AP Call: Dara O Mahony & Saoirse Hughes (Trainee Clinical Psych UofG)

Join Dara & Saoirse for this 1 hour informal discussion where she will share her experience and answer questions. This is a great chance to find out about opportunities for learning & to ask about the course.

Training & Experience:

Dara completed a BSc in Psychology at Dublin City University and an MSc in Applied Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. Prior to commencing the DClin programme at UCG, I gained experience across clinical and educational settings in Ireland and internationally.

In Ireland, I worked as a voluntary Assistant Psychologist with Social Anxiety Ireland before joining a child and adolescent Primary Care Service. In this role, I supported young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and contributed to parent psychoeducational programmes. My work also included school-based outreach, where I delivered psychoeducational workshops to secondary school students focused on fostering emotional literacy.

My international experience includes working in a private paediatric mental health clinic in Dubai. This service provided psychological support to children and adolescents presenting with a range of psychological difficulties, alongside cognitive and educational assessment.

I'm Saoirse, a first-year trainee clinical psychologist at the University of Galway. I completed my BA in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Limerick in 2022, and I am due to graduate from my MSc in Applied Psychology at Trinity College Dublin this November. Shortly after finishing my undergrad, I started working as an assistant psychologist in a HSE child and adolescent primary care psychology service, primarily doing individual and group interventions. I then transitioned to an AP role in a private service completing the Assessment of Need. I also have volunteer experience with BodyWhys and Aware, primarily facilitating online groups and supporting individuals working through a CBT-informed online programme. 

Dara & Saoirse are currently trainees on the Clinical Psychology Doctorate at the University of Galway.