Today’s episode explores the concept of spiritual bypassing which refers to the use of spiritual practices and beliefs to avoid dealing with our painful feelings, unresolved wounds and developmental needs. We use the book ‘Spiritual Bypassing – When spirituality disconnects us from what really matters’ by Robert Masters to guide the discussion. I am delighted to be joined by two PCI Faculty lecturers, Ramesh Ramsahoye and Andrew Twomey for this discussion.

Andrew is an IACP accredited integrative counsellor and psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, who works in private practice in Cork and online, since 2010. He holds a BA degree and MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy from CIT (Now MTU). He works with PCI College in various roles including Certificate Programme Leader, Faculty Lecturer, & Academic Team Leader for Cork.

Ramesh works for PCI College as a Faculty Lecturer, module leader and Academic Team Leader for Kilkenny. Before qualifying as a counsellor, Ramesh taught Art and Art History at secondary level and was also involved in student support. He runs a thriving private practice, Wexford Counselling Service, and enjoys writing articles for publication on diverse topics in the fields of art history and counselling and psychotherapy.

In this episode, we spend time with the concept of spiritual bypassing and explore what it means for our work as therapists in terms of how it can show up with clients but also what it means for our own shadow work so that we can fully support clients. We ground ourselves in the purpose of therapy which is integration of all aspects of being human and look at how spirituality, in its various forms, can play an important role in that.

I am delighted to be discussing the topic of menopause in relation to counselling and psychotherapy with my guest Niamh Daly. Niamh has been teaching Hatha Yoga since 2004 and is a registered Senior Teacher and Teacher Trainer. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Nutrition Coaching, is a Pilates Mat 1 & 2 teacher and is a Somatic Education Coach. She specialises in menopause for movement professionals and talk therapists, providing balanced, evidence-based training, information and support. Her book ‘Yoga for Menopause and Beyond’ was published in 2024. She runs a range of CPD courses including an IACP accredited course ‘Menopause Awareness and Strategies for Psychotherapists and Counsellors’. Full details for her classes, book and courses can be found at www.yinstinctyoga.com

Menopause is receiving a lot of focus recently and in this episode, we take some time to define the relevant terms including late reproductive stage, perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. We explore how these stages can impact people physically, mentally and emotionally. This conversation highlights the many ways in which counselling and psychotherapy can help to support people experiencing the variety of symptoms which can be part of this process and which can feel disconcerting and unpredictable. The role of therapy to allow time and space for reflection during a time of transition, to support informed choices, to provide psychoeducation and to feel all and any feelings is an important area for therapists to be aware of and to feel empowered to provide to their clients.

I am delighted to discuss the topic of social justice and therapy with my guest Shane Hickey-O’Mara. We explore what it is like to be a therapist working today with the many political, social and cultural issues which are impacting both the therapist and client. I feel Shane brings a unique insight to this conversation as he is both a qualified psychotherapist who graduated from PCI College in 2024 and in the same year was elected as a local councillor for the Social Democrats and proudly represents Limerick City North on Limerick City & County Council.

Shane works as a freelance integrative psychotherapist and as a Sessional Therapist with GOSHH in Limerick City and is also a member of the Violet Psychology therapist collective, working primarily with LGBTQIA+ & Neurodivergent clients. Currently, he is studying for a Diploma in Integrative Adolescent Psychotherapy with the Greenane Centre.

Outside of psychotherapy, Shane is a Theatre Director who has worked with theatre groups locally, nationally, and internationally since 2011. From 2020-2024, Shane was the Artistic Director of County Limerick Youth Theatre. He is passionate about the intersection of creative work, arts facilitation, and psychotherapy. Shane lives in Limerick with his husband, Emmett, and two year old dog Obie.

In the episode, we explore what drew Shane to both psychotherapy and politics and how these aspects of his life inform each other. He believes that there is a strong crossover of skills and that therapists are well placed for political activity. We discuss the inherently political nature of therapeutic work and the range of ways which therapists can take action, in line with their ethics and values, which can help to mitigate against feelings of overwhelm or hopelessness which can result from this work.