Joseph Harney
Psychotherapist & Counsellor
Patient. Reliable. Approachable. I offer a structured approach to therapy, with a gentle, relaxed atmosphere. Experienced in online therapy.
I specialise in:
About me
Hi, I'm Joseph, and thanks for finding me here. I’m an experienced Irish psychological therapist, with a practice primarily focused on relationship difficulties.
These create psychological challenges that tend to preoccupy every waking minute of our lives. Our self-understanding is built up through our relationships, through what gets reflected back to us from those closest to us. As a result, difficulties like infidelity, jealousy, envy, loneliness, repeating conflicts - these can cut to the core of who we are. Working together, I can support you to rebuild trust in yourself, and make greater sense of the difficult relational reality you find yourself in.
I am not interested in 'analysing' you or filling our time with 'therapy speak' - I prefer to relate to you person to person, in direct terms. We'll start by understanding your problems from your point of view, how you experience them. I have specialist knowledge of the psychology of love, connection, and relationships, which we can make use of in our work. I also work with issues such as depression, cultural integration, and LGBTQIA+ life.
I bring a steady warmth and calmness to my work. This means compassionate, gentle professionalism that's neither clinical nor cold. Psychological issues, particularly those stemming from relationship trouble, typically need a reliable, sensitive presence at a time when you might be doubting yourself. I'll be alongside you as we work through it, together.
The first contact with someone like me is the hardest to make, but be assured that I'll meet you with respect and discretion from the first moment. I can help you cut through the noisy world of mental health advice to find the way forward that's directly, precisely relevant to you, your life, and how you choose to live it.
You are so very welcome to be in touch. I can talk through any questions or concerns you may have, I endeavour to always meet these with honesty, integrity, and transparency. I hold accreditation with the Dansk Psykoterapeut Forening, as well as the UK's BACP and BPS.
I speak:
Location:
Media Gallery
Approach
APPROACH - I'm trained to take a pluralistic approach. This is a new, evidence-based approach from the UK. Here is what this typically proceeds like:
1 - Close, respectful attention to what you need. Whether it's safe exploration of emotionally challenging experiences, psychological tools for coping skills, a pragmatic problem-solving approach, or simply slowing things down to make sense of what's happening... I always work in a flexible, responsive way, which clients invariably find helpful. This makes our work specific and targeted.
2 - Safety, stability, and trust. I don't believe that a ‘safe space’ is something I can automatically offer you. Instead, we must meet and establish that together. It’s about me listening to you, to really lean in and hear what helps 'you' feel safe - there is no room for assumptions.
3 - Structured therapeutic tasks at the right pace and intensity. Once we gain clarity on your overall goals for therapy (or, desires, needs, wants... however you prefer to think of them), I'll help us determine a helpful speed to progress at, for the difficulties you are experiencing.
4 - Helpful psychological tools, exercises, and resources. I combine robust training as a therapist with my background in academic psychology. As a result, I have a broad collection of research-informed resources, strategies, and therapeutic exercises to draw on, offering you choice in how we work. Areas of practice I utilise include Gestalt, CBT, narrative, existential, and person-centred approaches. With respect to couples therapy, I hold additional certified training that integrates relationship and sex therapy.
CALENDAR AND AVAILABILITY - You are welcome to open up a conversation here, through messaging - we can have a chat or initial phone call about your needs. I can offer sessions weekday mornings, afternoons or evenings, and also Saturday mornings.
Experience
Private Practice (online and in-person) Copenhagen, Denmark Nov '24 - Present
Psychotherapist Tayside Centre for Counselling, Dundee, Scotland Sept '22 - July '24
Associate Lecturer, Psychology and Counselling The Open University, Edinburgh, Scotland Sept '20 - Sept '24
Lecturer in Psychology and Counselling Fife College, Scotland Sept '17 - Sept '21
Educator for young people with emotional, social, and behavioural difficulties Fife College, Scotland Nov '14 - Sept '17
Freelance Creative and Project Worker (in community outreach) UK and Ireland Sept '05 - Nov '14
Education
MSc Counselling (Distinction) - Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland Sept '21 - Sept '24
PGDip Counselling Skills - Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland Sept '15 - May '16
BA Applied Psychology - University College Cork, Ireland Sept '00 - June '03
Services
Individual Session
Introductory session
Couples Session
Insurances
