Miss Miranda Fagan

A conversation with Miranda Fagan

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  For me personally I have always been drawn to pursuits that involve curiosity, contemplating the human condition, self-reflection, and personal growth. Counselling as a profession allows me to engage in these practices every day and to share them with others,
  
  I love being a counsellor because while I may not be able to fix all our society's problems, I can support individuals to experience less pain, stigma, self-criticism and shame. This for me is a form of social justice and a deeply meaningful one.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  I am very inspired by the works of: Janina Fisher, Pat Ogden, Babette Rothschild, Bessel Van Der Kolk, and Peter Levine. I find the way they blend neuroscience, attachment theory, sensorimotor theories and psychodynamic approaches to be fascinating, de-pathologising and holistic.
  
  I have also been very inspired by the many wonderful clinicians I have worked alongside with, received supervision/training from, and been mentored by.
  

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  My first and foremost passion is the journey of the individual in understanding, appreciating and reconnecting with themselves.
  
  Many of us are disconnected from our selves from a young age in order to survive, and as a therapist it is so exciting to witness clients discovering or rediscovering a sense of self they can feel proud of and claim as their own.
  
  Whatever the cause of our disconnection from self, whether it be poverty, damaging social constructs, trauma, adverse childhood experiences, health concerns, substance use dependency, power and control relationships, or fraught attachment systems, we all deserve, and can, develop a new, kinder, more helpful way of relating to ourselves.

• What methods do you use?

  My primary modalities include: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Sensorimotor therapy, and Family Systems.
  
  I also draw upon: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  This will be unique to each client is my first thought, however some other key points come to mind.
  
  Clients experiencing progress may:
  - be less critical and more accepting of themselves
  - feel more grounded, less out of control in their own bodies
  - notice that things that might have upset them in the past trigger them less or not at all
  - feel they are making decisions for themselves that are not simply fear-driven
  - feel less alone in the world and "othered"
  - are more curious about how they think and feel at any given time
  - can validate and soothe themselves through difficult times
  - feel more able to spend time in the present, rather than focused on the past or future
  

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  I would like to think it has made me a better person. But maybe that is best left for others to judge!
  
  I do feel certain that therapy has helped me become a more self-compassionate, mindful and resilient person. I'm frequently astounded by the way I handle ongoing challenges compared to how I did even just a year or so ago.
  
  I am very grateful for my own wonderful experiences of therapy which are ongoing.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  I love that as a therapist I can offer people a chance to have a different relationship with themselves. Hopefully one that is kinder, more understanding and more accepting.
  
  I love witnessing clients transform from individuals overwhelmed by burdens, shame and fear to individuals who believe in their own capacity to cope, thrive and survive no matter what comes their way.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  I tend to try to avoid fixating on my appearance these days and judging whether my hair is "good" or "bad." But yes, of course I do!
  
  But what I love about the days I don't feel so confident about my appearance is that they provide me with an opportunity to challenge any internalised messages I may unconsciously be holding around being "acceptable" and/or "attractive."

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  While there are many social issues that we all face every day (sexism, ableism, homophobia, sectarianism, transphobia, etc), the one that looms overhead for me is the future health of our planet as it changes and responds to endless human destruction.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  One of my favourite books is Doctor Zhivago, by Boris Pasternak. This quote for me sums up the beautiful novel:
  
  "I don't think I could love you so much if you had nothing to complain of and nothing to regret. I don't like people who have never fallen or stumbled. Their virtue is lifeless and of little value. Life hasn't revealed its beauty to them."