Abovo Counselling

30/12/2024

As this year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting deeply on the journey we’ve all been on. Life, with all its twists and turns, has a way of surprising us—sometimes with joy, sometimes with challenges, but always with opportunities to grow.
This past year, I’ve been honored to walk alongside so many of you. I’ve seen your courage in facing fears, your vulnerability in sharing your truth, and your resilience in choosing healing—even when it felt hard. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey. Your strength and authenticity inspire me every day.
As we step into a new year, I invite you to take a moment to breathe and reflect. Acknowledge how far you’ve come, even if the steps felt small. Gratitude isn’t about ignoring the hard parts of life—it’s about seeing the beauty and strength that can coexist with them.
Whatever this next year holds, know that you don’t have to navigate it alone. You are deserving of connection, healing, and joy. You are enough, just as you are.
Here’s to a new chapter filled with hope, growth, and kindness toward yourself. I’m grateful for you and look forward to what lies ahead.
With warmth and gratitude,
Maria
Psychotherapist

21/10/2024

💖

18/04/2022

As part of my professional practice I introduce to my clients the use and importance of mindfulness. So why should we practice being mindful every day ?

The practice of mindfulness can increase our ability to regulate our emotions, decrease stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, it helps us focus and observe without judgment our thoughts and feelings. We can make better decisions, manage our emotions, and better engage in life when we are more aware of ourselves and others.
By cultivating mindfulness, you can learn to be present in the present moment. As a result, you may be able to let go of the "what-ifs" in your future and the things that you cannot change in the past. You can use it to make wise decisions and develop effective coping skills before engaging in self-destructive behavior or eating disorders. When your emotions become out of control, mindfulness can help you to calm down.
Below are some tips on how to practice mindfulness :

26/01/2022

Exercise is commonly recommended to clients by their therapists and research supports the effectiveness of exercise in improving depression, anxiety, insomnia, weight gain/loss and other mental health difficulties.

Although there are a number of therapies that help people to understand and change hurtful emotions and behaviors, certain lifestyle changes can help people improve mental and physical well-being. Getting enough sleep, treating physical illness and pain, eating a balanced and healthful diet and, yes, exercise, are all factors in our life that can have a significant impact on our emotional well-being.

Participation in regular physical activity can increase our self-esteem and can reduce stress and anxiety. It also plays a role in preventing the development of mental health problems and in improving the quality of life of people experiencing mental health problems.
It is recommended that the average adult should do between 75 and 150 minutes of exercise a week.

05/11/2021

Struggling with your mental health?

Counselling sessions available now online and face to face in Dublin 12 and Dublin 3

21/09/2021

13/08/2021

Delighted to announce that I will start seeing clients face to face in our brand new location close to Dublin City Centre.

Location: Healing House, 24 O'Connell Avenue, Berkeley Road, Dublin 7, D07 XV57

Appointments available on Monday and Friday 3pm, 4pm and 6pm.

Cost per session

Individual Therapy: €50/hour
Couple Therapy: €80/hour
Family Therapy : €120/ hour ( max 3 to 4 people per session)

Contact number: 0873881287 or pm me

20/07/2021

Many psychological studies confirm that "self love and compassion are key for mental health and wellbeing, keeping anxiety and depression at bay" (Sandoiu, 2018).
Self care is the pavement towards caring for our mental, emotional and physical health. Practicing self care is an action-oriented way that we can show to ourselves that we love ourselves. Self love means loving all aspects of yourself, by accepting your flaws, your weaknesses and the things you don’t always like about yourself. Moreover, it is also about holding high standards for your own well-being and happiness.

If you want to start your own journey towards self love and self care, contact me today for an appointment on 0873881287 or pm me.

22/05/2021

There's a close relationship between sleep and mental health. Living with a mental health problem can affect how well you sleep, and poor sleep can have a negative impact on your mental health.
Below are some tips that can aid you in having a better night sleep.

17/05/2021

As a psychotherapist, i always recommend to my clients to spend more time in nature, to enjoy a walk in the park and connect with nature. And here is the reason why:
A growing body of research shows that time in nature is good for our mental health.
The evidence of positive effects from nature includes studies on specific psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety and mood disorder. Access to nature has also been found to improve sleep and reduce stress, increase happiness and reduce negative emotions, promote positive social interactions and even help generate a sense of meaning to life(NAMI,2021).
Being outdoors gives us energy, makes us happier, helps us to relieve the everyday stresses of our overscheduled lives, opens the door to creativity, and helps us to be kind to others (Kirsten Weir, 2020).