About Owen - Crystallise

Owen Smith M.Soc.Sc.; BA (Hons); H.Dip Social Policy;
Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy.

“Like wildflowers, you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would” – E.V. Thompson

Training & Accreditation

Owen (pronouns: he/him) is a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor, who successfully completed four years postgraduate training in humanistic and integrative counselling and psychotherapy at Turning Point Institute/University College Cork.

He is a certified associate member of IAHIP (Irish Association of Humanistic & Integrative Psychotherapy) and a pre-accredited member of the IACP (Irish Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy).

In addition, Owen holds a masters degree in social work, as well as a postgrad higher diploma in social policy – both from University College Dublin. He also possesses an honours degree in business studies from University of Ulster.

Background

Owen is also a qualified and CORU accredited social worker who has worked for almost ten years as a medical social worker within a Dublin city-centre general teaching hospital. Within this acute environment Owen has worked with patients and their loved-ones in areas such as oncology, cardiology, cardiac/general surgery and medicine for the elderly as well as with patients approaching end-of-life.

Owen currently provides support to outpatients and inpatients at the hospital within a sexual health clinic – patients who are tested or treated for HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other infectious diseases. Prior to this, Owen worked as a medical social worker at Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, as well as in inpatient psychiatry and community mental health.

He furthermore has been involved with a number of voluntary agencies, such as ISPCC/Childline, Gay Switchboard Ireland, and within the homeless sector. Owen is also trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA), providing support to frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic.

Approach

“I am not what has happened to me. I am what I choose to become” – Carl Jung

Owen passionately believes that, given the appropriate conditions, all individuals have the capacity to realise their true selves and their potential. Owen’s therapeutic approach is first and foremost sourced in a humanistic and person-centred modality.

“I believe in the inherent value and uniqueness of each individual. This means that I look at what best fits your needs and situation, using different approaches and techniques, rather than assuming a ‘one size fits all’”.

Owen provides a confidential, non-judgemental, compassionate and safe space, where he accompanies each individual in their healing and growth journey. Owen places great emphasis on the establishment of the therapeutic relationship between client and psychotherapist and he regards this as a fundamental factor in achieving effective outcomes and positive change.

He sees this therapeutic alliance as a co-constructed endeavour in which both the client and the psychotherapist are each active partners. In his practice, Owen also draws upon psychosynthesis (exploring mind, body, emotions and spirit), as well as being informed by gestalt, systemic and psychodynamic models.

Experience & Areas of Interest

Owen works on a one-to-one basis – both face-to-face and online – with a broad range of presenting issues, such as anxiety, depression, stress, bereavement, grief & loss, loneliness, bullying, confidence & self-esteem, and with relationship or work-related issues.

Owen also has an active interest in the areas of sexuality and gender diversity, and how presenting issues (such as stigma, shame, internalised homophobia, oppression) can impact LGBTQIA+ mental health and psychological well-being.

Contact Owen

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