues, work-related issues, bereavement, recovering from narcissistic relationships, childhood trauma, trust issues, family of origin challenges, abuse, young adults dealing with parental issues. If you would like to chat to me before booking a session please reach out.

Treatment Areas

1. Bereavement

2. Anxiety

3. Emotional Abuse

4. Entrepreneurship Anxiety

5. Family Issues

6. Insomnia

7. Postnatal Depression

8. Redundancy

9. Relationship Issues

10. Separation

My Therapeutic Approach

1. Client-Centred

2. Couples Therapy

3. Mindfulness Therapy

4. Career Counselling

5. Humanistic Therapy

6. Person-Centred Therapy

7. Solution Focused Brief Therapy

8. Workplace Counselling

Leslie is an accredited and registered Family Therapist with over 20 years experience, having trained at The Clanwilliam Institute, Dublin. He also has experience and certification in group work facilitation and bereavement counselling. Leslie’s work often means involving children and adolescents in counselling sessions with their siblings and parent(s). He has worked within care settings, such as residential care and foster care.

Leslie engages with individuals alone, and with couples and families experiencing inter-relationship and other difficulties. Quote: “My academic training and counselling work has led me to believe that since we all come from families anyway, many clients seeking counselling may be experiencing problems in the present day which are sometimes a consequence of memories, experiences and self-concepts carried over from family of origin life. Of course, I also acknowledge that this may not always the most useful or relevant focus. In either case, my experience tells me that with help, clients do overcome both negative past histories and current difficulties”

Leslie uses an eclectic mix of counselling / psychotherapy theoretical models to understand and help clients themselves to understand what they are experiencing and why. Knowledge of personality development and family life cycles helps in this.

Leslie’s style is conversational and collaborative, meaning that he focuses on joining with the person or persons in a way that best fits the goals of therapy and so as to create a co-operative but challenging therapeutic endeavour.

Life & Nutrition Coaching

Feel a little stuck? Not living the life you want to be living, and have no motivation to figure out how to live that life? Are you exhausted, overwhelmed and give yourself a hard time for not being in control? Do you feel guilty at the thoughts of self-care? Are you struggling with your relationship with food and feel you can’t ‘get it right’ no matter what you have tried in the past? Are you constantly saying to yourself ‘my life would be better if only…’? Denise Wogan can help you take care of you from the inside out.

Denise is an ICF Professionally Accredited Life coaching offering coaching services to people with a wide range of issues or problems including but not limited to low confidence, anxiety, low self-worth, stress, poor relationship with food, poor resilience to life everyday challenges, lack of focus etc.

What is life coaching?

Life coaching helps you with specific professional projects, personal goals, and transformations. Denise’s specific proven skills and techniques are adapted specifically to suit each client. Her flexible approach enables her to ensure the session is designed to suit your individual requirements and communicated in a way that works for your unique needs. Denise's sessions will help you understand the limiting beliefs and other potential challenges keeping you stuck, and then help you reframe and repositioning your mind to break through to a new way to live. All consultations and sessions are strictly private and confidential.

What results can you expect?

Denises’ passion is helping people to be the very best versions of themselves – to show up, grow in self-belief and confidence, and consistently take the action that they need to take to achieve their goals with ease.

Coaching helps people to unlock the door to their full potential and remove the obstacles that are keeping them stuck. The relationship between a client and Denise as your coach is like a creative partnership. From your first meeting, you will identify, clarify and create a vision for what you want. Denise will use her expertise and education to encourage self-discovery and growth, modifying goals with you as needed. Together you both will define a plan of action based on what fits best with your goals, personality, and vision. Over the journey Denise will foster accountability to increase productivity and goal success.

With qualifications in nutrition, intuitive eating, breath work, eating disorders and body image healing, and 5+ years experience as a coach, Denise creates a space to explore the thoughts, feelings that are keeping you stuck. You will build a repository of practices and strategies to help you to find balance, resilience and confidence.

In some cases, it can be extremely helpful to deal with the past if there are any underlying or deep-seated issues that are possibly blocking your progress and preventing you from reaching your goals and desired outcomes. Coaching is not therapy, when such situation arises Denise will refer you to one of Acorns therapists so you can continue your journey.

I am a fully Accredited Psychotherapist with the National Association of Professional Counseling & Psychotherapy (NAPCP) having qualified as a therapist in 2013. My decision to become a therapist was inspired by my own personal journey of life experiences. I have worked in the field of mental health as a mental health practitioner for eleven years both in private practice, schools and community based services. I have trained in many modalities of Counseling and my practice approach is as an Integrative therapist whereby I tailor my sessions to the individual needs of my clients. Engaging in Psychotherapy is a deeply personal experience whereby the needs and uniqueness of each client are respected and this is an important part of my professional practice. I offer a warm and welcome space for my clients and seek to walk alongside the client their journey with warmth, empathy and compassion.

I am experienced in working with both male and female Adults and Adolescents. My experience to date has covered a wide range of issues such as Anxiety, Depression, Sexual abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Trauma, bereavement and menopause issues. I currently work with clients in one to one sessions in Private Practice and Schools.

‘Therapy is a process in learning to think different about yourself and your life’ - Aaron Beck

I work with individuals and intimate partners within a pluralistic framework which means I adapt how I work with a client to help achieve their therapy goals. For example, the short term management of depression, anxiety and emotional distress or the more long term exploration and understanding of grief and loss or working towards living more authentically by gaining conscious awareness and understanding of your relationships with others and yourself.

I understand it can be difficult and at times traumatic navigating through life within an environment that is at odds with who and how you are. This can lead to issues such as low self-confidence, anxiety, depression as well as feelings of fear and isolation.

Any individual that is perceived as being different in this world can suffer distress. Journeying towards individuality is a step away from the collective norm. In my work I recognise and validate the diversity and difference within our society and enable clients to embrace and celebrate their difference and their authentic selves.

As an integrative psychotherapist, Aisling utilises concepts, strategies and skills from a number of different therapeutic models of practice in her work with clients. An integrative approach affirms the intrinsic value of each individual and allows for a flexible approach to meet the needs of the client. This helps to develop an understanding of the underlying reasons for the difficulties which clients are experiencing. With this understanding, it is possible to address past trauma, gain knowledge of deep-rooted patterns of behaviour, heal relationships, and ultimately move forward with greater insight and resilience when faced with life’s challenges. With a background in theatre, and specific training in using drama as a therapeutic tool, Aisling adopts a creative approach to working with clients, particularly when individuals have difficulty articulating a particular issue or experience. Aisling works with a broad range of psychotherapeutic concerns and welcomes clients from diverse backgrounds. She is currently working towards her full accreditation as a member of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP).

Each client brings a unique lived experience to the therapy space and drawing on a variety of approaches I aim to facilitate them in achieving their goals.  The first steps of self-discovery and self-acceptance on the journey to overcoming that which is holding back the client are done with compassion and empathy. The therapeutic relationship provides an environment of trust, acceptance and non-judgment in order to facilitate healing. I work with adults and have experience in areas such as anxiety, bereavement, trauma, and depression. Dealing with mental health can feel isolating, talk therapy provides the space and compassionate support needed along the way.