About - Talk It Out Therapy: Gerard O'Dea

Talk It Out Therapy

Hello there! Thank you for viewing this website and for considering therapy with Talk It Out.

My name is Gerard O’Dea. I am a fully accredited and qualified counsellor and psychotherapist with the National Association for Professional Counselling and Psychotherapy (NAPCP). I am based in Dublin City, providing both face to face and online sessions for adults seeking support for life challenges or mental health difficulties.

I use a humanistic, integrative approach, meaning that I take the time to appreciate the uniqueness and individuality of each client while encouraging self-exploration and personal growth in a safe and confidential space. For more information on my approach and the areas I work with, see the ‘Areas’ and ‘Approaches’ tab.

LGBTQ+ Issues

From the onset of my counselling career, I have been passionate about working with and supporting the LGBTQ+ (queer) community. As a proud, openly gay man, I have spent my entire adult life getting involved with Dublin’s queer community. Having worked in the hospitality sector for many years, I relished having the opportunity to interact with the community in one of Dublin’s leading queer bars. As well as this, I also have a passion for theatre and have performed both in Dublin and abroad in the queer theatre and drama scene.

I am acutely aware of some of the challenges that queer people face, both historically and in modern society, including shame, stigmatisation, exclusion, discrimination, prejudice, and many others. One of my passions in my work as a therapist is supporting, encouraging, and empowering members of my own community to explore their sexuality, gender identity, and personal identity, so that they may heal and grow as people and live fulfilling and enjoyable lives.
As well as this, I am also devoted to raising awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, having facilitated several workshops and talks to various organisations centred around LGBTQ+ awareness and inclusion, particularly in the workplace.

Neurodiversity

Prior to my work as a therapist, I worked for several years in the social care sector, where it was my role to support individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, and neurodivergent individuals, to access employment, education, and meaningful, community-based social lives. This work sparked my passion for working with neurodiversity and helped me to appreciate the vast potential in everyone to succeed and thrive with the right encouragement.

With the neurodiverse community, I empower individuals to engage in self-exploration and self-understanding, so that they may achieve their goals using a strengths-based, person-centred approach. I also have experience facilitating peer support groups and workshops for neurodiverse communities, where I have had the privilege of watching these communities provide peer support and provide fascinating groups discussions in safe, supportive, and non-judgmental spaces.