Sophie Raphenne
Counselling and Psychotherapy
I have been working as a psychotherapist since early 2011. I completed my training as a psychotherapist In the MyMind centre based in Ranelagh, Dublin and graduated from Dublin Business School (BA (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy).
I am now based in the Oscailt Centre, situated in the heart of Dublin city centre. Although I began my studies in psychotherapy in 2007, I have always been fascinated by human relationships, and most of all, how to create and maintain harmonious healthy relationships in my life – with myself and others.
During my studies, I was amazed to discover the work of Carl Rogers and his humanistic, person-centered approach. I have since then developed my work and ethics according to what Carl Rogers called the three core conditions: empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence.
My other, initial career path took place in the private sector. I worked for 7 years in the private sector, within a Sales department and then a Human Resources department. This allowed me to experience the high-pressured environment of a global multinational company, and gain interest in the field of stress management. I had the opportunity to help Google employees manage their own stress through the delivering of the “Managing your energy” training.
Finally, I have been developing a growing interest for mindfulness during the past 3 years. I have discovered the tremendous impact of mindfulness for personal growth and as a way to enrich relationships with patients. As a means to go deeper into exploring mindfulness and develop and maintain a regular practice, I have been on several long retreats, some of them with Jon Kabat-Zinn or Thích Nhất Hạnh.
Why Safe Space?
A safe space is one of the main conditions – if not the main condition – for the development of any successful therapy. A safe environment is one that provides a sense of security. On the one hand, the room setting is important as it should allow clients to feel comfortable and relaxed. On the other hand, it is the therapist’s duty to make sure that the space is safe – in an emotional sense of the term: that proper boundaries are kept at all times and that the patient feels ok and free to explore whatever thoughts come to mind.