Counselling & Psychotherapy · Dublin 6W

A calm space to talk, at your own pace.

I'm Catherine May, a fully qualified Counselling Psychotherapist. Whatever has brought you here, you don't need the right words for it yet. We can start wherever you are.

Get in touch How it works

IACP accredited member
Membership no. M6667
15+ years experience

Reaching out is often the hardest step. Taking it is already an act of care for yourself.

Confidential · Non-judgemental · Unhurried

Explore
A space to explore your experiences and make sense of your feelings, at your own pace.
Understand
Coming to know yourself more deeply: what you feel, what you need and what matters to you.
Express
More freedom to be who you are, and more confidence in your own choices.

Why people reach out

You don't need a reason that sounds big enough.

01Anxiety and worry
02Stress and feeling overwhelmed
03Low mood
04Grief and loss
05Relationship difficulties
06Life changes and transitions
07Self-esteem and confidence
08Feeling stuck or not yourself

These are some of the reasons people commonly come to counselling. If what you're carrying isn't listed, you're still very welcome to get in touch.

About

Hello, I'm Catherine.

I'm Catherine May, a fully qualified Counselling Psychotherapist and an accredited member of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), with over 15 years' experience in counselling and psychotherapy.

I've worked with adults, teenagers and young adults across a range of settings, including community services, secondary schools and private counselling practice.

I hold a B.Sc. (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy, with further training in child counselling, Jungian psychology and dream analysis, CBT, Reality Therapy, psychoanalytic approaches and humanistic art therapy. I'm also a member of the Kleinian Association of Ireland, where I take part in ongoing supervision and professional learning.

This experience informs my humanistic, person-centred approach. I believe that having the space to explore our experiences, understand ourselves more deeply and express ourselves freely can make a real difference to how we relate to ourselves and to others.

Accredited: IACP · M6667
Experience: 15+ years
Approach: Humanistic, person-centred

Qualifications, memberships & experience

Qualifications & training

B.Sc. (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Certificate in Sequentially Planned Integrative Counselling for Children (SPICC)
Jungian psychology and dream analysis
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
William Glasser Reality Therapy
Melanie Klein psychoanalytic therapy
Humanistic approaches to art therapy

Memberships

Accredited member, Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), no. M6667
Member, Kleinian Association of Ireland, including ongoing supervision and training

Experience

2020 – present
Nous Psychological Services, Templeogue, Dublin 6W
Collaborative work as part of a psychological services practice.
2021 – 2026
Access Counselling Services, Crumlin, Dublin 12
Member of the counselling team.
2021 – 2023
Community development setting, Allenwood, Co. Kildare
One-to-one sessions with adults and teenagers.
2019 – 2021
Secondary school counselling
One-to-one sessions with teenagers and young adults in a school setting.
2009 – 2019
St. Catherine's Service, Tallaght
Ten years of extensive client work.

How it works

Three gentle first steps.

Get in touch

Send a short message. You don't need to explain everything — a line or two is plenty.
A first session

We'll meet so you can talk about what's brought you, ask any questions, and see whether working together feels right. There's no obligation to continue.
Going at your pace

If you'd like to continue, we'll agree a rhythm of sessions that suits you, and check in together on how things are going.

Practical details

The practical side.

Location: Dublin 6W
Sessions: In-person sessions in Dublin 6W
Who I see: Everyone is welcome
Fees: Fees are discussed with you before any sessions are booked.
Referral: No referral needed — you can contact me directly.
Accreditation: Accredited member of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), membership no. M6667

Confidentiality

What you share in sessions stays between us. As with all IACP members, there are a small number of legal and ethical exceptions — for example, where there's a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, or a child protection concern. I'll explain these clearly at the start, so there are no surprises.

Questions

Things people often ask.

What happens in the first session?

It's mostly a chance to meet and talk. You can share as much or as little as you like about what's brought you, ask me anything about how I work, and we'll talk about what you'd like from counselling. There's no commitment to continue afterwards.

What's the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

The two overlap a great deal. Counselling often focuses on a particular difficulty or period in your life, while psychotherapy can explore longer-standing patterns in more depth. As a Counselling Psychotherapist, I can work in either way, depending on what feels right for you.

How many sessions will I need?

It's different for everyone. Some people find a handful of sessions helpful; others prefer to work over a longer period. We'll review how things are going together, and you're always free to decide what's right for you.

Is it confidential?

Yes. Sessions are confidential, within the limits set out in the IACP Code of Ethics and Irish law — mainly where there's a serious risk of harm or a child protection concern. I'll go through this with you at the start.

Do I need a referral from my GP?

No. You can refer yourself — just get in touch directly by WhatsApp.

What does it cost?

We'll discuss fees together before any sessions are booked, so you'll know exactly where you stand before you commit to anything.

Get in touch

When you're ready.

The easiest way to reach me is by WhatsApp. Just fill in the short form and it will open WhatsApp with your message ready to send. A line or two is plenty, and I'll reply to you personally.