Welcome - I’m Arina, an integrative psychotherapist offering a collaborative approach to help individuals and couples navigate life’s challenges and create meaningful change.
About me &
qualifications
I'm a fully qualified psychotherapist based in Sligo, working with adults and couples in a compassionate, non-judgmental space. I work with a wide range of personal and interpersonal issues - from life transitions, relationship dynamics, and identity exploration to emotional challenges and trauma. I’m especially passionate about LGBTQA+ and GSRD-affirmative therapy, and I welcome clients from all backgrounds and identities.
My work is grounded in empathy, respect, and evidence-based practice. I hold a First-Class Honours BSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy from IICP College, where I trained in a blend of humanistic, cognitive-behavioural, and multicultural approaches. This foundation supports my belief in therapy as a collaborative and equal relationship—one where you are seen as the expert in your own life, and supported with curiosity, care, and compassion.
My clinical experience includes work with Turn2Me and the Rape Crisis Centre—two organisations I continue to be part of today. These experiences have shaped my trauma-informed, inclusive approach and reinforced my commitment to making therapy more accessible.
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in health and wellness for many years, including as a yoga teacher (E-RYT 500). This holistic background continues to shape my work, bringing an awareness of the mind-body connection and the role of balance and self-awareness in healing.
My own long-term relationship has inspired a strong interest in couples therapy, and I’m dedicated to supporting meaningful connection and growth in the relationships I work with.
About my approach
I work from a humanistic and integrative perspective, where therapy is a collaborative process shaped by your needs, values, and lived experience.
I believe that meaningful change happens when we feel seen, heard, and supported—so our work together begins by creating a space where you can show up just as you are.
Rather than following a fixed method, I draw from a range of therapeutic perspectives, allowing our sessions to stay responsive to your needs. Whether we’re exploring past experiences, navigating present challenges, or imagining new possibilities, we move at a pace that feels safe and steady.
Over the years, my work has been shaped not just by psychological insight but also by a holistic understanding of how the mind, body, and emotions are deeply connected. Practices like yoga, meditation, and breathwork inform how I listen, hold space, and support the unfolding of your own inner wisdom.
Therapy with me isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong”—it’s about coming into a relationship with yourself in a new way. Together, we’ll explore what matters most to you, gently untangle what’s getting in the way, and support the growth that’s already waiting beneath the surface.
My approach to couples therapy is grounded in the understanding that relationships thrive when both emotional connection and individual autonomy are supported. Drawing from emotionally focused and integrative approaches, I help couples explore the patterns that shape their dynamic - often rooted in attachment needs and unspoken emotional responses.
Together, we work to create a sense of emotional safety, where each partner can express themselves openly and feel heard with empathy. By attending to attachment styles and emotional cues, we begin to identify and shift the cycles that cause disconnection or conflict.
At the same time, I support couples in fostering healthy differentiation - the ability to stay connected while respecting each other's individuality. Through this balance, relationships can deepen in trust, intimacy, and mutual understanding.