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What were the main 'career decision' milestones in your life so far?
Who are the people who most influenced your career direction?
My parents example of being self-employed likely set me on the path to do that too. Work models have changed quite a bit in recent years.
The binary of working in a job for life, or just moving from project to project doesn’t hold in quite the same way. My work as a consulting psychologist in private practice lets me work on long term projects with colleagues, while also moving between interesting shorter term projects.
How did you go about getting your current job?
I started off in media, particularly film, television and radio. I knew that what I liked most was creating experiences, and helping people to feel differently. I was also passionate about technology.
It was a bit confusing at first, but over time I learnt that the intersection of a lot of the things I liked could be found in psychology. Now I’m a psychologist who specialise in mental health policy and the intersection of psychology and technology.
Describe a typical day?
No two days are quite the same, as I might be seeing clients, working on reports, tending to organisational duties in my roles on the boards of both the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations and the Psychological Society of Ireland, or speaking at a meeting or conference in Ireland or internationally.
I also focus on mental health policy and advocacy, with a particular focus on the European Commission and World Health Organisation.
This work involves a combination of research, writing papers and attending meetings and giving presentations to help create positive change.
What are the main tasks and responsibilities?
The majority of my work is either focused on helping to solve problems or help with positive development. This can be on a personal, group or organisational level.
I particularly focus on taking experiential approaches. This can involve turning academic research into practice, using simulators to help practice behavioural change, or facilitating meditative practice to help clients feel more at ease in the present moment.
What are the main challenges?
What do you like most?
Is there anything that isn't great?
What particular skills do you bring to your workplace?
Liking people and genuinely having fun working, while also treating it with the professionalism that it deserves, are the main qualities I value.
An integrative and diverse background that draws on the technical and the creative also helps. But key is not trying to have all the skills yourself, but recognising them in the people you work with, so you can help facilitate.
What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?
A combination of psychology, cognitive science, applied therapeutic training, communications, film-making, media production, IT, meditation and architecture.
Each topic area felt right, though it was a bit confusing at the time to see how it all came together, but it turns out that I would have found it hard to do my current role without every component.
What is your education to date?
A chaotic secondary school education, primarily because of moving a lot through different jurisdictions, followed by lots of specific courses in media and technology, then intherapy and facilitation.
That all led to studying psychology, and eventually completing a PhD focused on experiential learning and work on developing Mixed Reality Therapy.
What aspects of your education have proven most important for your job?
What have been the most rewarding events in your career so far?
What personal qualities do you have that helps you in your career?
What is your dream job?
Does your job allow you to have a lifestyle you are happy with?
Building your profession around your interests just makes sense. Think how much time we freely put into leisure activities that we enjoy. If you enjoy your work, it’s substantially easier to engage more fully in your career.
My work offers a nice combination of meeting interesting people, the satisfaction of helping people, and the opportunity to travel and engage in media projects.
It can also be busy at times, with a need to multitask and ensure work-life balance, but that challenge is part of the fun.
What advice would you give to someone considering this job?
What are the three most important personal characteristics required for the job?
What is your pet hate at work?
Have you undertaken, or do you plan to undertake any further training as part of your job?
What kinds of work experience would provide a good background for this position?
- Career Development?
- Current Job?
- Education and Training?
- Personal Qualities?
- Advice for Others?