Mary M

Mary McHugh is a highly experienced Psychotherapist and the Director of the Irish Online Counselling and Psychotherapy Service, with over 20 years of experience in the counselling field. She is accredited by the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP) and the Irish Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICP) and has received intensive training with the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland (RCNI). Additionally, Mary holds a Master of Science (Hons) in Mindfulness Based Interventions from University College Dublin (UCD).

Throughout her career, Mary has worked with various organisations, including the Irish Society of Protection of Cruelty to Children, CURA (a crisis pregnancy counselling service), Mayo Women Support Services, The Irish Carers Association, and in secondary schools delivering programs focused on whole-body wellness. She currently volunteers at the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre.

Mary is an experienced group facilitator, offering workshops on Mindful Living, Parenting, and Stress Reduction. She played a crucial role in developing and managing a Suicide Prevention Page on a social networking site, where she connected with individuals deeply despite the lack of traditional communication cues. This experience solidified her understanding and capability in managing complex emotional issues through digital mediums.

The success of the Suicide Prevention Page affirmed Mary’s passion for this work, which she managed by maintaining clear ethical boundaries and serving as a compassionate witness. She oversaw the page's operations, which ran 20 hours a day, and conducted educational workshops for the 25-30 team administrators.

Mary is deeply passionate about people and their empowerment. She believes strongly in the equality of all human beings and is dedicated to supporting marginalised groups. Her journey has been gracious and humbling, filled with heartfelt experiences.

Mary approaches her clients with warmth, compassion, and a holistic mindset, providing a safe, non-judgmental space for them to explore their personal challenges. Her dedication to creating a supportive environment enables her clients to begin understanding and addressing their issues effectively.