Valerie McIllwaine

Phone: 089 2577755 

Email: [email protected] 

I am based in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.  

I work with cancer survivors and their supporters who have come through their journey with cancer. 

I do this because I have come through my own journey with breast cancer in 2015 and I know how difficult it is to navigate the everyday challenges and it can be overwhelming. It can be difficult to put on a brave face, especially in front of your children and family, and remain strong for them. I found that I didn’t fully recover until I was able to let go of the fear and constant worry that I had been living with since childhood. Learning how to let go of fear and stress allows clients to live life now in the best possible way they can.  

Recently supported a friend of mine who came through her journey with cancer and I hadn’t fully understood the impact of that role until I was in that position. Supporters need to be looked after too. They need somewhere where they can voice their fears and worries and be supported. 

I also work with clients who are ready for change and who want to experience life on a deeper level and not just go through the motions or put things off until they get the right job, earn the right amount of money, or wait until the kids are through college. People who want to feel happier now regardless of their circumstances.  

Nobody knows you like you know yourself. You are the expert in your own life, sometimes you can forget this and look for validation or solutions for problems outside of yourself. I believe that everyone has the solution within them to solve any problem you just need to know how to access it. 

When I work with clients and they relearn how to trust themselves and tap into that inner space and the light bulb comes on and they realise yes! I can do this, you can see the relief in their faces but more importantly, when they realise life doesn’t have to be hard it’s such a great feeling. 

I work mainly face-to-face with clients.