I am delighted to be joined by PCI Lecturer, Simon Forsyth for a slightly different conversation today. Simon has written an essay called ‘On Flipping & Reversing: Life Lessons from Creativity, Diversity and Women in Hip-Hop’ which encompasses some thoughts, memories, learnings, and unlearnings related to an array of influences on his life and therapeutic practice, including music, Black feminism, personal power, writing, and collaborating. This is a really fascinating and thought-provoking ...
May 01, 2026•58 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Today’s episode explores the concept of spiritual bypassing which refers to the use of spiritual practices and beliefs to avoid dealing with our painful feelings, unresolved wounds and developmental needs. We use the book ‘Spiritual Bypassing – When spirituality disconnects us from what really matters’ by Robert Masters to guide the discussion. I am delighted to be joined by two PCI Faculty lecturers, Ramesh Ramsahoye and Andrew Twomey for this discussion. Andrew is an IACP accredited integrativ...
Apr 01, 2026•53 min
I am delighted to be discussing the topic of menopause in relation to counselling and psychotherapy with my guest Niamh Daly. Niamh has been teaching Hatha Yoga since 2004 and is a registered Senior Teacher and Teacher Trainer. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Nutrition Coaching, is a Pilates Mat 1 & 2 teacher and is a Somatic Education Coach. She specialises in menopause for movement professionals and talk therapists, providing balanced, evidence-based training, information and support. Her...
Mar 02, 2026•56 min
I am delighted to discuss the topic of social justice and therapy with my guest Shane Hickey-O’Mara. We explore what it is like to be a therapist working today with the many political, social and cultural issues which are impacting both the therapist and client. I feel Shane brings a unique insight to this conversation as he is both a qualified psychotherapist who graduated from PCI College in 2024 and in the same year was elected as a local councillor for the Social Democrats and proudly repres...
Feb 03, 2026•1 hr 1 min
This episode is all about hearing the clients perspective on what therapy is like. Eina McHugh is a creativity and creative leadership expert, a coach, educator, trainer, speaker and consultant. An Entrepreneurial Specialist with University College Dublin’s Innovation Academy, an Irish Fulbright Scholar and an Associate of the Institute of Public Administration, Eina leads at the forefront of experiential learning and human development. She supports people, from all backgrounds, to express creat...
Jan 08, 2026•1 hr
Niamh is an accredited psychotherapist with over 10 years’ experience. She runs a busy private practice, is an associate lecturer with PCI College, and is a mother of two children. She is living with a long-term illness and so brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work in trauma and mental health. Aoife currently works in private practice in Insight Matters in Dublin, working with both adults and adolescents. Aoife has a strong interest in and considerable experience wor...
Dec 01, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Today, we are discussing contracting with our clients and exploring what this means in theory and practice. We discuss how a therapist's understanding of, and comfort with, contracting can evolve through their career so that the contract provides a therapeutic frame for the work, as opposed to something which can feel like a block or needs to be gotten out of the way so the real work can begin. I am delighted to be joined by David Kelly and Colm Early for this episode. David Kelly is a pre-accre...
Nov 03, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Welcome back to a new season of the Therapists Talk Therapy podcast. We are starting off with a friend of the College, Willie Egan. We discuss the publication of his first novel, '125 West St.' which includes an exploration of how he came to be a therapist, the role that PCI College co-founder Liam McCarthy played, the process of writing the book and Willie's way of incorporating his authentic self and creativity in his work. We also discuss the need to take some risks and try new things in life...
Oct 01, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 36
This is the second of our Graduate Webinar episodes where we speak to the runner-up of the Martin Kitterick Award. This award is given to a fourth-year BSc thesis judged to be of very high quality with relevant and contemporary knowledge that deserves to be shared with the wider profession. This is a recording of a live event that was held recently for PCI students and alumni. I was delighted to be joined by faculty lecturers Colm Early and Ramesh Ramsahoye for the discussion. Our guest speaker ...
Jul 01, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Welcome to our Graduate Webinar episode. This is a recording of a live event held for PCI students and alumni recently, where we invited the winner of the Martin Kitterick Award to discuss their research with us. The award is given to the BSc Year 4 research thesis, which is judged to be of a very high standard, with knowledge to contribute to the wider profession. This year's winner was Eoin Shanahan with the thesis titled 'Exploring the Impact of Psilocybin on the Psychotherapeutic Experience'...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Today, we are discussing the role of assessment pre- and post-therapy with John Wills. John outlines the many reasons he actively uses evidence-based assessment tools in his client work. These include identifying and prioritising presenting issues and symptoms, informing case conceptualisation, measuring risk and measuring progress. We discuss how these tools can be used collaboratively and in an empowering way with clients. We also discuss a specific assessment type, the Hogan Personality Inven...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode, we explore what it means to be a child and adolescent psychotherapist. We look at how it can be different from adult psychotherapy in terms of its theoretical framework and practical application with clients. This also highlights how knowledge of working with children and adolescents can actually strengthen your work with adults. We examine some aspects of this work which people who don't work in the area may thing are challenging and highlight the essential role of training in ...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In this episode, we have a panel discussion on the topic of EDI in counselling and psychotherapy with my guests Jim Hutton, Ray O'Neill, Ejiro Ogbevoan, Ravind Jeawon and Jude Coughlan. The panel guests have a wealth of lived experience and knowledge in this area, with several being members of the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy's EDI Committee. We explore the formation and activities of the EDI committee which includes organising a yearly conference, organising networking eve...
Mar 01, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Today we are discussing the topic of suicide as an issue we may encounter in our client work. I am joined by Shane Morrow and Aisling Reidy for this important discussion. Shane is an integrated therapist working from a cognitive base and has been working as a counsellor since 2005. He has worked with schools in Northern Ireland and in the community, including Lifeline, the crisis intervention telephone service. Shane is a faculty lecturer with PCI College, as well as Year Head for years three an...
Jan 31, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode, Margaret welcomes Ray Tonge. Ray is a humanistic and integrative psychotherapist with over 19 years of experience and has been a faculty lecturer at PCI College for the past 7 years. Throughout his career, he has developed a keen focus on exploring the body and the unconscious within the therapeutic space. He is particularly interested in recognising ingrained holding patterns within the body and how these patterns can be shifted through observation and movement. Based in Dublin...
Jan 01, 2025•52 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode, we are exploring the range of ways in which therapists can use technology including the provision of sessions as well as organisation and payment systems, administration functions for notes and homework tasks and communication with clients. We talk about the issues which need to be considered when making the decision to use any type of technology, both for the therapist and client. These include practical, legal, ethical and financial aspects. The importance of conscious decisio...
Dec 01, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 28
I am delighted to be joined by Jody Day and Robin Hadley to discuss the topic of working with childless and child-free clients. Jody is the founder of Gateway Women, the global support and advocacy network for childless women. She is a psychotherapist, has Ted Talks on the topic and has written a book called ‘Living the Life Unexpected: How to Find Hope, Meaning and a Fulfilling Future Without Children’. Robin Hadley is an associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and a founder me...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Welcome to a new season of episodes of Therapists Talk Therapy. We start off with a discussion about ageism with my guest, Dr. Teresa Graham. Teresa works in private practice as a Counselling psychologist. She is a certified mediator and works as a Humanist celebrant. She is an associate lecturer with PCI College. We discuss what ageism is and how it can impact older people’s mental health and engagement with therapy. Teresa highlights the different narratives around this topic e.g. the wellness...
Oct 01, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Welcome to the second episode of the PCI Graduate Investigates series. This is with the winner of the Martin Kitterick Award, Rebecca Bourke and we discuss her thesis titled ‘Therapists with Attention Deficit: The Impact of Differences’. We did hold this as a live event for PCI students to attend in April. Unfortunately, we had a glitch with the recording so I’m very grateful for Rebecca for giving her time to re-record our conversation. I really wanted to share it on this wider platform as it i...
Jun 01, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Welcome to our PCI Graduate Investigates episode where we explore the 2023 Martin Kitterick Award second place thesis by Joan Kelly. The title of Joan’s thesis is ‘Does metaphoric imagery have a place in the therapist’s toolbox?’. We discuss how she came to pick this topic for her thesis, in tandem with her own exploration of the use of metaphor in her client work. She describes how metaphoric imagery needs to be a collaborative piece of work which helps to add depth to the therapeutic relations...
May 01, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Today we are discussing the topic of spirituality. This is a broad topic and one that can sometimes be hard to put into words, so I am delighted to be joined by returning guests, Gael Kilduff and Colm Early who share their perspectives. We discuss some definitions of what spirituality is and explore how it can inform your work as a therapist even if you don’t regard yourself as spiritual or ever sue the work with your clients. We discuss what it means to be truly present with your clients, to ho...
Apr 01, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Welcome to Therapists Talk Therapy. Today we are discussing grief and loss, with our guests Nuala McDonnell and Sharon Manifold. We explore the many ways we can experience loss in our lives, including but not limited to bereavement. We acknowledge the vital role therapists play in facilitating a non-judgemental space for clients to feel and express the wide range, and sometimes contradictory feelings which loss can raise. We reflect on the thought of therapists as professional grievers and highl...
Mar 01, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Today we are discussing anxiety and the cognitive behavioural therapy approach to working with it. We explore what anxiety is and how it can present in the therapy room, as well as the purpose and nature of the CBT approach. We discuss the empowering role of psychoeducation and explore some misconceptions of CBT, concluding that it must be integrated into a therapist’s way of working to be fully effective. My guest, John Wills, is a psychologist and CBT practitioner, specialising in anxiety diso...
Feb 01, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 21
This episode is about exploring the counselling and psychotherapy graduate experience. We discuss how it can look and feel different for everyone, and how it differs from other professions where the path might be more recognisable. We explore the idea of transitions as you move from being a student with many options to explore e.g., working with an organisation or private practice. When do you finally feel like a ‘real’ therapist? We acknowledge the mixed feelings which may exist as you no longe...
Jan 01, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 20
We are discussing the themes of productivity and busyness raised by clients in therapy. We explore the difference which can exist between being busy and productive and the key role core beliefs play in our feelings and behaviours around achievement, rest and worth. We highlight the impact of technology on our availability and discuss the role of self-care. In particular, we highlight the importance of self-awareness to help us notice our patterns, to enhance our sense of choice and move away fro...
Dec 01, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 19
We are celebrating International Men’s Day in today’s episode. It takes place on November 19th and highlights the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities. It raises awareness of positive male role models and men’s wellbeing. I am joined by Dan O Mahony, PCI Faculty lecturer and psychotherapist with Pieta. Dan generously shares his own story to demonstrate how society holds very strong ideas of what it means to be a man, e.g., what job you should have, how you should...
Nov 01, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Today I am discussing the topic of parental alienation with Brian O Sullivan. Parental alienation is a concept relevant to children and young people who inexplicably resist or refuse contact with a previously loving parent for no justifiable reason. We explore the history of this concept as well as the disagreement which exists around it. We discuss how it might show up in the therapy room through the use of case study examples. While it is usually worked with as part of a team, it is useful for...
Oct 02, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 17
I am joined by guest Suzanne O Connor to discuss health psychology. We explore what it is and discover how it is relevant to the daily work of therapists. This includes the connection between our beliefs about health and our behaviours, taking the biopsychosocial context into account for health issues and providing a non-judgemental space for clients to explore their options around potential health treatments. We look at how Covid highlighted the connection between physical and mental health. We...
Sep 01, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Welcome to our second PCI Graduates Investigates episode, where we will explore the 2022 Martin Kitterick award runner up thesis by Claire Ambrose. Her thesis title is ‘Visual Journaling: An Empowering Process to Support Emotional Regulation and Symptom Reduction in Trauma Survivors’. This is a very interesting discussion which explores the theory and research behind visual journaling and creative exercises, and its many practical applications in client work. We look at what might make creative ...
Jun 01, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Welcome to our PCI Graduate Investigates episode where we explore the 2022 Martin Kitterick Award winning thesis by Louise Clinton. Her thesis title is ‘Lost in Translation? Therapy in a Deaf World’. It is a fascinating and extremely relevant exploration of the experience of Deaf people in a majority hearing world, and specifically how this impacts their experience of therapy. We discuss the importance of recognising Deaf culture and that Deafness is a way of being, not a disability. We explore ...
May 01, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 14
