Hello and thank you for visiting! If you find yourself here you may be considering therapeutic support for yourself, your child or your family.
Please feel free to look around and if you have any further queries about me, my practice or art psychotherapy do not hesitate to make contact for further information.
So here’s a bit about me! I hold a BA Hons Degree in Applied Social Studies from Cork Institute of Technology graduating with first class honours. I also hold a Post Graduate Higher Diploma in Applied Psychology from University College Cork graduating with first class honours and I hold an MA in Art Therapy from Crawford College graduating with first class honours. I am a graduate member of the PSI, Psychological association of Ireland and a fully accredited member of IACAT, the Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapist.
I have strong passion for research, training and development and thus far I have studied for a period of 12 years covering modules on neuroscience, cognition, health psychology, advanced biological basis of behaviour, advanced developmental psychology, psychological therapies, advanced research skills, attachment theory, family systems theory, creative therapeutic interventions, trauma therapy, psychodynamic , psychoanalytic, humanistic psychotherapy theory, child and family law.
In my practice I use an integrative approach which means I draw on my social studies, psychology and psychotherapeutic experience and training.
In tandem with major education courses I also engage in continuing professional developmental, having sought extra therapeutic trauma informed training with Babette Rothschild and Bessel Van Der Kolk and the UK Neuroscience . I have also gained training experience in supervision skills and creative supervision and the foundational skills training in positive sexual health promotion. I have a particular interest in developmental trauma and attachment theory and child protection. Further CPD training includes Dynamic Maturational Model of Attachment with Patricia Crittenden and training with clinicians from the Tavistock Portman and the The Anna Freud Institute on safe guarding infants from abuse and neglect, mind/brain neurobiology.
For over 12 years I have worked with families, children and teenagers at risk where child protection concerns have been identified and I have a particular interest and skill set working with adolescents. I have worked in a therapeutic residential and aftercare service for 12 years for young women leaving the care system. Here I have gained invaluable experience from these young women supporting them to nurture their own personal strength and resilience. The service offers emotional and life skills support interventions to help young women address emotional and behavioural challenges and to gain the skills to live independently in the future. In this role I have gained rich knowledge and experience working with trauma, loss, bereavement.
For over 5 years I worked at the Bessborough Centre Cork facilitating weekly art psychotherapy open studio groups with parents and infants at risk. I also provided individual art psychotherapy sessions to parents who were part taking in the services parental capacity assessments. I worked with the centres community Lime Tree support service offering parent and child dyad sessions and individual art psychotherapy sessions for children residing in foster care families. In 2018 I departed from this role to become more available for my private art psychotherapy practice.
At present I run a private practice in Shanagarry East Cork receiving referrals from Social Work Departments, Psychologists and Psychotherapists, Schools, The Mercy Hospital, GP’s and private referrals. I also contribute to the Crawford Colleges MA Art Therapy training course delivering lectures on child protection issues in therapeutic practice, childhood anxiety and working with children and families through parental separation. I have also contributed to the Crawford Colleges annual Art Therapy Summer School as a guest lecturer and core facilitator. I facilitate the experiential art therapy training groups on the principles of art therapy foundation programme in Cork Institute of Technology/ CCAD.
Mary Bergin, BA, HDIP, MA, M.Ps.S.I., MIACAT. Reg.