About James and his work
“In humility, value others above yourself”
St Paul
Who is James Foley?
My name is James Foley. I am an accredited member of The Irish Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. I also have over 20 years of experience as a Psychiatric Nurse. I worked in the drug addiction area for over 11 years. I also did suicide related work for 3 and a half years with Pieta.. After training in marketing and advertising, I pursued psychiatric nursing training at the age of 25. In total, I spent over 20 years as a psych nurse.
In 2010, I started my counselling therapy training. While combining family responsibility with counselling training, I became an accredited counsellor in 2019, set up Prevail in April 2020, and started working with Pieta from June 2021 to December 2024.
I firmly believe in ongoing training. I have completed a CBT level 9 course, and I am always looking for learning opportunities to add to my skill base.
I am originally from Carlow and have been living in Clondalkin since 2002. I am now married and have two sons.
Addiction, primarily substance abuse
Cocaine is the most frequent addiction that I meet in my work. Porn is also mentioned. In addiction work, I use The Wheel of Addiction as my model. This emphasises the process of change that is necessary to move from active addiction to maintained sobriety.
Suicide prevention
I have worked with actively suicidal people. The approach I use is to validate the client’s reasons for being suicidal. I encourage them to identify the positive factors, such as good friendships, even work, that have given them a reason to live so far.
If an active suicidal threat is present, my work is to identify the client’s plan, reduce their ability to enact that plan, and ask them to phone for supportive company to be with them immediately after the session. If necessary and possible, I will ask the client to attend A&E immediately, possibly calling an ambulance.
Solution-focused strategies are suited to emergency suicidal ideation situations.Bereavement, particularly in the area of suicide
Bereavement counselling may take more time than other counselling. The more tragic and the deeper the relationship is that the client has with the deceased, the more complicated this process is. My approach is simply to support and walk the road with the client as they go through the stages and tasks of grief.
Bereavement can also refer to loss in a relationship, a job, children moving away, grieving pets, etc.
Person centered therapy is the primary technique used with grief.Mild psychosis and paranoia
Mild psychosis is when a person has disordered thoughts or perceptions. Paranoia is when the client has a false perception of other people and their behaviours toward the client. My approach to their disturbance is first to assess what degree of medical intervention would be required.
Grounding the person without aggressively challenging them is a key approach. For long-term reduction of symptoms, I help the client identify the triggers to their behaviour and develop coping skills.Anxiety/Depression
The mood disorders of anxiety and depression I find, are the primary reasons why people enter therapy. Anxiety is more common. An acceptance of the associated behaviours is used. the client.
Areas that I have experience, training with:
Phobia
Self-harming behaviour
Relationship issues
Low self-esteem
Serious physical illness
Anger
Approaches to counselling that I use
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
CBT focuses on personal change by working on the thoughts that have brought about the problems the client is experiencing. The belief is that our thoughts predetermine our emotions and behaviours. Practising alternative thoughts by supportive behaviours is a key part of CBT work.
A lot of the material I use is CBT-based.
Person Centred Therapy
PCT is the primary means of delivery in counselling work. PCT simply means that the client is the focus of the session. Through active listening, the therapist reflects with the client on the content and meaning of what they discuss in the session. This enables the client to resolve their issues using their resources.
PCT is the primary way I relate to clients in session work.
Choice Theory
CT emphasises that we are the product of the choices that we make. In counselling, CT encourages developing personal accountability for our unhelpful choices, and we are encouraged to start making positive choices. Positive choices result in positive relationships and the achievement of our basic needs.
I use choice theory when a client requires a direct style of intervention.
Solution Focused Therapy
SFT works on the primary problems presented by the client. Coping strategies are identified, applied through practice outside of the session and reviewed in session afterwards. Historical reasons for the problems may be discussed, but not worked through in depth.
SFT is best suited to short-term counselling. Also, in situations where it is likely that the client does not have a historical trauma in her life, and the problems presented are relatively new.
