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Counselling for the average Irish Man

Written By Dr Elaine Ryan.

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Published on

Dr Ryan is a psychologist with over 20 years of experience. She specialises in OCD and anxiety-related conditions and worked in the NHS in the UK before setting up a private practice in Dublin. Dr Ryan obtained her PsychD from The University of Surrey and is a Member of The British Psychological Society, The UK Society for Behavioural Medicine and EuroPsy registered.

If you’re a man wondering what it’s like to work with me ….
Read on
I am not a ‘touchy-feely’ psychologist, and I won’t be balancing your chakras any time soon.

Counselling for men

I am practical, and a problem solver; I won’t be a shoulder to cry on; I will work with you to help you solve problems and take a solution-focused approach to whatever is going on with you.
My training relies heavily on science.  I take an ‘evidence-based approach, which means I shall use methods that have been shown to do what it says on the tin.

Do I work with many men?

Lots.  In my practice, almost half of my clients are men.  Word must have gotten around about the chakra thing.

What can you talk to me about?

Anything.  I won’t be shocked or offended by anything you say.  Feel free to swear; I won’t collapse.  I shall give some examples of what men come to counselling for.
Stress and Anxiety – this is a big one.  The average guy says nothing and carries on, but you will feel it.
Depression – your mood can drop like anyone else’s, and we use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy1 to help pull it up.
Work-related problems – this can be having difficulty giving presentations, managing time, or any difficulties really.
Sex, sexuality and performance issues – worrying about it, difficulty getting or maintaining erections (there is usually a logical reason and steps to help with this.)
Confidence – just because you are a man doesn’t mean you don’t feel the knocks.
Anger – this is not management but getting at the root cause and calming everything down.

In a nutshell:
We find the problem, choose the tool to fix the problem, and we solve the problem.

Further resources that you might find useful.

This is an excellent site if you are interested in men’s counselling services, but in a completely different format menssheds.ie

Men’s Aid Ireland

  • Description: Men’s Aid Ireland provides confidential support and counselling services to men experiencing domestic abuse or relationship difficulties. They offer a helpline, one-on-one counselling, legal clinics, and support groups.
  • Services Include:
    • Helpline: Confidential listening and support.
    • Counselling: Professional counselling services.
    • Legal Support: Guidance on legal matters related to domestic issues.
    • Support Groups: Peer support opportunities.
  • Contact Information:

Men’s Development Network

  • Description: A national organization that works with men on various issues, including mental health, physical health, and personal development. They aim to engage men in addressing the root causes of personal and societal challenges.
  • Programs Offered:
    • Counselling and Psychotherapy: Individual support services.
    • Men’s Groups: Facilitated group sessions for shared experiences.
    • MEND Programme: Focused on ending domestic violence and promoting healthy relationships.
    • Training and Workshops: For personal development and professional upskilling.
  • Contact Information:
  1. Effectiveness of CBT Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review of Meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427–440. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3584580/ ↩︎