Susi Lodola Counselling

07/10/2025

I’m delighted to share a small change that represents a big part of what I do.
My practice is now called Susi Lodola - Centre for Psychotherapy, Training & Supervision — reflecting the work I do with clients, the professional training I deliver, and the supervision I provide to fellow practitioners.
You can learn more about the training and read participant feedback on my website.
https://susilodolacounselling.com/why-train-with-us/

05/10/2025

Providing high-quality, evidence-based training is something I take great care in. Each course is designed to meet the highest professional and ethical standards, combining theory with clear, clinically relevant application. My aim is always that participants leave feeling confident in how to bring what they’ve learned into their day-to-day work with clients. I’ve included a few snippets of feedback from past participants below, which speak to the focus on clinical excellence and meaningful professional growth.

I’m also fortunate to collaborate with guest lecturers who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the training. Their expertise adds real depth and breadth, offering perspectives that greatly enrich the overall learning experience. They are an invaluable part of ensuring each programme maintains the highest professional standards.

At the “Susi Lodola Centre for Psychotherapy, Training & Supervision”, the focus is always on promoting ethical, evidence-based, and clinically excellent practice. It’s a privilege to support professionals who share that same commitment to growth and quality care.
Thank you to everyone who continues to choose my courses as part of their professional journey.

04/10/2025

It’s been a busy week with client sessions and supervision, and I finished it off with two days of teaching – certificate in CBT on Friday and certificate in Adolescent psychotherapy on Saturday.
Tired but really happy. I love supporting professionals as they build their knowledge and confidence, and the discussions we have always remind me why I enjoy this work so much. Thank you to everyone who I worked with this week🌿

24/09/2025

Today I had the privilege of running a workshop with a group of educational psychologists, exploring how children can share their stories through symbols and art.

For many children, putting feelings into words can be difficult. Creative approaches like drawing or using symbols can provide a safe and gentle way for them to show what’s really going on inside.

When words feel too big, creativity can give them a voice.

20/09/2025

The demand for therapy for teenagers has never been higher. With long waiting lists across services, it’s encouraging to see so many therapists investing in upskilling so they can support young people with the challenges they face in their day-to-day lives.

Just a week ago, I finished teaching the second Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy this year. The course is designed to be evidence-informed, practical, and enriching—giving therapists the knowledge and skill to work with teens.

I’ve been given permission to share feedback from some of the course participants. A huge thank you to everyone who took part and thank you for your generous feedback.

14/09/2025

I wrapped up teaching the Professional Certificate in Adolescent Therapy this weekend. What a fantastic group of therapists — curious, reflective, and so generous in discussion. I really enjoyed the energy and participation over the past few weeks.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Malie Coyne - Clinical Psychologist, Orlaigh Byrne, and Clodagh Ní Ghallachóir for their expert inputs — your practical wisdom and experience added real depth to the learning.

I’m taking a little breather, out in the polytunnel with my vegetables 🌱 — a few hours to reset before the next round.

The next Adolescent Therapy course starts 4 October and is fully booked — that will be the third adolescent cohort this year. I’ll run three courses again next year and look forward to welcoming Malie, Orlaigh, and Clodagh back to share their experience once more.

It’s been a wonderful experience — thank you to everyone who took part.

Dates for next years courses are on my website and are open for enrolment.

10/09/2025

WORLD SU***DE PREVENTION DAY
Every year in Ireland, the number of lives lost to su***de is the equivalent of a full plane crashing. If a plane went down every year in Ireland, it would dominate the headlines and spark a national response. Yet when it comes to su***de, the numbers often pass quietly, with little public attention.

As psychotherapists, we are often the first point of contact for people in deep distress. Suicidal thoughts are not always spoken about openly in the therapy room, which is why it is part of our responsibility to notice what may be unspoken. Mental health assessments taken at or before the initial session can be a vital step in understanding risk. Beyond that, it is about listening carefully, observing changes in mood or engagement, and creating an atmosphere of trust where it feels possible to share the most difficult thoughts.

On World Su***de Prevention Day, let’s remember that behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a community. And let’s reflect on how each of us, in our practice, can make space for conversations that may save a life.
hashtag ***depreventionday
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06/09/2025

🌟 Week 3 of the Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy 🌟

Working with adolescents can bring up so many questions.
🌟How do we approach neurodiversity in a way that honours difference?
🌟How do we handle the tricky areas of consent, confidentiality, and mandatory reporting?
🌟And how do we really connect when a young person struggles to put their world into words?

This week, Orlaigh Byrne helped us look at neurodiversity through a neuro-affirmative lens, showing how small shifts in perspective can make a big difference to how young people experience therapy. We explored Autism, ADHD and AuDHD, highlighting how these shape the lived experience of neurodivergent adolescents.

Clodagh Ní Ghallachóir gave us clear guidance on the legal and ethical frameworks that support safe work with minors, making complex areas like contracting and consent much easier to navigate.

We also spent time with creative approaches, exploring projective techniques that give adolescents a safe way to share what’s going on for them. To bring some colour and creativity into the day, participants explored projective techniques — including drawing themselves as a fruit tree. This simple exercise turned out to be such a meaningful way of reflecting on identity, strengths, and growth.

I loved seeing the group engage with the material and with each other, linking today’s learning back to the challenges they face in their own practice.

All of this is firmly aligned with IACP standards for safe and effective practice with minors.

📸 A few glimpses from today’s work

02/09/2025

Last week, we were delighted to have Dr. Malie Coyne guest lecture on Compassion Focused Therapy with Adolescents.
This week, I’m looking forward to welcoming two more excellent guest lecturers:
✨ Orlaigh Byrne will present on Neurodiversity in Therapy, exploring Autism, ADHD and AuDHD, the barriers neurodivergent young people face in accessing therapy, and how therapists can create a more inclusive and supportive space. Some of the topics that will be explored:
• How neurodivergence shapes the adolescent experience
• Why neurodivergent people face barriers to therapy
• The role of identity, communication, and acceptance
• The Double Empathy Theory (Milton, 2012)
• Masking and Unmasking
• Applying the SPACE Framework (Doherty, 2023) in practice

✨ Clodagh Ní Ghallachóir will cover Legal Considerations When Working with People Under 18, including legislation, consent, confidentiality, and mandatory reporting — essential knowledge for safe and ethical practice. Some of the topics that will be explored:
• Guardianship, custody and access
• Contracting with young people and information sharing
• Confidentiality and limits under the Mental Health Act (2018)
• Mandatory reporting and disclosure, including recent case law
• Consent in different contexts and relevant legislation
• Practical steps when making a report
✅ The Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy is IACP-approved for CPD hours and fully aligned with IACP standards for practice with minors, ensuring practitioners are equipped to work confidently and competently with young people.

31/08/2025

It was such a privilege to welcome Dr. Malie Coyne - Clinical Psychologist as a guest lecturer on the Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy - CPD approved by the IACP - Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

During this weekends second lecture of the certificate, Malie brought a wealth of knowledge and practical insight, drawing on her experience in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and her compassionate approach to working with young people. She explored the teenage brain – what makes it both tricky and amazing – and offered such valuable tools for helping adolescents manage challenges like social comparison, heightened peer awareness, and the impact of the threat system.

Her teaching on resilience and emotional regulation really stood out, particularly the safe chain of resilience and the balance between the drive, threat, and soothing systems. These are ideas that therapists can apply straight away in their work, making a real difference for young people.
It’s always a pleasure to have Malie join us – her compassion and clarity bring these important topics to life.

We also explored case formulation as a way of bringing together the many threads of a child’s experience – looking not only at the difficulties they present with, but also at their history, context, and strengths. Participants worked with a case study to practise intake, formulation, and planning next steps, always keeping in mind developmental stage and cultural background, which shape how a young person understands themselves and the world around them.

This week gave participants the chance to reflect not just on models and techniques, but on how to build a therapeutic space that is safe, compassionate, and responsive to the unique needs of each adolescent.
The next PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE IN ADOLESCENCE PSYCHOTHERAPY will start on 4th October.

31/08/2025

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE IN CBT - STARTING 19TH SEP

Who is this course for?
✅Counsellors and Psychotherapists who want to integrate CBT into their work, even if they primarily use another approach.

✅Guidance counsellors who support students with anxiety, stress, or low mood and want practical CBT tools to use in schools or colleges.

✅Coaches who work with clients on motivation, habits, and behavioural change, and would like evidence-based strategies to deepen their practice.

✅Medical professionals (GPs, nurses, allied health professionals) who meet patients struggling with mental health and want clear frameworks to support them in brief consultations.

✅Mental health practitioners who feel less confident with CBT and would like structured, step-by-step methods they can use right away.

✅Youth workers, social workers, and community workers who want accessible, practical techniques to support the people they work with.

✅Professionals trained in other modalities who are curious about how CBT can be adapted to different presenting issues.

✅Anyone in a helping profession who wants to better understand the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
To find out more please follow the booking link below

CBT for the Pluralistic/Integrative therapist – IACP approved for 30 CPD hours Dates: 2025 Fri 19 Sep 2025 9.30am – 4.30pm Fri 26 Sep 2025 9.30am – 4.30pm Fri 03 Oct 2025 9.30am – 4.30pm Fri 10 Oct 2025 9.30am – 4.30pm Fri 24 Oct 2025 9.30am – 4.30pm Cost: € 680 Live online interactive...

28/08/2025

New course for 2026: Treating Bulimia, Binge Eating, and Body Image Distress

Bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and body image concerns are complex presentations that can have a significant impact on a person’s physical and emotional health. They often occur alongside other challenges such as anxiety, depression, or trauma, and can be difficult to detect because of secrecy, shame, and the misconceptions that surround eating disorders.

This two-day course provides an introduction to recognising, assessing, and working with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and related body image concerns. Drawing on evidence-based frameworks, including cognitive behavioural approaches, interpersonal models, and trauma-informed principles, we will explore the factors that maintain these difficulties and the ways therapy can address them.

Through research-based content, case discussion, and reflective learning, participants will develop skills in engaging clients in treatment, exploring the role of body image, integrating a trauma-sensitive stance, and planning for relapse prevention. The course also emphasises ethical and professional practice, scope of competence, and the importance of integrating interventions into a client’s broader support network when appropriate.

Many practitioners wonder if they can safely work with clients who present with bulimia, binge eating, or body image distress. This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and practical tools to feel more confident in your work, within your scope of practice and with supervision. You will also leave with a clear understanding of red flags and referral pathways, so you know when and how to involve specialist services.

This training is suitable for professionals working in mental health, physical health, or community settings, and provides practical, clinically relevant knowledge that can be applied directly in practice.

https://susilodolacounselling.com/product/treating-bulimia-binge-eating-body-image-distress-15-cpd/