Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology focused on understanding and addressing mental, emotional, and behavioural problems. Philemon favour a positive psychological approach that draws on your strengths to help you overcome barriers to progress. Clinical psychologists assess and treat a wide range of issues, from short-term personal difficulties to severe, chronic conditions.

Forensic Psychology is the application of psychological science to behaviours that have legal consequences.

We rely on what science and research tell us about best ways to work with complex human problems. To do something that is helpful we have to find out not just what is causing the concern you have but also what will work best to help you make the progress you hope for.

We never look at a problem in isolation but consider your family history, what has happened before and what supports you have in your life.

We work with you to find out what protects you best in life and what might cause things to get more difficult.

It is important that your child knows about the appointment beforehand and you should reassure them that it is our job to help. Tell them who the psychologist is, by first name, so your child knows who Colm is and what he or Natalia looks like.

Be clear that you will go into the room where the psychologist works and that usually there is a chat about how everyone is and to check if there are any worries or questions about coming to meet the psychologist.

Do say that the psychologist might want to take time alone with you in case there are things you wanted to say with nobody listening. Assure your child that what we talk about is private and not to worry about anybody else knowing.

The psychologist will make sure your child knows that he can tell you anything we did or talked about and in the younger child that will be reinforced at the session.

There is other advice we like to share with you about what happens after the first appointment but that can wait until our first meeting.

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of our practice, ensuring that the information shared by clients, including children, remains private and secure. It fosters a trusting environment where clients feel safe to disclose personal and sensitive information, which is crucial for effective assessment and intervention.

There are some limits to confidentiality. Where there is a risk identified that someone may be harmed and this could be you or someone else, we have a duty to act in these situations. When this happens, we always act with your knowledge and typically your cooperation. Sometimes people worry about this but we are very experienced with what needs to be done in the least distressing way for all concerned.

Usually after an assessment a report is written describing the findings and outlining a set of recommendations. With the proper consents, the report may be shared with the school or other professionals. The psychologist can also meet with others about the report if requested.

A report is usually only necessary where it is required to provide information to secure resource at school or work.

For court directed assessment, a report is always proved to inform the court and is subject to strict rules about how it may be shared.

Not every situation necessitates a diagnosis. Typically, a diagnosis is relevant for conditions that are either ongoing or have high acuity for a brief period.

What is more important than a diagnosis is understanding the cause of the issue and determining the best approach to address it.

A diagnosis is provided when it is beneficial, adheres to strict criteria, and leads to support measures that can significantly enhance someone's quality of life.

Yes, we actively encourage you to bring your well behaved pet it would make you feel more comfortable. Bringing a pet to a psychological consultation can reduce stress and anxiety, creating a calming atmosphere that facilitates more open communication.

We have our own therapy dog, Ruby, who can sometimes sit in the consulting room during sessions and you can ask if she can come along when you attend.

There are times when we have a wait list and this is unavoidable. We try to give an estimate of how long a wait list is and hopefully some of the information on the website will give you some guidance about what can help in the meantime.

Please check our Resources and Library page for information on a range of topics.

We usually like to see our clients initially in the clinic but depending on the type of engagement required with the psychologist, we have the facility to offer remote appointments also.

We charge €140/hr. Some of this cost may be reclaimed from health insurance depending on your policy and type of cover. Payment can be made by card on the day and for online appointments, we will send you an invoice.

Anyone can refer themselves to us. We also accept referrals from GPs, schools, psychiatrists, social workers and solicitors.