What Is Pre-Accredited Psychotherapy? Experienced, Affordable Counselling in Dublin 2
Discover professional, affordable counselling and psychotherapy at The Dublin Wellbeing Centre, with experienced psychotherapists Helena Downey and Ebru Nuhoglu Reilly. Sessions cost €60 and are available in person and online.
Sometimes, life can feel overwhelming. We carry the pressures of work, relationships, family responsibilities, grief and difficult experiences from the past, often without giving ourselves the time or space to explore how we really feel. Counselling and psychotherapy offer an opportunity to do just that, in a calm, confidential and supportive environment where we can speak openly, feel heard and begin to understand ourselves more deeply.
At The Dublin Wellbeing Centre in Dublin 2, we believe that accessing professional emotional support should not have to be financially overwhelming. Our Pre-Accredited Counselling and Psychotherapy service offers affordable therapy at €60 per session, with two experienced therapists, Helena Downey and Ebru Nuhoglu Reilly. Both bring extensive professional training, over 300 hours of direct client experience each, and valuable backgrounds in different therapeutic and professional disciplines.
But what exactly does pre-accredited psychotherapy mean, and why might it be a good option for someone considering counselling?
What Does Pre-Accredited Counselling and Psychotherapy Mean?
The term pre-accredited can sometimes give the impression that a therapist is inexperienced or still learning how to practise. In reality, a pre-accredited psychotherapist has recently completed substantial professional training, and can be more up to date with new therapeutic techniques. In order to become Fully Accredited, they have to complete 500+ hours of client work. In the course of working towards full accreditation, they offer these pre-accredited appointments at a lower rate in order to complete their required hours of client work. All psychotherapists are members of the nationally recognised professional organisation, the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP).
Achieving full accreditation involves a considerable commitment to professional development, clinical supervision and hundreds of hours of direct client work. During this stage, pre-accredited therapists continue developing their professional experience through working with clients and supervised practice.
At The Dublin Wellbeing Centre, both Helena and Ebru have completed more than 300 hours of direct client therapy work as they progress towards full IACP accreditation. This represents significant practical experience supporting people through emotional difficulties, relationship challenges, grief, anxiety, stress and important life transitions. Both have also trained relatively recently, bringing contemporary therapeutic knowledge and approaches into their work, alongside the experience they have gained throughout their professional lives.
Pre-accredited does not mean inexperienced. It describes a stage in the professional accreditation process and offers clients an opportunity to access trained, supervised and experienced therapists at a more affordable rate.
Why Do People Find Weekly Psychotherapy So Helpful?
One of the most meaningful aspects of counselling and psychotherapy is the experience of being truly listened to. Having a dedicated space where you can speak freely, without judgement or the expectations that sometimes come with family, friendships or work relationships, can be incredibly valuable.
Our psychotherapist Helena Downey has written a thoughtful reflection on why people find weekly psychotherapy so helpful. Her words capture something important about the therapeutic relationship: the relief of finally being able to express what we have been carrying, and the value of having someone accompany us as we begin to understand ourselves.
A Reflection on Weekly Psychotherapy by Helena Downey
Why do people find weekly psychotherapy so helpful?
Poem
When Someone Deeply Listens to You
by John Fox
When someone deeply listens to you
it is like holding out a dented cup
you’ve had since childhood
and watching it fill up with
cold, fresh water.
When it balances on top of the brim,
you are understood.
When it overflows and touches your skin,
You are loved.
When someone deeply listens to you,
the room where you stay
starts a new life
and the place where you wrote
your first poem
begins to glow in your mind’s eye.
It is as if gold has been discovered!
When someone deeply listens to you,
your bare feet are on the earth
and a beloved land that seemed distant
is now at home within you.
Today I’ve reflected on what I’ve heard from clients about why they find weekly psychotherapy so helpful. The first therapy sessions can feel like a tremendous relief. Before signing up for therapy, people may have been getting on with their daily lives, while underneath it all, carrying a lot of hurt and worried thoughts or preoccupations. The experience of coming to psychotherapy and finally speaking about and expressing what has been going on for them, can come as a huge relief. Physically, they report that it is almost like they feel lighter and can breathe again. Speaking about the worries and experiences can give them a new perspective, a sense that their concerns have been understandable, normal and completely valid. That in itself is also a relief.
With some perspective on things, clients report that they feel they have the space to start approaching and exploring the issues. This can feel like a ‘turning towards’ the stress, as opposed to trying to outrun it, deny it or push it down. With another person as a sensitive companion (the therapist) they can do the work of slowly encountering the nuances of their experience.
A wonderful thing about regular therapy is that the work can stay in the room – clients may leave some of the stress behind in the session and get on with their lives, knowing that they can come back to continue the work in subsequent sessions. It can serve to put some boundaries on the stress. Also, the insights gained in sessions sometimes have an automatic positive impact on their lived experience back in the day-to-day.
Therapy feels like self-care to some. Somewhere that they can speak freely, to an independent, non-judgmental witness, without input or judgments from friends or family. It helps them know their own minds better, and in that, feel a stronger sense of themselves. Self-discovery is ultimately core to the work – a felt-sense of my real self.
It really is a pleasure and privilege to hold sacred space for this healing work.
Written by Helena Downey, Pre-Accredited Psychotherapist at The Dublin Wellbeing Centre.
Learn more about Helena Downey
Meet Our Pre-Accredited Psychotherapists: Helena Downey and Ebru Nuhoglu Reilly
At The Dublin Wellbeing Centre, we are fortunate to have two dedicated psychotherapists who bring different but equally valuable perspectives to their work. Both recognise that every person's experiences, circumstances and needs are unique, and that a trusting therapeutic relationship is central to meaningful counselling and psychotherapy.
Helena Downey: Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy with Mindfulness
Helena Downey is a humanistic and integrative psychotherapist with a rich background in mindfulness, yoga teacher training and complementary therapeutic approaches. Her experience brings an appreciation of the connection between emotional wellbeing, self-awareness and our responses to stress and difficult experiences.
Humanistic and integrative psychotherapy places the individual at the centre of the therapeutic relationship, drawing on different approaches to support each person's particular needs. Helena's background in mindfulness complements this work, bringing an understanding of how awareness, reflection and compassion towards ourselves can become part of personal growth.
With over 300 hours of direct client experience, Helena offers a thoughtful and supportive space for people exploring anxiety, grief, bereavement, relationships, emotional challenges, past experiences and a desire to understand themselves more deeply.
Read more about Helena Downey and her psychotherapy approach
Ebru Nuhoglu Reilly: Psychotherapy, Work-Life Balance and Logotherapy
Ebru Nuhoglu Reilly brings extensive experience from the corporate world, giving her a valuable understanding of workplace pressures, professional responsibilities, burnout and the challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Her background is particularly relevant to people navigating demanding careers, workplace stress, relationship difficulties or significant personal and professional changes.
Ebru also brings experience in Logotherapy, an existential approach to psychotherapy developed by Viktor Frankl, which explores the importance of meaning, purpose and personal values in our lives. This perspective can be particularly relevant for people experiencing life transitions, questioning their direction or seeking a greater understanding of what matters to them.
Alongside her psychotherapy training and more than 300 hours of client work, Ebru brings a broad understanding of the emotional challenges people face in both their personal and professional lives. She also offers counselling and psychotherapy sessions in Turkish, providing an additional option for Turkish-speaking clients who may feel more comfortable expressing themselves in their native language.
Read more about Ebru Nuhoglu Reilly and her psychotherapy approach
Low-Cost Counselling and Psychotherapy in Dublin 2: €60 per Session
One of the greatest advantages of our pre-accredited psychotherapy service is that it makes ongoing counselling more affordable. At €60 per session, both Helena and Ebru offer an accessible option for people who would like regular professional support without the higher costs sometimes associated with private psychotherapy.
Therapy is rarely about finding a quick answer to a difficult situation. Often, its value lies in having time to build trust, explore experiences gradually and understand the patterns that may be influencing how we feel, think and relate to others. Affordable weekly psychotherapy can make this ongoing commitment more manageable, particularly for those working through grief, bereavement, relationship difficulties, anxiety, workplace stress, burnout or difficult experiences from the past.
Whether you are looking for low-cost counselling in Dublin 2, mindfulness-based psychotherapy, Logotherapy, affordable psychotherapy in Dublin or online counselling in Ireland, our aim is to help you find professional therapeutic support that feels right for you.
Pre-Accredited Counselling and Psychotherapy, In Person and Online
We understand that finding time for yourself can be difficult, which is why The Dublin Wellbeing Centre offers both in-person and online counselling options.
Our Centre is located at 26 Frederick Street South, Dublin 2, in the heart of Dublin city. For those who prefer face-to-face psychotherapy, our welcoming therapy rooms provide a calm, confidential space away from the demands of everyday life, where you can take time to focus on your emotional wellbeing.
Explore and book Pre-Accredited Counselling and Psychotherapy in Dublin 2
For people living outside Dublin, managing busy schedules or preferring the comfort of their own surroundings, online pre-accredited psychotherapy offers a flexible alternative. Online counselling can make regular therapeutic support more accessible without the need to travel into Dublin city centre.
Explore and book Online Pre-Accredited Counselling and Psychotherapy
Making Time for Your Emotional Wellbeing
You do not need to wait until life becomes overwhelming before considering counselling or psychotherapy. Sometimes, recognising that you would benefit from someone to talk to is reason enough. Perhaps you are navigating a difficult period, carrying feelings you have never had the opportunity to explore, or simply noticing that you would like to understand yourself and your relationships better.
At The Dublin Wellbeing Centre, Helena Downey and Ebru Nuhoglu Reilly offer experienced, affordable pre-accredited counselling and psychotherapy for €60 per session, combining professional training, substantial client experience and their own distinctive therapeutic backgrounds.
As Helena's reflection reminds us, sometimes the most meaningful part of psychotherapy begins with something very simple: having the time and space to speak, and knowing that someone is genuinely listening.
Whether you choose in-person counselling in Dublin 2 or online psychotherapy, making time for your emotional wellbeing can be a valuable investment in yourself.
Check availability and Book your appointment using these links below:
- Helena Downey, Pre-Accredited Psychotherapist
- Ebru Nuhoglu Reilly, Pre-Accredited Psychotherapist
- Pre-Accredited Counselling and Psychotherapy in Dublin 2
- Online Pre-Accredited Counselling and Psychotherapy
Book Online at our website: thedublinwellbeingcentre.ie
The Dublin Wellbeing Centre is a long-established wellness centre in the heart of Dublin city, offering a wide range of therapies, counselling, psychotherapy, personal development courses and wellbeing support, in person and online.
