Katie O’Donoghue, is a child and young people’s therapist with a background in fine art and design. She has a master’s degree in Art Psychotherapy and is currently completing a PhD in Health Psychology at University College London. Katie has written three beautiful books The Little Squirrel Who Worried, The Little Otter Who Tried and her most recent release The Little Lamb Who Led. Young readers will love each one of these beautifully illustrated books. You can purchase them now worldwide.

This weeks guest is Gráinne Lavin. She is an holistic therapist based in Dublin, Ireland. “Grá for Wellness it's my passion to help mothers of Differently Wired & Highly Sensitive children” she says. “Through EFT 'Tapping' and my other tools I can help you find acceptance and inner peace to live a happier healthier life in tandem with you child.” Gráinne specialises in EFT Tapping. Which is a powerful stress relief technique. Tapping is based on the combined principles of ancient...

On todays episode we speak with Heidi Morrison, Co-Founder of Soearth Projects & Art Psychotherapist; Rory Adams Senior Music Therapist and Clinical Supervisor based in Kildare and Wicklow; Marguerite Collins also a Music Therapist based in Dublin and Kildare and lastly Tracey Costello Dramatherapist and Social Care Worker based in Dublin and Wicklow. Soearth Projects integrate the use of the arts and nature for mental health and wellness. We are passionate about nature, creativity and...

Katie Fitzpatrick is a Music Therapist based in Limerick, Ireland. She is the Irish representative for the European Music Therapy Confederation. She has been a music therapist under the name Melody Tree since 2018. Katie's main field of work is chronic pain and mental health. She worked at the University of Limerick as a clinical tutor and PhD researcher and as we hear in the podcast she has just started her new job as the Senior Music Therapist with the pain team at Croom Orthopaedic...

Eithne McAdam is an experienced therapist in the area of service development, adult mental health, addiction and homelessness. She is also a qualified clinical supervisor and an accredited member of IACAT. Eithne McAdam is a practicing Art Therapist and one of the senior members of the Creative Therapy Service within First Fortnight. First Fortnight, provide the highest standard of free Creative Therapies to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness, affected by...

Monica is a qualified and fully registered Dramatherapist from Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Heartwork Studio is her very own wellness service offering workshops to encourage overall wellness, using the arts- visual art, drama, movement, writing, and music. Her workshop topics cover things like relaxation, connection, identity, self esteem, healthy relationships, self care, boundaries, resiliency. Participants will explore these topics (and more!) through artistic and creative...

Monica provides sliding-scale, expressive arts therapy for individuals, couples, and families of all configurations. Sessions are accessible to all regardless of income or insurance. She works collaboratively and often use creative interventions to process unresolved emotions and experiences.Monica takes a family systems lens, and respects each person's autonomy while also recognizing the dynamic ways family systems, society, and culture shape us. Currently Monica works MY VOICE MUSIC (MVM)...

Dr. Pat Bracken is a Consultant Psychiatrist who recently retired from his position as Clinical Director of the West Cork Mental Health Service. He has worked in Ireland, Africa and New Zealand. He holds a doctorate in Philosophy and was Professor of Philosophy, Diversity and Mental Health at the University of Central Lancashire. He is also one of the co-founders of the critical psychiatry network. In this episode Dr. Pat Bracken and I discuss Mens Mental Health and the use of Creative Arts...

Evelyn Horan is an Irish Music therapist and practicioner in guided Imagery and Music. She has a wealth of experience from her years as a national school teacher and her time in Peru. In 1995, she went to New York to train as a Music Therapist. In this episode we hear about her experiences from 1998 – 2002, where she worked as a Music Therapist and Spiritual Co-Ordinator in a predominantly Jewish hospital in the Bronx, New York. She shares stories from her work with survivors of 9/11 when the...

Rowena Keaveny is a Registered Level 2 Professional Member Therapist with the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online ACTO Rowena is also a professionally qualified art therapist based in Offaly, Ireland. She hold a First Class Honours MA in Art Therapy from Crawford College of Art & Design. She uses mixed media in heart therapy room and online. She is also the coeditor of IACAT's online journal Polyphony.We chat about the various tools, applications and devices she incorporates...

Sarah West, MPA, BA(Hons), DKATI - Sarah is a graduate from The Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. Environmental Arts Therapy is Sarah's specialization - a modality akin to earth therapy and nature therapy. She is a professional member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association as well as a climate-aware therapist with the Climate Psychology Alliance. Environmental arts therapy is an intentionally structured and accompanied process that uses creative methods in relationship with the earth to support...

On the podcast this week is Suzie Cahn She is an Art Therapist with a focus on nature and ecology. Suzie was chair of IACAT in 2008. Suzie is the Social Enterprise Officer and Community Educator in the Higher Education team at An Cosán. She has a deep commitment to community led social change and climate justice through the creation of local livelihoods. Suzie co-founded a social enterprise called Carraig Dulra and has served as informal advisor and formal member for a diverse range of...

Wicklow native, Liz Gleeson joins me on the podcast this week. She is a Dramatherapist (Masters qualified) since 2004 and is a full professional member of IACAT. She also has qualifications in MSc Bereavement Studies and MA in Counselling & Psychotherapy, Liz’s approach is well grounded in theory & practice. In 2019, Liz set-up the podcast ‘Shapes Of Grief’ and has 80 wonderful episodes to date. Here are just some of the topics discussed: Children’s grief, lgbtq+ grief, widowhood,...

Psychologist Jennifer Ryan. Contact details [email protected] obtained her BSc in Psychology in 2003 and graduated from the University of Leicester with a MSc in Applied Forensic Psychology in 2006, with a special interest research in the role of gender and moral development on aggression in adolescence. She also has a Higher Diploma in Educational Guidance and Counselling from DCU and has completed her training in Conflict Resolution with Northside Mediation. She is a part-time...

On the podcast this week is Art Therapist, Amelia Hutchison. A graduate of Kutenai Art Therapy Institute and a member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association. She works with adults, supporting them through Post Traumatic Growth, Grief, Human Trafficking and Life Transitions. Amelia sees couples and individuals online via zoom. She is also a podcaster, her podcast show is Art Therapy I.R.L. It explores why creativity is a crucial tool for mental health in the wake of collective grief and...

Bill Ahessy is a senior music therapist working with older adults/dementia care and with children & adolescents with additional needs. He sat on the executive council of the Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists for two years. He also runs a supervision practice for music therapists. Is a lecturer, clinical placement supervisor and researcher. Bill has been involved in researching since he graduated. He worked for one year as a lead clinical researcher on a randomised control...

Joanne O' Dwyer is an art psychotherapist living and working in the midlands. Joanne moves around to different schools and services providing both individual and group art therapy to people of all ages and abilities. Joanne works both in the community and in private practice. Please visit her website for more information. https://www.arttherapywithjoanne.ieYou can find out more about where she works from her https://www.thedancingsoul.ie/practitioner/joanne-odwyer/ See acast.com/privacy for...

Diagnosed with bipolar more than 12 years ago at the age of 21, Sineád discusses the importance of language when discussing mental health. Sineád also shares some reflections on her experiences with stigma in Irish health care settings. We learn more about how life is for her now, a year on since our first interview in September 2020. How life differs as a Mum of 16 month old twins and living through the pandemic! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Katie O’Donoghue , author and illustrator of The Little Squirrel Who Worried, received their BA in Fine Art & Design and a first class MA in Art Psychotherapy from Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork. Katie is a fully accredited Art psychotherapist, with experience working with children and adults in schools, charities and children’s mental health services . In 2017 She was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions scholarship and is currently in the final stages of a PhD in...

In this episode I chat with members of the editorial board of Polyphony ( the online platform for Irish Creative Arts Therapists) The POLYPHONY project aims to provide an online space for creative arts therapists in Ireland and beyond to share key insights and innovations, as part of enhancing the profession and practice of the arts therapies. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jessica Harris - Music therapist - https://www.mindmusic.ie  My career began as a musician studying at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and I have performed throughout Ireland and the U.K. with orchestras and ensembles such as the National Symphony and National Concert Orchestras of Ireland. My love for connecting with and supporting people of all ages and abilities then led me to music therapy and in 2010 I completed my Masters in Music Therapy at UL. Following graduation I began work with...

Noémie is a DMP based in South Donegal, originally from France. She trained in Dance and Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) in Goldsmiths University London, UK.Noémie wants to work with people to help them find a sense of themselves and peace and grounding through their therapeutic relationship and the use of movement.You might not think that DMP is for you, but it is! Dance Movement Psychotherapy is one of the Creative Arts Therapies where movement and dance are used to explore and make...

Dr Jason Noone is a qualified music therapist working in Clare and Limerick. He works mostly with children and adults with developmental disabilities, favouring a person-centred approach. He specialises in developing innovative applications of music technology for creative music making in disability contexts. Jason's doctoral research used participatory and rhizomatic methods to investigate these applications in collaboration with service owners at Enable Ireland. Enable Ireland is a...