Susi Lodola Counselling

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/

26/08/2025

✨ ENROLMENT NOW OPEN FOR 2026 ✨
If you’re starting to think about your CPD hours for next year, the full programme of trainings is now live.

In 2026 I’ll be running:
• Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy (three intakes in 2026)
• Professional Certificate in CBT & Motivational Interviewing
• Training on Treating Bulimia, Binge Eating & Body Image Distress

All courses are IACP-approved for CPD hours.
You’ll find all the dates on my website.

Please feel free to share with anyone who might be interested. Thanks!

https://susilodolacounselling.com/professional-training/

21/08/2025

It’s that time of year again when many households are preparing for the start of the new school term.

The move to secondary school is one of the biggest challenges for young people. They have to adjust to new teachers, different surroundings, and navigate new peer groups. The Growing Up in Ireland report found that at least a fifth of young people transitioning from primary to secondary reported feeling anxious. Girls, in particular, were more likely to experience heightened anxiety and a dip in self-confidence as learners.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀, 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:
* Excessive worry, irritability, difficulty concentrating
* Sleep problems or loss of appetite
* Withdrawal from friends and family
* Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach pain or nausea

Avoidance may start small – complaining of feeling unwell in the mornings – but if left unaddressed, it can quickly escalate to refusal to attend school. Over time, this can impact learning, friendships, and a child’s confidence.

It’s understandable that parents might allow their child to stay home from school to give them relief from the anxiety. In the short term, this seems to work — the child feels calmer, and the morning struggle is avoided. But in the long term, staying at home actually reinforces the anxiety. Each day at home confirms the child’s belief that school is too difficult or frightening to face. The longer they are away, the more their anxiety grows, and the harder it becomes to return. A gradual, supported re-entry to school helps break this cycle, showing the child that they can cope and that the anxiety will lessen with practice.

Children often imagine worst-case scenarios: “No one will talk to me”, “I’ll get lost”, “Everyone will think I’m strange”. This kind of unhelpful thinking, known as catastrophising or mindreading, fuels the body’s fear response and makes the anxiety feel very real.

The key is not to dismiss these worries with “don’t worry, you’ll be fine”, but to explore them together. Ask your child what their inner voice is saying, write it down, and gently challenge it with evidence from their own past experiences. For example: “Remember when you started summer camp not knowing anyone – how did you manage to make friends then?”

School avoidance is not about being “difficult” – it’s a signal that something feels unmanageable right now.
As schools reopen in the coming days, it’s worth keeping in mind that behind every anxious morning or tummy ache may be a child saying, “I’m struggling – I need some help.”

13/08/2025

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 ✨
Next week the next 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗣𝗦𝗬𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗬 will be starting.

Let me introduce you to the experts who will be sharing their experience and knowledge with you on the course:

𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗶 𝗟𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗮 MSc– Alongside my private practice working with adults and adolescents, I also provide clinical supervision, lecture at third level, and deliver training both in workplaces and within the Department of Education. My focus is on equipping you with strategies you can put into practice straight away with teens – not just theory.

𝗗𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘆𝗻𝗲 – Chartered Clinical Psychologist and bestselling author of Love In, Love Out. Malie is Psychological Lead and Co-Author on the A Lust for Life Primary Schools Programme, which reaches one-third of primary schools in Ireland, and she is now working on the Secondary Schools Programme. She will guide you through Compassion Focused Therapy for teens – showing you exactly how to apply it in real-life situations – and share insights from her extensive work in schools, with families, and in advocating for adolescent mental health.

𝗢𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗕𝘆𝗿𝗻𝗲 MSc – With nearly 20 years in post-primary education as SENCO and Coordinator of Autism Classes, Orlaigh will help you truly understand neurodivergence in adolescents – and give you tools for supporting neurodivergent young people in your therapy room.

𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗱𝗮𝗴𝗵 𝗡𝗶 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗿 MSc – Counsellor, psychotherapist, and organisational psychologist who holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Family Law from the Law Society of Ireland. She will take you through the legal and ethical aspects of working with adolescents – what you must know to protect both yourself and the young person you’re supporting.

One course starts next week, another in October. I’ve just finalised the 2026 course dates, and I’m really looking forward to sharing them with you very soon – the first Professional Certificate in Adolescent Psychotherapy of 2026 begins on 6th February, with a further two scheduled across the year.

And because of the strong feedback you’ve given me about what training you’d love to see next, I’ve created a brand-new course on 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗮, 𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀.
This has been requested so often, and I’m delighted to say bookings will be opening very soon.

09/08/2025

The joy of culture and community
I spent the day at the Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford, surrounded by music, dancing, and the spirit of the people who make it so special.
Every street corner was alive — fiddles, flutes, bodhráns, and the sound of feet tapping out rhythms handed down through generations.
The energy was infectious, and the sense of togetherness was everywhere you turned. It’s a beautiful reminder of how culture and community can lift us, connect us, and fill the air with something that feels truly positive.
Wexford was singing and dancing all week — and it was impossible not to be part of it. 🎶🇮🇪
Fleadh Cheoil

07/08/2025

I’m in the middle of planning next year’s clinical CPD training schedule, and I’m really pleased to say that both the professional certificate in adolescent psychotherapy and the professional certificate in CBT will be back in 2026.

Both courses were fully booked this year, and I’ve had so many messages from past students and colleagues asking if they’ll be running again. It’s been lovely to see how much they’ve resonated with people, and it’s clear there’s a real need for training that’s practical, research-informed, and grounded in everyday clinical work.

Through my work as a therapist, lecturer, and course creator, I’ve had the chance to work alongside so many dedicated professionals—and those conversations really do shape the courses I design. My aim is always to make training that’s not only based on evidence, but that actually works in the therapy room. Tools and ideas that feel relevant, that build confidence, and that genuinely support the work we do with clients, rooted in empirical research.

Alongside the returning certificates, I’m developing a few new courses too—focused on areas where I know many therapists are looking for more support, structure, or clarity. I’ll be sharing more on those in the coming weeks.

For now, I’m taking a bit of a breather—walking by the sea, letting ideas settle, and giving space for what’s next . Thank you to everyone who’s trained with me this year so far and who has booked on my upcoming courses this autumn—your feedback and engagement continue to shape what’s next.

01/08/2025

I’d like to share an article I wrote for the Irish Journal of Psychotherapy that shines a light on something many women experience but rarely speak about—how body image struggles in midlife and later life can have a deep impact on mental health.

We often hear about body image and disordered eating in the context of teenagers or younger women, but these issues don’t simply disappear with age. In fact, for many women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, worries about weight, shape, and appearance can quietly continue—and sometimes grow stronger.

These concerns can affect so much more than how someone feels in their body. They can influence mood, self-esteem, anxiety levels, relationships, and even whether someone feels confident enough to go out, speak up, or enjoy daily life. Many women live with this quietly, feeling like they should just “get on with it,” or that it’s too late to change how they feel.

Often, these struggles don’t come up right away in therapy. They sit in the background—behind low mood, stress, or anxiety—until there’s enough trust to talk about them.

This article is for anyone who’s ever felt uncomfortable in their own skin, who’s carried shame or self-criticism, or who’s wondered why they still feel this way after all these years. You’re not alone—and there is space for these conversations.

Here is the link to the article
https://tr.ee/q1YQYEHhSv

Link in bio