Therapy as a Safe Space

Any move, from across town to across the world, can present a myriad of pitfalls and challenges. For me, moving to Dublin in 2020 was a practical and rational decision but turned out to be full of more emotional complexity than I could have imagined.

During the height of the pandemic, I was one of roughly 85,000 people who immigrated to Ireland. Although I was not alone in this decision, it was lonely. My partner and I were leaving the life we built in London after three amazing years, and it felt overwhelming to again be uprooted.

Therapy has been a part of my life for a long time, something I’d dabbled with since studying psychology in undergrad. During this time frequently referred to as ‘unprecedented,’ I found renewed energy to engage in therapy, and found it to provide the steady, supportive space I needed to process change. Week by week, as humanistic therapy is weekly, I unpacked my feelings in a safe, judgment-free space.

The Meaning of Home

Whenever I am confronted with change and the accompanying worry, I inevitably think about Søren Kierkegaard’s belief that ‘anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.’ That is what an international move in the height of a pandemic was like, as though I were standing on the edge of possibility, but also a big pit full of the uncertainty of it all. Therapy helped me find the courage to take something akin to Kierkegaard’s ‘leap of faith,’ helping me to not only accept change, but to be present with it and try to work with it.

One of the most powerful ideas that I have taken from therapy is the thought that ‘home’ is not just a place but also a feeling. Home as an idea is something created through connection, routine, and self-discovery. For me, therapy helped me:

• Build small daily rituals that made Dublin feel more familiar.
• Deepen my relationship with myself through mindfulness.
• Find some meaning in the change and ensuing anxiety instead of seeing it as something to endure.

Tools for Change

In the aftermath of huge global change, I think many of us are asking deep questions about our lives: Where am I now and where am I going? What do I want to hold onto? What do I want to let go of? Therapy is the perfect space to explore these questions with a non-judgmental and supportive presence. Big life events — whether a move, a new job, a relationship shift, or even the aftermath of a global pandemic — can stir up a lot of emotions. Such changes can force both looking back and looking forward, and that process can be overwhelming.

Therapy offers a way to navigate all of this. For me personally, it provided:

• A safe space to process my emotions: Therapy helped me sit with the discomfort of change and begin to work through it.
• Tools for adapting: Through journalling, mindfulness, or talking and sharing, therapy gave me practical ways to ground myself that I can use in the real world.
• A deeper understanding of myself: Transitions are very external changes, but they can be opportunities for reflection and growth if there is a safe space to look inwards.

If anyone is facing a big life event, feeling stuck, or is curious about self-exploration, it’s never too late to start therapy. It’s not about ‘fixing’ but rather about discovering who you are and giving yourself the tools to move forward.

Take the Next Step

If you’re feeling the ‘dizziness of freedom’ that comes with change, therapy can help you find your footing and provide a space to reflect, grow, and share. And if you’re in Dublin, Marino Counselling and Psychotherapy is ready to support you every step of the way.

As a student of psychotherapy, I have had the privilege of doing my clinical placement at Marino Counselling and Psychotherapy. Here, I have seen firsthand how transformative therapy can be. The therapists at Marino offer a warm, welcoming space where you can feel safe to express and explore your thoughts, whether it is dealing with a major life change, struggling with anxiety or depression, or simply looking to understand yourself better.

The fully qualified team at Marino is compassionate, professional, and deeply committed to supporting clients on their journeys. Whether you are considering therapy for the very first time, or you are ready to come back after a break, Marino Counselling and Psychotherapy is here for you.

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