About Me
Eileen likes to meet clients where they are at in a non-judgemental and real way. She provides a safe space to work together towards an area in the client's life they have identified as needing support and want to work together towards greater self-understanding, awareness and change. She uses an integrative approach to therapy, including:
Contemporary Loss and Bereavement Theories - Dual-Process Model, Meaning-Making and Continued Bonds.
Person-Centred Therapy
Internal Family Systems
Trauma-informed Therapy
Attachment Theory
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
to inform her presence.
She adapts the style that best suits an individual needs. Eileen is passionate about her work, and her genuine warm style provides a supportive environment so clients can explore and uncover blocks that may affect their overall well-being and facilitate better-coping strategies to live fa fuller life
Eileen has gained valuable experience working in Pieta as a Bereavement Coordinator and Psychotherapist working with clients in suicidal crisis, engaging in self-harm and/or having been bereaved by suicide. She is particularly interested in bereavement and loss, traumatic loss, and prolonged and complicated grief. She deals with clients experiencing loss, grief, and bereavement due to death, infant loss, divorce, separation, break-ups, loss of a partner, illness, job and role loss, ageing retirement etc. She works with traumatic loss, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other challenges life can throw at us. Sometimes, people come into therapy to figure it out and wish to avoid overburdening their family and friends.
For clients struggling to come to terms with loss after bereavement, some notice that reducing their feelings of grief over time does not happen. Essentially, their grief becomes stuck, leaving them with disabling and persistent symptoms that do not improve. Strong feelings of yearning and distress persist, often coupled with anger, guilt, bitterness, and an inability to re-engage with their life. This phenomenon is called Prolonged Grief. It is now recognised as a diagnosable disorder and can be diagnosed following a thorough clinical assessment as early as six months post-bereavement. Eileen works with an evidence-based treatment called Prolonged Grief Therapy.
Experience
Psychotherapy for 10+ years
Eileen McDonald provides specialist therapy for bereavement, traumatic loss and prolonged/complicated grief. I am an accredited and experienced psychotherapist. I have subsequently completed training in trauma and more recently completed a master's in bereavement and loss with the Irish Hospice Foundation.
Psychotherapist, Connect Counselling, 2023 - present, Helpline and Counselling for adult survivors of childhood abuse.
Psychotherapist Pieta, Cork 2020 - 2023 - Provide professional and compassionate therapeutic support to individuals who are in suicidal or self-harm crisis, and those bereaved by suicide.
Bereavement Co-ordinator, Pieta, Cork 2017 - 2020 - Coordinated and delivered therapeutic services to adults, adolescents and children bereaved by suicide.
Psychotherapist, Counselling Connects, Private Practice - 2020
Provide face-to-face and online counselling and psychotherapy to adults who present with a wide range of issues.
Psychotherapist - Youghal Community Health Project/ Cobh Family Resource Centre (2013-2017)
Approach
Eileen likes to meet clients where they are at in a non-judgemental and real way. She provides a safe space to work together towards an area in the client's life they have identified as needing support and want to work together towards greater self-understanding, awareness and change. She uses an integrative approach to therapy, including:
Contemporary Loss and Bereavement Theories - Dual-Process Model, Meaning-Making and Continued Bonds.
Person-Centred Therapy
Internal Family Systems
Trauma-informed Therapy
Attachment Theory
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
These theories inform her presence. She is primarily client-centred and meets clients where they are at in their lives in an attuned, compassionate and client-led way.
She adapts the style that best suits an individual needs. Eileen is passionate about her work, and her genuine warm style provides a supportive environment so clients can explore and uncover blocks that may affect their overall well-being and facilitate active coping strategies to live life fully.
Eileen has gained valuable experience working in Pieta as a Bereavement Coordinator and Psychotherapist working with clients in suicidal crisis, engaging in self-harm and/or having been bereaved by suicide. She is particularly interested in bereavement and loss, traumatic loss, and prolonged and complicated grief. She deals with clients experiencing loss, grief, and bereavement due to death, infant loss, divorce, separation, break-ups, loss of a partner, illness, job and role loss, ageing retirement etc. She works with traumatic loss, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other challenges life can throw at us. Sometimes, people come into therapy to figure it out and wish to avoid overburdening their family and friends.
For clients struggling to come to terms with loss after bereavement, some notice that reducing their feelings of grief over time does not happen. Essentially, their grief becomes stuck, leaving them with disabling and persistent symptoms that do not improve. Strong feelings of yearning and distress persist, often coupled with anger, guilt, bitterness, and an inability to re-engage with their life. This phenomenon is called Prolonged Grief. It is now recognised as a diagnosable disorder and can be diagnosed following a thorough clinical assessment as early as six months post-bereavement. Eileen works with an evidence-based treatment called Prolonged Grief Therapy.
Qualification
MSc Loss & Bereavement (Counselling) 2021/2022, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) programme in association with the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF).
Accredited Psychotherapist with Irish Association Counselling & Psychotherapy (IACP) M11419 since 2016.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Counselling & Psychotherapy 2010 – 2014 (MTU)
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute 2019 – Treating trauma, affect dysregulation, survival responses and trauma memory.
Train the Trainer course ‘Supporting people bereaved by suicide in the community. (Oct 2019)
CISM training - UMBC Training Centre – ‘Group Crisis Intervention’ and ‘Assisting Individuals in Crisis. (September 2018)
Trained Facilitator with Cork Social and Health Education Project (SHEP) on Stress Control, Grief, Loss and Change, Communication Skills, and Personal Development.
The Social and Health Education Project – Integrated Specialised Tutor Training Programme (2009-2010) Trained to design and deliver community courses in personal development, assertive communication and stress management
Locations