Dervla Shannahan

My approach:

Starting therapy can evoke many different feelings and sometimes takes a lot of courage. I wanted to start by acknowledging that, and commend you on being here. If you feel like my approach may resonate with you, feel free to get in touch for an initial consultation.
I have always been fascinated by the human capacity to grow, change and heal. My background is in psychodynamic psychotherapy. This approach reflects on how the past shapes your present, and can allow you to become much clearer on the future that you want to live. It can also provide a safe space to process and manage whatever you are dealing with in your daily life, and offers you the chance to understand yourself, and your experiences, better.

My expertise:

I have successfully treated clients dealing with numerous challenges and issues, and am qualified to work with adults 18+. I am skilled at helping clients process their childhood experiences and understand how these might be shaping their present life.
My areas of expertise are relationship difficulties, family issues and big life changes. My understanding of family and relationships is very inclusive, and I have successfully worked with people navigating pregnancy, post-natal times, fertility treatments, adoption, parenting challenges and co-parenting. I have also worked with many queer folk building and navigating their own families in different contexts, so am very confident in this area.
In recent years I have supported many neurodiverse clients as they navigate late discovery and diagnosis, and am equipped to support clients processing other diagnoses too. If you need support with something not listed here, please feel free to get in touch and find out if I can help.
Over the years I have worked with clients from many different cultural backgrounds. My clinical approach is culturally-aware, neuro-inclusive and queer-affirming. I am experienced working across time zones and can accommodate clients internationally.

My qualifications:

I qualified a decade ago and am registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council and Severnside Institute of Psychotherapy (Bristol). Additionally I hold a PhD in ethnography from Goldsmiths University of London. My doctorate studies explored how groups make meaning collectively, a training which really enhances my clinical work. I am currently completing an MA in Applied Neuroscience at King's College London, in the hope of bringing neuroscience insights into my therapeutic practice.

Practicalities:

I currently have availability for new clients and offer online and in person sessions (Clifton, Bristol). I offer once or twice weekly sessions, on a short-term or longer-term basis, depending on what you need.
My practice is queer-affirming, culturally-aware and neuro-inclusive. I am experienced working across time zones and accept clients globally. Before committing to a treatment plan, I always recommend starting with an initial consultation to see how working together resonates.

Feel free to explore my website to learn more about my practice.