Nettie Bowie M.A, H.Dip, BA.
Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist & Counsellor
Welcome to my website. My name is Nettie. I am a Cognitive Behavioural Counsellor and Psychotherapist and I use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in my practice to help young people with many conditions which hinder their enjoyment and fullness of life. These include things like depression, anxiety, panic attacks, grief, anger, jealousy, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to name a few.
My background is in the education sector. I worked as a Special Needs Assistant for fourteen years before pursuing my current career in supporting children and young people who are struggling with emotional and behavioural difficulties. I work in school settings through School Completion Programme (SCP) and as a Resident Therapist. I provide one to one support through private practice and sometimes link in with NEPS, TUSLA and Barnardos, as appropriate, to ensure continuity of therapeutic care for the young person in therapy.
My primary qualification is in Social Care which I studied with Carlow I.T before continuing my studies with a H.Dip in Social Personal & Health Education (SPHE) with Waterford I.T. I then achieved a Masters Degree in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences. I have supplemented my primary qualifications with post graduate certifications in Child & Adolescent Counselling & Psychotherapy, CBT with children and Adolescents and Therapeutic Play Skills training.
My private practice is located in NorthStar Counselling & Therapy Centre, 10 Weafer St, Enniscorthy where I work with young people and parents on a one on one providing support for many life hindering conditions. I also provide personal development support in the areas of confidence building, self-esteem and self-worth. These are delivered both one on one and in group settings. In my work I focus on the whole person - mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally.
I provide group support programmes to young people through Family Resource Centres, In School Settings and through Summer and Mid-Term Workshops. I also support parents through One to One support and information workshops. I am an accredited facilitator of parenting programmes with the national organisation One Family and also with Waterford’s Men’s Development Network. I am also accredited by the Association of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists (APCP).
I have spent a lifetime helping people and I have experience and training in working with many different conditions. I enjoy working with CBT as an effective therapy and I'm here to help in any way I can. Also, check out the rest of our team of therapists at NorthStar Counselling & Therapy Centre - www.northstartherapy.ie
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Thinking in more helpful ways
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective form of therapy which consists of a combination of Cognitive Therapy, which focuses on reducing self-defeating thoughts (cognitions) and Behavioural Therapy, which focuses on changing unhelpful actions (behaviours).
There is sometimes an assumption that CBT is simply just about ‘positive thinking’. However, CBT is much more than that. It’s about having a more balanced, realistic way of thinking or being able to ‘put things into perspective’.CBT emphasises that the way in which we think about ourselves, others and particular life situations, affects our feelings and our actions. Working together with a therapist, CBT can help you develop techniques and strategies that help you reflect on your current thinking patterns and how to start thinking in new, more helpful and productive ways.
Making constructive changes requires some effort and practice, as you may often be changing lifetime habits but by practising your strategies/techniques over and over you will begin to feel more confident in applying them to your daily life. Therefore CBT encourages ‘homework tasks’ for you to carry out between therapy sessions.
Changing your actions through CBT can also impact on how you think and feel. This can be in relation to how you respond in certain situations and also in terms of life style choices that you make. CBT helps you develop alternative actions or behavioural responses by helping you set realistic goals for yourself and aiming towards them - taking one step at a time so you have a better chance of achieving them.
While it emphasises the importance of reflection of thoughts and behaviours CBT also uses practical techniques. This involves trying out and practising ideas and strategies that can help you learn new ways of thinking and doing. In CBT terms these strategies are known as 'behavioural experiments' - as experimenting with or trying out these new techniques, you get a better chance of seeing what works best for you. You can then build on your new skills and/or adapt them to suit your own needs.
CBT emphasises that the way in which we think about ourselves, others and particular life situations, affects our feelings and our actions. Working together with a therapist, CBT can help you develop techniques and strategies that help you reflect on your current thinking patterns and how to start thinking in new, more helpful and productive ways.
Making constructive changes requires some effort and practice, as you may often be changing lifetime habits but by practising your strategies/techniques over and over you will begin to feel more confident in applying them to your daily life. Therefore CBT encourages ‘homework tasks’ for you to carry out between therapy sessions.
