Susi Lodola Counselling

29/11/2025

🌟Professional Certificate in Integrative Psychotherapy for Adolescents🌟

Many therapists want to support adolescents but often feel unsure about how to adapt their existing skills — especially around parental involvement, legal and ethical responsibilities, boundaries, and translating their therapeutic approach into work with young people.

The Professional Certificate in Integrative Psychotherapy for Adolescents was created with exactly that in mind. This IACP-approved course offers a clear, supportive framework to help therapists feel confident and well-prepared when working with adolescents and their families, while staying fully aligned with IACP guidelines for under-18s and the highest ethical standards.

Grounded in developmental theory and the latest research, the training brings together perspectives from psychotherapy, psychology, neurodiversity, and legal practice.
As a lecturer, supervisor and psychotherapist with formal studies in Psychology and Psychotherapy, I designed this course to bridge academic knowledge with real clinical application. The feedback has been incredible — many therapists describe it as the most practical and confidence-building CPD they’ve completed.

There are three intakes scheduled for 2026 and the February intake is already nearly full. If you miss the place in February you can join in either August or October intakes.
You can secure your place with a deposit now, and the next payment isn’t due until the end of January.

Bookings can be done through my website, the events page on IACP website or through my link in bio, or simply send me a message and I will send you the booking link.

26/11/2025

With so many CPD courses available, it can be hard to know which ones will genuinely support your work. Most therapists I meet want the same thing: to make their CPD hours count, learn approaches they can actually use, and feel more confident offering a wider range of support to clients.

The heart of my training approach is simple — everything I teach is practical, applicable, and grounded in what we know works. I look closely at the research and only teach approaches that are backed by robust empirical evidence. You won’t find anything speculative or trendy for the sake of it. My aim is that you leave each course with clear tools, solid frameworks, and a deeper understanding of why these interventions help clients.

We focus on what actually happens in the therapy room — those moments where you’re listening, noticing patterns, and deciding what to do next. Whether you're working with adolescents, emotional eating, or integrating CBT into your practice, the goal is for the learning to feel usable and relevant straight away.

The 2026 IACP approved CPD courses are now live for booking on my website.
See also the link in my Insta bio linktree

25/11/2025

I spent a few days in Vienna visiting family, and finally made it to the Viktor Frankl Museum. Even though it’s the city I grew up in, there are still places I’ve never seen, and this one was well worth it. It’s small but incredibly moving, especially the way Frankl explained our need for meaning in the everyday choices we make.

I also took in a bit of the culture I miss — a trip to the opera, a proper Viennese hot chocolate, the Christmas markets, and a wander through some of the city’s museums. It reminded me how much those experiences shaped me.

Frankl’s ideas still feel very present in the work I do. So many people I meet are trying to make sense of what they’re going through, and his focus on meaning and how we choose to respond continues to guide my practice.

If you’re ever in Vienna, it’s well worth a visit.

18/11/2025

This week I’m back with the Department of Education delivering the four-day training for Education Wellbeing Practitioners who’ll be working one-to-one with children in primary schools.

A big part of the training is helping practitioners learn how to build rapport with a child in a way that feels natural and safe. We look at very simple, human ways of connecting — things like really listening, being genuinely interested in the child’s world, matching their pace, and creating a space where they don’t feel judged or rushed. These are the foundations of what, in therapy, we call a “person-centred” approach, but in practice it simply means showing warmth, respect, and patience so the child feels understood.

Throughout the week, we’re also exploring how to help children talk about their feelings, how to use play and creative activities to make difficult topics easier to express, and how thoughts, feelings, body sensations and behaviours all link together. Practitioners are practising how to gently challenge unhelpful thoughts, introduce more balanced thinking, and plan small behavioural steps that help children feel braver and more capable.

It’s lovely to see the group growing in confidence with the skills they’ll bring back to their schools. These early interventions can make such a difference, and it’s a privilege to support the next wave of Education Wellbeing Practitioners as they begin this important work.

16/11/2025

The next Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy starts on 6th February.
You can secure your place with a deposit now, with the next payment due on 28th January.

This is one of the most comprehensive programmes available, designed to prepare you to work confidently and safely with adolescents. The course covers adolescent development, legal and ethical considerations, working with parents, and a wide range of clinical approaches. You’ll also learn from guest speakers with extensive experience across child and adolescent mental health. Places are filling quickly, so early booking is recommended.

13/11/2025

If you haven't been able to sign up for one of the 2025 courses, here are the dates for 2026.
There will be one on Fridays in february, one on Saturdays in August and one on Mondays in October.
I have scheduled the course to suit the various work schedules and availabilities you might have.

The february course is filling up fast and there are only a few places left.

You can book through my website, see link below in comments.

11/11/2025

The feedback from the Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy has started to come in, and it’s lovely to see how much the course has meant to those who took part. Here is just a small snapshot of it.

A big thank you to everyone who joined me for the 2025 programmes — I have been privileged to work with such fantastic groups.

The 2026 course dates are now live on my website for anyone thinking about next year’s training.

09/11/2025

This weekend wrapped up the third Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy this year and I’m so pleased to have had the opportunity to train so many therapists who are dedicated to supporting teenagers with their mental health.

Each course this year has been fully booked, and I’m truly thankful to everyone who’s taken part. The openness, curiosity, and willingness to share made each weekend lively and full of meaningful learning.

The training has built a strong reputation for being both comprehensive and down-to-earth, with a real focus on what works in practice. It’s been lovely to see therapists leave feeling more confident and equipped to support young people in therapy.

A huge thank you also to our three brilliant guest lecturers, all of whom will be part of next year’s programme:

🌿 **Dr Malie Coyne** – Chartered Clinical Psychologist and bestselling author of *Love In, Love Out*. Malie is the Psychological Lead and Co-Author of the *A Lust for Life* Primary Schools Programme, sits on their Advisory Panel,

🌿 **Orlaigh Byrne MSc** Master’s in Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy, along with Postgraduate Diplomas in Special Educational Needs and Autism. With over 20 years’ experience as a Post-Primary teacher, Orlaigh has worked extensively with neurodivergent young people and their families and facilitates autism classes in secondary schools.

🌿 **Clodagh Ní Ghallachóir MSc** – Counsellor, psychotherapist, and organisational psychologist with a Postgraduate Diploma in Family Law. Clodagh delivered an engaging session on the legal and ethical aspects of working with adolescents, covering boundaries, contracting, and confidentiality — sparking lively and valuable discussions.

✅The Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy is aligned with IACP (Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) requirements for working with clients under 18 and qualifies for 30 CPD hours.

✅The next course begins in February and places are already nearly full. To find out more please get in touch info@susilodolacounselling.com

31/10/2025

31/10/2025

Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy

✅This IACP approved 30 CPD hours course offers comprehensive, practice-focused training aligned with the IACP’s standards for working with clients under 18.

✅You’ll gain clear understanding of adolescent development, learning how to match your therapeutic approach to each stage and how to work collaboratively with parents, schools, and families.

✅The training integrates creative interventions, Compassion Focused Therapy, and CBT-informed approaches, with a strong emphasis on ethical and legal practice. Guest lecturers from clinical psychology, law, and neurodiversity bring specialist expertise on working with neurodivergent adolescents, consent and confidentiality, and involving parents in therapy.

✅Participants receive comprehensive learning materials, case-based teaching, and a clear, adaptable framework for structuring therapy with adolescents.

Here’s what past participants have said:

⭐️“This was by far the best CPD course I’ve done. The calibre of lecturers and quality of materials far exceeded my expectations.” – Jennifer Flynn, Psychotherapist

⭐️“It’s given me such a boost in confidence when working with adolescents. The course was packed with practical tools I’ve already started using.” – Jen Conefrey, Psychotherapist

⭐️“Incredibly enriching and empowering from start to finish… I now feel much more prepared and attuned to the developmental stage of adolescents.” – Emaior Hartnett, Psychotherapist

⚠️ The February 2026 course is already filling up — early booking is recommended.

Read full reviews and course details on my website.
https://susilodolacounselling.com/product/professional-certificate-in-adolescent-psychotherapy-feb-2026-30-cpd/

26/10/2025

🧠 Why we need to talk more about early intervention in young people’s mental health

As therapists we often meet young people when their struggles have already become deeply embedded. But research shows that mental health difficulties often begin much earlier than we realise — sometimes as young as five years of age.

A global meta-analysis of over 700,000 people (Solmi et al., 2022) found that:
🌱 One in three develop symptoms before age 14
🌿 Almost half before 18
🌼 Nearly two-thirds before 25

This means that many lifelong mental health challenges start long before adulthood, during years when the brain is still developing the systems responsible for emotion, thinking, and social understanding.

A 2023 paper by Uhlhaas and colleagues explains why this happens. During childhood and adolescence, the brain goes through “sensitive periods” — windows of rapid growth and reorganisation when experiences shape neural circuits that support emotion regulation, identity, and stress management.

These same periods that make young people more vulnerable also make them more responsive to help. That’s why early intervention matters so much. When we offer understanding, therapy, and support early on, we’re not just reducing distress — we’re working with the brain’s natural capacity to adapt and recover.

This idea is central to my Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy.
We explore how early onset links to brain development and why timing matters. We look at developmental theories from Vygotsky and Piaget, and draw on philosophical perspectives like constructivism, existentialism, and neuroconstructivism to understand how young people make sense of their world and form identity.

🩵 When we recognise the signs early, understand how the brain develops, and offer the right kind of support, we have a real chance to change the course of a young person’s life.

Most mental health difficulties begin early — sometimes even before school age — but with timely understanding and intervention, their course can be changed.

13/10/2025

Places are filling already for 2026.
Have you any questions about the course?