I offer Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which incorporates individual therapy and skills training . It is an evidence-based psychotherapy that treats personality disorders,  interpersonal conflicts, Binge Eating Disorder/Bulimia etc. DBT is described as follows: “DBT is very simple. The therapist creates a context of validating rather than blaming the patient, and within that context the therapist blocks or extinguishes bad beahviours, drags good behaviours out of the patient, and figures out a way to make the good behaviours so reinforcing that the patient continues the good ones and stops the bad ones”. (Lorna Benjamin quoted in Linehan, M (1993). Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.Vior).

I’m planning to offer a DBT Skills Training Group later in 2023 in Cork (and possibly Dublin). Please contact me for further information.

I practise a form of CBT therapy called Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT).  What is it? Here is a brief description taken from Dryden, W. (2009). Skills in Rational Emotive Therapy:

“REBT is one of the CBT, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, currently in vogue. REBT is based on an old idea attributed to Epictetus, a Roman and Stoic philosopher, who said that ‘Men are disturbed not by things, but by their rigid and extreme view of things’. Once they have disturbed themselves, they then try to get rid of their disturbed feelings in ways that ultimately serve to maintain their problems. As an REBT Therapist, I will help you to identify, examine and change the rigid and extreme beliefs that I argue underpins your emotional problems and help you to develop alternative and non-extreme beliefs. I will also help you to examine the ways in which you have tried to help yourself that haven’t worked and encourage you to develop and practise more effective, durable strategies.

At the beginning of counselling, we will consider together your problems one at a time and I will teach you a framework which will help you to break down your problems one by one into their constituent parts. I will also teach you a variety of methods for examining and changing your rigid and extreme beliefs as well as a variety of methods to help you to consolidate and strengthen your alternative flexible and non-extreme beliefs. As therapy proceeds, I will help you to take increasing responsibility for using these methods and my ultimate aim is to help you to become your own therapist. As this happens, we will meet less frequently until you feel you can cope on your own.”

I offer CBT and DBT appointments in Cork and Dublin – please contact me on tom@tomconlon.ie or on 086 368 8824