Oksana Kovalenko

Clontarf Therapy

My philosophy is based on a strong belief in clients’ potential for healing. I aim to help eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a client can function better and increase their well-being.

I use CBT to help clients gain different perspective. I believe CBT works well when used to manage mental health conditions and emotional concerns in short time over a limited number of sessions. The effectiveness of CBT in treating depression lies primarily in the ability to address thoughts that negatively impact the patient’s understanding of their world and situations. When these thoughts can be identified and corrected, it makes it easier for the behavioral aspect of the treatment to be effective. As more people seek effective treatment for their mental disorders, I am open to apply CBT as a primary mental health treatment mechanism in my sessions.

I also use mindfulness-based techniques with clients to build up awareness of the present moment. I find mindfulness effective with clients who experience depression or anxiety. It can be especially helpful with clients who have been trapped in reliving past problems or pre-living future worries. It’s easy to stop noticing the world around us and lose touch with the way our bodies are feeling. I believe that introducing mindfulness to clients helps them notice how thoughts are driving our emotions and behaviour which could help them deal with issues more productively.

I am a committed therapist that works at the pace of my client. I incorporate a style that focuses on understanding the underlying issues to problems with a view to provide supportive change. I use a range of approaches that enable the client to develop skills to suit their needs, and believe in a holistic, supportive and non-judgmental approach to my therapy. I am an open and approachable therapist.