A Therapist’s Comeback Story

I am asking for donations to raise enough funds to help me start an online psychological private practice in Ireland. 

I am so aware that at this time things are hard for just about  everyone. It’s an incredibly stressful and uncertain time. And I imagine more people than ever are needing help. It’s in this environment I recognise I am joining my voice in asking for help. My intention is to, in turn,  be able to help people in need of psychotherapy.


My story: I trained to be a psychologist. It is my passion;I truly believe my calling. But while I was finishing my training I was in a life altering car accident. At first, it seemed a relatively minor accident- my car was totalled but everyone involved seemed to walk away unscathed. Turned out my L5S1 disc was badly damaged and I was left with increasingly debilitating pain. I had a surgery to replace the disc but instead of getting better I got worse. Much worse. I struggled to finish my schooling and my work experience.  And while I did finish getting my degree, I had to take a medical leave two months before finishing my post doctoral training year. It was only because of both the amazing director and my  equally amazing personal supervisor that I made it that far at all. But I had pushed my body as far as I could and it quit on me. Though still able to walk,  I was in so much agony it’s not an exaggeration to say I was almost completely bed bound for about two years after taking my medical leave. That was back in 2014.


It has taken me all this time to feel I might finally be able to return to work. I have encountered so many obstacles, being denied disability over a four year period  in the US because of my age and my educational level, lack of access to appropriate medical providers, losing my stepfather, who along with my mother, financially supported me when I lived with them, moving back to home to Ireland, where I have received disability allowance which allows me to live, but unable to raise enough money to start working, and struggling to get back physically to a place where I can work a few hours a week.   Enough that I can offer my skills,  expertise, and empathy but not enough to work in any environment but my own very part time practice. 


I am now ready. I have taken steps. I have investigated what I need to do and what it will take to do it.


I have taken the first step.  I am now a graduate member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (and an afflitated member of the American Psychological Association)

The next steps I would take but are all financial barriers.


Second, I must have my degree validated by the Minister of Health.


Third, I must become a chartered member for the Psychological Society of Ireland to be recognised as a psychologist (and all the benefits that this offers me).


Fourth, take  a course on the legal aspects of working in Ireland as I am accustomed to the US laws around paperwork and consent.


The final steps are directly related to the development of the practice itself.
1) A website.
2) Liability insurance
3) Startup technical  equipment. 
*because I am doing therapy online I don’t have the costs of rent and furniture and the like.
4) miscellaneous business expenses, such as legal consent paperwork


It is for all these things that I am asking for financial help. I am grateful for anything you can offer, even if it’s just passing this along to others you know, it will make such a difference.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this.