About Me

I am a qualified and accredited psychotherapist by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP). I work with adults and adolescents (16+) in Dublin, Ireland. I am specialised in anxiety, complex trauma, sexuality, and LGBTIQA+ issues. I also work with a variety of issues, including depression, grief and mourning, chronic illness (HIV), identity exploration, attachment issues, masculinity issues, identity exploration, existential concerns, among others.

My approach is integrative and is based on various traditions, such as Person-Centred Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, and Relational-Cultural Therapy. My approach is also deeply informed by principles of Social Justice, such as anti-racism, feminism, LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity affirmative approach. My style is gentle and supportive, allowing you to determine the pace of our work and what is most important to discuss. In my practice, I meet with clients at least once a week. Due to the nature of the work, it is important for clients to attend regularly.

I am keenly aware that engaging in therapy takes courage, and it’s not always easy to open to another. I approach each person who comes to see me with genuine interest, acceptance, warmth, and compassion, and provide a safe environment in which one’s authentic self can be nurtured and allowed to bloom.

I offer therapy in English and Portuguese, my native language.

Qualification:

BA (Hons.) Social Communication - Advertising and Marketing
Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Certificate in Mindfulness
BA (Hons.) Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy for Adolescents

Accreditation:

IACP - Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
WPATH - World Professional Association for Transgender Health

We offer three ways to provide a therapy session.

Appointments & Pricing.

Each session can last approx. 50-60 minutes on the session. In my practice, I meet
with clients at least once per week. Due to the nature of the work, it is important
that clients attend regularly.
The cost of a therapy session is €70 euros.
For those who are unemployed and/or students, I offer a reduced-cost service.
Psychotherapy Students who are completing personal therapy hours for training €60

Frequently Asked Questions.

What Kind of Problems Can I Get Help With?

You can get help with any kind of problem that is causing you emotional distress and lack of mental wellbeing. More recent difficulties or problems usually respond well to the shorter term process of counselling whereas older or more deep-seated anxieties and troubles can take time to resolve; in that case, psychotherapy or group therapy will be a more useful way of working.

How Do I Choose The Right Therapy For Me?

There are many kinds of psychotherapy and counselling models available and clients choose a therapy that they hope will be most beneficial to them. I usually welcome to avail of a one-off, no-charge 30-minute meeting where I can answer your questions and help you think about the various alternatives available to you.

How Do I Know Therapy Can Help Me?

There is often an immediate experience of relief during the first few sessions of counselling or therapy which comes out of being allowed to speak freely and openly about whatever is troubling you. As the process continues, it is the growing ability to makes necessary changes in your life and a growing understanding of what created the difficulties in the first place that makes the therapeutic process a helpful experience.

How Much Will Therapy Cost?

The cost of therapy is 70 euros per 50-minute session for individual therapy. However, discounts may apply for students or anyone who is unemployed.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

There really is no single answer to this as it will depend on what issues you are experiencing. During your first session you can discuss this with your counsellor or psychotherapist and you can either leave it open-ended or decide to fix on a number of sessions. Often it is agreed to work together for about 6 sessions and then review whether to continue further.

How Long Does A Session Last?

The length of a session varies slightly, but is between 50 and 60 minutes long, depending on the session.

How Often Will I Attend A Counsellor or Psychotherapist?

Generally speaking, sessions are held on a weekly basis. This allows the relationship between the therapist and client to develop better as the therapy is regular and consistent. The client can also get a faster and deeper understanding of their experiences. In some cases, they may take place on a fortnightly basis by agreement with your therapist.

Is There A Difference Between Counselling And Psychotherapy?

This causes a lot of confusion for clients and that is mainly because counselling and psychotherapy can often describe a similar experience. Broadly speaking, counselling is often used to describe where a client is working on a particular issue that is currently happening in their life and may be for a shorter period of time. Psychotherapy is often used to describe where clients work on issues that often relate to events that may originate in their past but are also affecting the person in their life now, and so can require deeper explorations. In reality, it is often hard to distinguish between the two approaches and all of our therapists are trained to work according to what the client needs and wants.

What Happens If I Need to Cancel a Session?

In the event of the need to cancel a session I require 48 hours’ notice. If you are unable to cancel with less than the agreed period of notice you will be asked to pay a cancellation fee for the missed session which will be agreed upon at your first session with your counsellor or psychotherapist.

Is My Counsellor or Psychotherapist Properly Qualified?

I have completed a full professional training and are associates or accredited members of the main professional associations, the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP).

Accreditations

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday: 9am – 9pm

Weekends & Public Holidays – Open when required

Contact Details

Phone:

+353 87 6042770

Email:

leo@leocruzcounselling.com

Location

106 Capel St,
Rotunda,
Dublin 1,
D01 WY40

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Latest Articles

Here is a selection of my latest articles relating to achieving greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, ownership, better relationships, and more control over your life. I will be updating these on a regular basis.

Grief & Complicated Grief

Grief can be an extremely painful process. It’s something all of us have experienced, or will experience, in our lives. Losing someone or something you love is difficult.