It's Complicated

María Gracia Abad

Psychologist & EMDR Therapist

Verified by It's Complicated
Available for new clients
Our sessions are a safe, non-judgmental space to freely express.
Together, let's find solutions to the problems you're facing in order to restore your well-being.

I specialise in:

At a glance
Greystones, IrelandAvailable online only
Experienced on It's Complicated1070+ sessions on It's Complicated
Note from María Gracia1st Session requires a 48-hour advance booking ⏰ Feel free to ask any questions about therapy 💬❔ Looking forward to meeting you soon! 🤗
Illustration of a smiling sun peeking over a cloud, symbolizing warmth and positivity for connecting with the therapist.
Usually responds within 2 hours

About me

Hello, I’m María Gracia Abad, a licensed psychologist from Ecuador, now based in Ireland. I provide online therapy in both English and Spanish.

I’m curious by nature and deeply interested in understanding people, how we think, feel, and respond to life’s challenges. In sessions, this curiosity shows up as careful listening, thoughtful questions, and a genuine interest in your patterns, your struggles, and your strengths. I approach therapy with care, focus, and a real human presence, bringing both attentiveness and energy to our work together.

I work with adults who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, or relationship challenges, especially when shame, self-blame, or fear of expressing themselves gets in the way of living fully. Many of the people I work with have learned to cope by adapting to others, keeping things in, or minimizing their own needs. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken.

I’ve also experienced major life transitions myself, including relocating to a new country. That has given me a personal understanding of how disorienting change can feel, how it can shake confidence, identity, and belonging. This experience informs my perspective and empathy for anyone navigating transitions.

Outside of therapy, I find grounding and renewal in nature. Even a simple walk to a green space lifts my energy and helps me feel centered when life feels overwhelming. I bring that same attentiveness, curiosity, and calm into sessions.

In therapy, I combine curiosity with practical support. I help you notice patterns, understand why they developed, and explore new ways of responding. Some sessions are reflective and exploratory, others practical, depending on what you need.

I believe that what was learned to survive can also be unlearned, and that insight paired with practical steps creates lasting change. My goal is to help you feel heard, understood, and more confident in navigating your own path forward.

You'll find me sharing insightful mental health content in Spanish on:
Instagram: @magabad.psicologia
Facebook: @magabad.psicologia

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Te invito a visitar este link donde encontrarás información en español acerca de mi y visitar mis redes sociales donde comparto contenido psicoeducativo en español que puede aportar en tu vida diaria
👉 campsite.bio/magabad.psicologia
Estaré gustosa de poder ayudarte a alcanzar tu bienestar 🤗

I speak:

EnglishSpanish

Connect with me:

Location:

Greystones, Ireland

Media Gallery

Approach

Treatment Approaches
CBT: Cognitive behavioral therapyRecommended for those looking for practical support and accountability to change unhelpful thinking and behaviors.
EMDRRecommended for those dealing with trauma who want to process painful memories in a structured way to reduce their emotional impact.
Person-centered approachRecommended for those looking for a supportive, non-judgmental space where they can lead the conversation and explore their feelings at their own pace.
I work with adults who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, or relationship challenges, especially when shame, self-blame, fear of expressing themselves or difficulty asking for help get in the way of living fully.

Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and capable, often the person others lean on. They tend to be self-reliant, more comfortable analysing and problem-solving than sitting with emotions. While these are often genuine strengths, they can become exhausting: when self-criticism runs quietly in the background, when emotions feel harder to access, or when asking for help feels like failure. Many also struggle to extend to themselves the same compassion they'd readily offer someone they love.
If any of this sounds familiar, you're not alone, and you're not broken.

Therapy with me is collaborative, curious, and tailored to you. I pay close attention to your thoughts, emotions, and patterns, and I ask questions that help you notice, reflect, and gain insight. My style is thoughtful and analytical, I listen carefully, but I'm never passive. I speak and intervene when it's helpful, to guide, clarify, or gently challenge in ways that support your growth.

I draw on evidence-based approaches like CBT, EMDR, and person-centred therapy, tailored to your specific needs.
CBT helps us explore how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours connect, noticing and challenging unhelpful patterns.
EMDR allows us to process painful past experiences and reduce their ongoing impact.
The person-centred foundation means you always lead, I follow your pace, your priorities, and what feels safe and meaningful at any given time.

I believe that what was learned to survive can also be unlearned, and that insight, paired with practical steps, creates lasting change. Clients often tell me they feel heard, clearer, more grounded, and more confident in themselves after our work together.

In our first sessions, we'll explore what brings you here and what you'd like from therapy. Together we'll shape a plan that fits, whether that means processing past experiences, managing present challenges, or finding new ways of responding to life events. Some people arrive knowing exactly what they want to work on; others need time to build trust before going deeper. I'm here for both.

If your needs fall outside my current expertise, I'll suggest appropriate referrals. My priority is always getting you the right support.

You also have access to the platform chat between sessions, if something comes up that you'd rather not hold until the next session, you don't have to.

Session Details:
- Duration and Fees: 50-minute sessions are €100; 90-minute sessions are €180 (subject to availability).
- Scheduling and Frequency: Flexibility is key; while weekly sessions are typical, I can adjust to suit your needs.
- Availability: Regular session hours are displayed on my calendar. Sessions take place Monday to Friday, 12–5pm.
- Appointment Confirmation: Before our first session, new clients complete an intake form and informed consent.
It's thorough by design (it usually takes around 10–12 minutes), the more I understand your situation beforehand, the more our first sessions can focus on what matters most to you rather than covering ground from scratch.
- Payment: Payment via Stripe is required 48 hours before the session to ensure a seamless start.

Reaching out for therapy can feel uncertain or daunting, but you've already taken the first step by being here.
You don't need clarity or the right words. Just reach out, and we'll find our way from there.

Experience

5 years in practice1070+ sessions on It's Complicated
2020-Today Psychologist, Online Private Practice

Jun 2023-Today Psychologis, Kara Connect

Jul 2022-Today Therapist, Siffi

Jul 2021-Today EAP Counsellor, It's Complicated

Aug 2022-Feb 2026 Therapist, Bloom (formerly Mindsurance)

Mar 2025-Oct 2025 Mental Health Clinician, Teladoc Health International

May 2023-Feb 2025 Psychologist, Emplomind

May 2023-Sep 2024 Psychologist, SpringHealth

Jan 2023-Sep 2024 Psychologist, Frankie x Unmind

May 2023-Aug 2023 Psychologist, O7 Therapy

May 2022-Aug 2023 Therapist, Plumm

July 2021-October 2022 Psychologist, Modern Health.

Mar 2021-Jun 2021 Volunteer Psychologist at Calm-Chat Bienestar Online (Ecuador, NPO)

Sep 2020-Jun 2021 Volunteer Psychologist at Fundación Fisdace (Ecuador, NPO)

July 2020-Jun 2021 Volunteer at Aquí Estoy-Global Empathy Network (Argentina, NPO)

Oct 2018-Jan 2019 Intern, Santa Ana High School (Ecuador)

May 2018-Jul 2018 Intern, Ecuadorian Red Cross

Oct 2017-Jan 2018 Intern, Santa Ana High School (Ecuador)

Education

2025- 2026 Master's Degree in Criminology: Delinquency and Victimology at Universidad Internacional de Valencia VIU

2025 EMDR Advanced Training - Complex Trauma Protocol at Cipse Argentina

2023 - 2024 EMDR Basic Training at CIPSE Argentina

2021-2024 Master's degree program in Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology at Universidad ISEP

2021-2024 Master's degree program in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy at Universidad ISEP

2014-2020 Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja UTPL in Ecuador

Services

Individual Session

€100 50 min Online

50-minute Online Psychological Therapy Session

€100 50 min Online

90-minute Online Psychological Therapy Session

€180 1 hr 30 min Online

Insurances

Private Pay
At a glance
Greystones, IrelandAvailable online only
Experienced on It's Complicated1070+ sessions on It's Complicated
Note from María Gracia1st Session requires a 48-hour advance booking ⏰ Feel free to ask any questions about therapy 💬❔ Looking forward to meeting you soon! 🤗
Illustration of a smiling sun peeking over a cloud, symbolizing warmth and positivity for connecting with the therapist.
Usually responds within 2 hours
Next available: Jun 16