Ms Gillian Fagan

Psychotherapist (Registered)

Verified

“Hello, I’m Gillian Fagan, a psychotherapist and trauma counsellor. Many clients are navigating complex trauma, neurodivergence such as ADHD or autism, or relationship dynamics that feel confusing or overwhelming. Some come to therapy after previous experiences where they felt misunderstood, pathologised, or told they were too much. My work is with thoughtful, self-aware people who experience the world intensely. My approach is grounded in psychology and neuroscience, but therapy with me is not rigid or formulaic. I aim to create a space where people can explore their experiences honestly, make sense of long-standing patterns, and develop a more integrated relationship with themselves and others. I work with individuals and couples internationally online. I offer a free consultation so we can decide together whether working together feels like the right fit. I am based in Ireland and my services are recognised by Irish health insurers.”

About Me

I am an accredited psychotherapist working with individuals and couples online internationally. My work is grounded in psychology, neuroscience, and trauma-informed practice, but at its core therapy is a human process of curiosity, understanding, and change. Many of the people who come to work with me are thoughtful, self-reflective individuals who have spent a long time trying to make sense of themselves, their relationships and their world. Some are navigating complex trauma, late diagnoses of neurodivergence such as ADHD or autism, career burnout and overwhelm, or patterns in relationships that feel difficult to shift despite insight and effort. I aim to offer a space that feels thoughtful, collaborative, and respectful. Therapy with me is not about being analysed from a distance or given generic advice. Instead, we work together to understand the patterns that have shaped your experience and to develop new ways of relating to yourself, to others, and to the world around you. I also know what it is like to sit in the client’s chair. Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, uncertain, and sometimes daunting. While I bring professional training and clinical experience to the work, I also show up as a genuine human being. Therapy with me is thoughtful and grounded, but it is also real. Clients often tell me that the experience feels collaborative, energising, and at times even a “breath of fresh air” compared to more traditional therapy settings. Finding the right therapist matters. For that reason I offer a free initial consultation so we can see whether working together feels like the right fit before beginning. I work with individuals and couples internationally online. I am based in Ireland and my services are recognised by Irish health insurers.

Approach

My approach to therapy is integrative and collaborative. Rather than applying a single model or technique, I draw from attachment-based, psychodynamic, somatic, relational and trauma-informed approaches, adapting the work to the needs of each person. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and insightful but find themselves repeating patterns in relationships, experiencing intense emotional responses, or feeling overwhelmed and dysregulated by the demands of the world around them. Many have spent years trying to make sense of their experiences, sometimes after feeling misunderstood or dismissed elsewhere. Some have been told they are “too much”, “too sensitive”, or “too complicated”. Therapy offers a space where those experiences can be explored with curiosity, understanding, and respect. Together we explore patterns with care and curiosity, looking at both the psychological and nervous system responses that shape how we experience ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. I also work with people navigating complex relational and emotional dynamics often described within personality or attachment-based frameworks, including people diagnosed with disorders. My approach focuses on understanding the underlying emotional needs and nervous system responses rather than reducing people to diagnostic labels. I work in an anti-oppressive, neuro-affirmative way and frequently support clients navigating ADHD, autism, or late diagnoses of neurodivergence. I also incorporate EMDR where appropriate when working with trauma and distressing experiences. I aim to create a space where identity, sexuality, and relationship dynamics can be explored openly and without judgement. My work is inclusive of diverse gender identities and relationship structures, including those that sit outside traditional norms. Therapy with me is collaborative. Clients are actively involved in shaping the pace, focus, and direction of the work. My aim is to create a space that is thoughtful, respectful, and grounded in both psychological insight and practical change. Alongside clinical work with individuals and couples, I also provide psychoeducation, training, and workshops for organisations on topics related to mental health, trauma awareness, and neurodiversity.

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Basic Information

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Lucan, Ireland

In-person & Online

Services

Therapy for people who feel things deeply, including neurodivergent clients, those navigating complex trauma, and those living with complicated inner worlds, relationships, or life circumstances. I work with adults and couples experiencing a wide range of emotional, relational, and identity-related challenges. Many of the people who come to my practice are thoughtful and self-aware, yet feel overwhelmed by patterns that are difficult to shift on their own. Areas I frequently support clients with include: • Complex trauma and traumatic experiences – including childhood abuse, sexual trauma, birth trauma, trauma bonding, coercive or controlling relationships, workplace bullying, and the long-term impact of growing up in unpredictable or unsafe environments. • Attachment and relationship patterns – such as difficulty finding or sustaining relationships, repeating painful relational cycles, relationships changing or ending when you finally begin to show your authentic self, or navigating separation, betrayal, and relationship transitions. • Family dynamics and early relational wounds – including the lasting impact of narcissistic, emotionally unavailable, or highly critical caregivers. • Neurodivergence and late diagnosis – including ADHD, autism, AuDHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, alexithymia, sensory processing differences, and related neurodivergent ways of experiencing the world. Many clients are exploring neurodivergence for the first time, and self-identification or suspicion is respected even without a formal diagnosis. • Intense emotional experiences – including rejection sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, overwhelm, identity crises, or periods where your sense of self feels destabilised or unclear. • Living behind a role or mask – including high-achieving professionals, performers, leaders, athletes, and public-facing individuals who appear successful externally but privately struggle with feelings of imposterism, pressure, or living a life that no longer feels authentic. • Identity, belonging, and meaning – including periods of personal change, identity breakdown, existential questioning, eco-anxiety, or searching for a deeper sense of purpose. • Anxiety and nervous system dysregulation – including OCD patterns, intrusive thoughts, burnout, and chronic stress. I also work with individuals navigating complex relational dynamics, including experiences often described within personality disorder diagnosis or attachment-based frameworks, as well as partners or family members impacted by these dynamics.

Services Offered:

Corporate Workshops
Mental health and well-being workshops delivered in workplace settings, covering topics like stress management, resilience, and communication.
Relationship Counseling
Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.
Trauma Counseling
Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.
Learn more about Trauma Counseling
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy
Psychoeducation
Structured information provided about a mental health condition (what it is, why it occurs, and what strategies can help) as part of the therapeutic process.
Learn more about Psychoeducation
Psychotherapy
In-depth therapeutic work that explores patterns in thoughts, emotions, and relationships to produce lasting psychological change.
Learn more about Psychotherapy
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, a therapy that uses guided eye movements to help the brain process and integrate traumatic memories.
Learn more about EMDR
Counselling
A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.
Learn more about Counselling
Crisis Support & Counselling
Emergency emotional support and counselling for people in acute psychological distress, available at the point of need.
Learn more about Crisis Support & Counselling
Online Counselling
Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.
Learn more about Online Counselling

Works With:

Adults
Couples
Organisations
Parents
Individuals
Groups

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

ADHD / Attention Difficulties
A neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent difficulty with attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity that interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about ADHD / Attention Difficulties
Autism (ASD)
A neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication, sensory processing, and behaviour patterns, with a wide range of presentations and strengths.
Codependency
A relational pattern in which a person's sense of identity and self-worth becomes excessively tied to caring for or controlling another person, often at their own expense.
LGBTQI+ Support
The unique psychological experiences of LGBTQI+ individuals, including identity exploration, coming out, discrimination, minority stress, and relationship dynamics.
Intimacy Issues
Difficulties with emotional or physical closeness in relationships, including fear of vulnerability, avoidance of connection, or sexual concerns.
Learn more about Intimacy Issues
Mood Disorder
A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.
Learn more about Mood Disorder
Personality Difficulties
Long-standing patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to others that cause persistent distress or problems in relationships and daily life.
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that develops after a traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.
Learn more about PTSD
Relationship Issues
Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.
Learn more about Relationship Issues
Trauma
The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.
Learn more about Trauma