Confidential - Professional - Friendly -  Counselling For You 

'We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are.'

Welcome to Heart and Soul Counselling, my name is Colm McIlfatrick. Trained as an integrative counsellor, I combine several therapeutic models and techniques to suit your needs. To further develop my skills and knowledge, I am committed to undertaking continuous personal development through attending courses and engaging in online learning.

An accredited member of the National Counselling Society, I aim to work with you in a non-judgemental way, respecting your personal views and opinions. Together we will regularly review our work, to ensure you are getting what you need from the therapy.

I offer face-to-face, telephone and online appointments, where we will discuss your needs and work towards your goals in a fully confidential and sensitive manner.

Do you have low self-esteem? Are you feeling anxious, or experiencing low mood? Would you like to learn new ways of coping, helping you cultivate a positive outlook, achieve, and maintain better mental health?
Why not get in touch and start your journey towards better wellbeing today? There is no time like the present!

'A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step'

My journey towards becoming a counsellor began in 2012, even before I knew anything about counselling. My employer offered me the opportunity to train and qualify as a ‘Workplace Mediator’. Little did I know the impact this would have, leading to developing new skills, and opportunities that would later prove invaluable in my counselling practice.

I progressed on to volunteer with the Samaritans, there I met many volunteers, some of which were either trainee or qualified counsellors. It was suggested to me I might have the qualities to become a counsellor! This is something I would never have dreamed of; returning to education after so many years seemed daunting. Old anxieties resurfaced: ‘am I good enough?’ ‘will I have time to work and study?’ ‘can I afford it?’ ‘at the age of 51 am I too old?’ After a lot of thought and consideration, I decided to take the first step, enrolling on the ‘Level 4 Certificate in Counselling Studies’.

From there I progressed to study ‘The Foundation Degree in counselling’. This journey was only possible with support from my family, friends, fellow students, tutors, other counsellors, work colleagues and my employer; I will be forever grateful for all their support.

It took many steps to eventually qualify as a counsellor; however, had I failed to take the initial step, and given into my doubts, I would not have embarked on a life-changing journey.
Not every step towards change in life must be massive, we can make improvements in our lives with small alterations to our thoughts and perceptions. This is where counselling can be beneficial, I hope to help you on your journey towards peace of mind and better mental health.

From my personal experience, it is clear, not every counsellor client relationship will be a perfect match. If we find my skills do not match your needs, I will signpost you to another counsellor or agency to get the help you need.