Psychotherapy Training & Accreditation
Sandra has a Diploma in Addiction Studies (1999) and a BA (Hons) in Counseling & Psychotherapy from the Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences (ICHAS) Limerick (2010). She has a BA (Hons) in Youth & Community Work from Maynooth University, and has completed an MSc in Adolescent Psychotherapy with Blackfort Gestalt Institute in conjunction with University of Northampton.
Sandra is also fully qualified and accredited in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) UK & Ireland. She is currently an EMDR Consultant in training and EMDR Child & Adolescent therapist in training.
She is also trained in EFT (Emotional Focused Therapy).
She is an accredited member of the Association of Professional Counselors and Psychotherapists (APCP) and abides by the code of ethics laid down by APCP.
Counseling & Psychotherapeutic Approach
Sandra works as an Integrative therapist meaning she combines her approach from a Person-Centred model perspective, integrating Gestalt, CBT, Adlerian and EMDR. She works by holding a safe space, accompanying the client on their journey of consciously living their life and supporting them in processing and healing the wounds of the past, limiting beliefs and trauma through EMDR.
Sandra has also extensive training in the energy field and a deep understanding of the body, and how it stores our experiences within the nervous system. Having experienced very good results with EFT and integrative psychotherapy, Sandra feels that her EMDR training brought together for her the missing piece. Sandra’s experience of EMDR is that it enhances her overall work and practice as a therapist and it provides long lasting symptom relief to her clients.
Counseling Experience & Areas of Interest
Sandra believes that on a sub-conscious level we live our lives driven by deeply ingrained limiting beliefs. Being consciously aware and trying to over-ride the script with positivity, may not be enough. Experiencing shame within our lives, we are often driven by “I’m not enough” or “I’m not safe”. Often we are unaware and we don’t understand that we are living a life according to those beliefs.
Sandra’s area of interest is trauma and she is passionate about EMDR. Within her clinical practice, Sandra has seen so many positive outcomes using EMDR with clients which has enhanced their life in so many ways. She believes that everyone deserves to live a life of peace and healing. Therapy is an investment in yourself and the best investment you will ever make in your lifetime. It is the greatest declaration of self-love and respect.
Sandra has worked with both adult and adolescent clients on a broad spectrum of issues and traumatic experiences including attachment trauma, birth trauma, PTSD, complex PTSD, public speaking, phobias, OCD, social anxiety, general anxiety, intrusive thoughts, depression, grief & loss, loss of identity within the life cycles, breakdown of relationships, to name but a few.
In addition, Sandra works with athletes and within the corporate sector to enhance their performance and helping them to become clear about their goals and the blocks which keeps them stuck through the EMDR process.
Sandra has worked within an organisational and private practice for over ten years. She also facilitates workshops within corporate settings.