Growing up, I was always fascinated by how people tick: what shapes our behaviour, and how our minds and bodies connect. Studying Psychology at UCD was my entry point, but it was during my MSc in Health Psychology at Ulster University that my perspective truly shifted. I began to see health not as an individual responsibility, but as the outcome of complex interactions between environment, behaviour, identity, and power.

From there, I deepened my practice through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training and later a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology, at Staffordshire University, in the UK. A health psychologist works on how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours affect physical health, and how living with illness affects mental well-being. We don’t just treat “mental health issues”, we help people manage life in a way that supports both physical and mental wellness. I became increasingly drawn to roles that allowed me to work both with individuals and the systems around them, spanning mental health services, disability, education, and advocacy.

Several mentors and clinical supervisors throughout my academic and clinical training had a profound influence on my career. They were generous with their time and guidance, encouraging me to think critically and adopt a systemic perspective. It was through them that I first encountered frameworks like the Power Threat Meaning Framework, which still guide my practice today.Now, as I provide clinical supervision and mentorship to early career psychologists, I try to model the same generosity and reflective practice that my own mentors shared with me.

I have also been shaped by the people and communities I have worked alongside in roles within RehabCare, Centric Mental Health, Jigsaw, Hub na nÓg, and Pupil Referral Units in the UK, and through numerous participatory projects. Their insights and lived experiences constantly deepen my understanding of mental health, identity, and power, keeping me grounded and committed to continuous learning.

It was a lovely mix of timing and opportunity. I had been working with Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, in their young people’s advocacy and rights-based approaches unit. I loved the systemic and participatory work, but I found myself missing direct therapeutic work.

When I saw a part-time, one-day-a-week role with Centric Mental Health, I initially applied to provide therapeutic support and counselling. After the interview, they offered me a different role in their Autism and ADHD assessment unit, drawing on my ten years of experience in education settings. It turned out to be a good fit and a chance to deepen my assessment skills.

The Rehab Group role came soon after, advertised through professional health psychology networks. I knew immediately it was the right next step, a position that combined my clinical experience with systemic, holistic care. I applied online and, during the interview, shared my experience and my passion for health psychology in disability services. When they called to offer me the role, I was thrilled. It felt like the perfect alignment of my skills, values, and my commitment to supporting both staff and people who use RehabCare services in a way that promotes inclusion and meaningful change.

No two days are the same in my work, and that’s one of the things I love most about it.

In RehabCare, I provide tailored psychological support to people with a wide range of needs, including intellectual, physical, and sensory disabilities, as well as mental health challenges. My approach is holistic, I use evidence-based behaviour change techniques and draw on frameworks like the Power Threat Meaning Framework, which allows me to see beyond symptoms and really understand the context of someone’s life and experiences.

A typical day is a blend of direct 1:1 sessions, team meetings, and staff training. I work closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure that the support we offer is collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in best practice. There’s a real sense of purpose and shared commitment to making a tangible difference for the people we support.

I assess and support individuals with a wide range of needs in RehabCare, such as intellectual, physical, sensory disabilities, and mental health challenges. I design and deliver evidence-based interventions, co-develop formulations with them and/or staff team, design staff supports around that and develop training. I see my role as being part clinician, part educator, and part advocate, always aiming to look at the ‘whole person’ in their wider social world.

In Centric Mental Health, I undertake ADHD and Autism assessments for both children and adults. I use structured diagnostic tools and collaborate with the multidisciplinary teams to ensure clients receive holistic, person-centred recommendations. I also provide clinical supervision to Assistant Psychologists.

Sometimes, the biggest challenge is the complexity, when you’re working with people whose lives have been shaped by multiple factors. Navigating systemic barriers or limited funding and resources can be frustrating. And of course, keeping on top of new research and approaches means there’s always something to learn. But these challenges keep me sharp and motivated.

What I enjoy most is the chance to work holistically, seeing people who use our service and clients as whole people with their own stories, strengths, and challenges. Health psychology allows me to step back and look at the full context of a person’s life, which makes the work feel meaningful and grounded.

I love using behaviour change techniques creatively to empower people, helping them make small but significant changes that improve their quality of life. Working with diverse populations and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams adds richness to my day and keeps me constantly learning.

Beyond the clinical work, my involvement with the Psychological Society of Ireland’s Special Interest Group in Human Rights and Psychology, and my role with Hub na nÓg as a facilitator and report writer, allow me to stay connected to systemic and advocacy work. Being part of youth participation projects and human rights initiatives reminds me why this work matters so deeply, it’s about creating change not just for individuals, but for the systems around them.

Seeing people, I work with held back by systemic issues like stigma, poverty, or lack of resources and funding can be tough. But it just fuels my drive to keep pushing for change.

I bring a blend of clinical skills, research savvy, and a real commitment to understanding people systemically. My grounding in behaviour change techniques and frameworks like Power Threat Meaning Framework means I can tailor interventions that fit the person and their life context. My passion for systemic thinking helps me see beyond the individual to the wider social context impacting health.

I did 7 honours subjects for my Leaving Certificate. Biology and Chemistry gave me a solid understanding of how our bodies and brains work, which is essential for psychology. Geography helped me think about environment and context. Maths was a key player in my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today without those skills for statistics and research, required for psychology. I also took English, Irish and French. Language subjects developed my communication and critical thinking skills, all of which support my holistic approach as a Health Psychologist.

My professional doctorate in health psychology has been the foundation of how I work today. It taught me to integrate research, theory, and practice seamlessly, and to think across both micro and macro levels, whether that’s using behaviour change techniques in a one-to-one session or contributing to service redesign and systemic advocacy. The competencies I developed through my training, particularly in systems-level work, intervention design, consultancy, and critical reflection, are at the heart of my daily practice.

I also draw heavily on the skills I developed in qualitative research and rights-based participatory methods, which are essential for working in a way that is inclusive and grounded in real-world experiences. My CBT training and clinical supervision certification have been vital for direct client work and for supporting colleagues through supervision.

One of the highlights of my career was developing a group sleep intervention for neurodiverse adolescents attending a pupil referral unit in the UK. Working directly with the young people and shaping the programme based on their input was something truly special. They didn’t just benefit from the intervention, they went on to share their learning with peers, and together we co-developed training for doctors, nurses, youth justice organisations, and other local health professionals. Seeing their voices ripple out into the wider community was incredibly rewarding, and publishing this intervention gave their work lasting impact.

I am also proud of one of my research projects, which examined the impact of school closures on Irish children at risk of early school leaving during the Covid-19 pandemic. This project gave children a platform to have their experiences heard and taken seriously, and was published, again giving their voices lasting impact. I was honoured to receive the Stage 2 British Psychology Society Award in the UK for this work, as well as Staffordshire University’s award for Outstanding Contribution to Psychology. Beyond the recognition, what mattered most to me was seeing change happen: the three Irish DEIS schools involved in the research introduced universal and targeted sleep interventions in response to our findings, and the research helped shape their School Completion Programme’s Annual Retention Plan, influencing TUSLA’s future funding decisions with that catchment to better support children at risk.

I am equally proud of my ongoing work in systemic advocacy. Through the Psychological Society of Ireland’s Special Interest Group in Human Rights and Psychology, and my involvement with Hub na nÓg, I get to live out my values, ensuring that young people and vulnerable groups have a voice in the policies and services that affect them. For me, the most rewarding moments are always those where research, advocacy, and real-world change come together.

I’m naturally curious, always eager to learn something new. Empathy helps me connect with clients, and patience keeps me steady through tough moments. I’m organised, which is essential when juggling different roles and responsibilities. Above all, I care deeply about seeing the bigger picture, the systemic factors that impact both mental and physical health.

I’d love to keep growing as a health psychologist, leading programmes that integrate human rights and systemic approaches into everyday mental health care. If I could, I’d run a community initiative that really breaks down stigma and offers meaningful support, based on frameworks like Power Threat Meaning Framework. Helping shape policy and practice in that way would be the dream

I’ve intentionally built a portfolio career that blends direct client work, psychological assessment, training development, supervision, systemic advocacy, and youth participation. This variety keeps me curious and engaged, and allows me to align my work with my values: lifelong learning, community contribution, and promoting meaningful change, even when it means taking less traditional paths as a health psychologist.

My current role with RehabCare gives me a healthy balance between work and life. I can spend time with family and friends, pursue my own interests, and continue to grow professionally. The flexibility and opportunities for progression keep me motivated, while the heart of my work, supporting vulnerable people and contributing to a fairer mental health system, gives me a deep sense of purpose and fulfilment.

Be curious and kind, those are the heart of psychology. Get as much experience as you can, whether through volunteering or placements to work out what area you might like to focus on. Psychology is a varied and rich subject.

Learn to see beyond symptoms to the whole person and their context. Strong research skills help a lot, as does a passion for human rights and social justice. You need to enjoy learning. To become a chartered psychologist, you undertake a degree (typically 3 years), a Master (typically 1 year) and a Doctorate (typically 3 years). Each are highly competitive to get in to so having a varied experience in for example, community mental health settings and research, would be necessary. It is also important to note that there are many opportunities for health psychologists in the NHS in the UK but there is a HSE recruitment issue as currently they hire Clinical, Educational and Counselling Psychologists. However, I have been able to navigate this through working in the non-profit sector, education, universities, HSE funded community organisations, and through private practice.. It’s a challenging but incredibly rewarding career.

Empathy, kindness, and curiosity. You need all three to keep going and keep learning.

Need for more funding allocation to disability services.

Ongoing CPD keeps my work current and evolving, health psychology is a field that constantly adapts to new evidence and the changing needs of the communities we serve, and that’s one of the things I love about it. RehabCare places huge value on CPD and staff development, and are very supportive of any training or further education we want to undertake.

For both, beyond the obvious psychology education requirements, any experience working with vulnerable groups, especially young people or people with disabilities, is invaluable. Volunteering with mental health charities, or working in healthcare or community services, gives great insight.

Specifically, for Centric Mental Health you would need to have training and/or experience in ADHD and Autism assessments

Staff grade psychologist - I work for RehabCare four days a week and Centric Mental Health one day a week.