Jigsaw Galway

Study and work

Before this, I worked with Foroige for a number of years and then in the HSE West GAF Youth Health Advice café as Teenage Health Co-ordinator and from here to Jigsaw Galway.

This was a natural move to make and I was excited to be joining what was a new innovative service working with young people around their mental health and wellbeing. It felt like the beginning of something greatly needed in our community that would make a difference in the lives of young people and families in Galway. I love my work and the people that I have worked with in the past and present. They’re a great bunch.

Work and Study

I’m a Clare woman who took off to Cork to study Social Care before going on a bit of a journey that ended up in Galway!

I worked for two years in Barretstown Gang Camp in Kildare before joining their pilot camp in Connecticut, USA – first as a theatre director and then as their entertainment director. I spent a year living, working and travelling through Australia, New Zealand & Bali before coming back to the Banner and working in Clare Youth Service for the bones of a decade. Finally, in 2018, I made the big move from Ennis to Galway to join Jigsaw and I haven’t looked back since!

Interests & Hobbies: Travelling (as far and as often as my budget will allow!), going to gigs, reading, cooking & baking and hanging out with family and friends.

Advice to my younger self!:

Work hard, travel far & don’t worry so much – you’ll be grand!

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

Work and Study

BA Psychology- Maynooth University

MSc Applied Psychology- Trinity College Dublin

Doctorate in Educational Psychology (DEdPsych)- University College Dublin

I worked for a number of years in education settings with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum – an area I feel particularly passionate about. During this time, I gained experience in special schools and mainstream settings, where I developed core skills in working with young people.

I spent a summer in Pennsylvania USA working on a camp with adults and young people with additional needs.

In relation to voluntary roles, I spent a summer in West Bengal India teaching children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Other voluntary experience includes working as a call facilitator with the ISPCC Childline.

As part of my doctoral training, I completed a number of professional placements which provided me with a range of experience working as an educational psychologist-in-training in both health and education settings.

Interests & Hobbies: I love to spend time alone, but I also love to socialise. I enjoy spending hours chatting with my family and/or friends.

I love to travel and experience different cultures.

I enjoy keeping active, but also love to relax on the couch with a good TV show or movie- it’s all about that balance!

Advice to younger self:

Make time for those that could benefit from some kind words and/or support.

Be true to yourself and do not worry about what others think.

Do more of what makes you happy!

Study and Work

I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Social Work.  My Master’s program focused on children and families with a family therapy approach.  I am registered as a social worker in Ireland and Canada.

I believe in continually learning and improving my skills.  As such, I have taken courses in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, etc.

As a social worker, I have worked in a variety of work settings.  My first social work jobs were in the hospital setting working with anyone from the time of birth to elderly.  I then worked with child and adolescent addiction and mental health teams where counselling service was often delivered in high schools.  Through this experience, I realised my passion for working with young people.  I very quickly realised that for young people to receive the best support, the service providers needed great support too!  At that point, I started supervising students and eventually began to supervise a team.  In Canada, I worked as a clinical coordinator for a team of helping professionals from all sorts of settings.  I am now very pleased to be the Clinical Manager for Jigsaw Roscommon and Jigsaw Galway!

Interests & Hobbies: Playing Rocksmith to learn guitar, reading, writing, painting and learning about natural ways to keep healthy!

Advice to younger self:

Try not to worry so much about what other people think and do what you love!

Study and Work

I qualified as a Mental Health Nurse with a B. Sc in Nursing (Mental Health) from NUIG in 2012. I did a Post Grad Certificate in Psychosocial Interventions in the Regional Centre for Nursing & Midwifery Education in 2015 before going on to Trinity College Dublin to complete a Post Grad Diploma in Mental Health (Psychosocial Interventions) in 2016. I have also completed trainings and workshops in areas including; Compassion Focused Therapy, Decider Skills, and Wellness Recovery Action Planning.

After qualifying in 2012 I worked in inpatient Adult Mental Health Services in Galway. In 2014 I moved to Dublin to work on a community based team in Adult Mental Health Services where I was for four years with the last year as a Clinical Nurse Manager in a Day Hospital. On the community team I worked with individuals as well as facilitating groups to support peoples mental health and well-being.

I then decided to move on to work with young people in Jigsaw Dublin City in 2018 before transferring to Jigsaw Galway. I really enjoy working in Jigsaw with young people and assisting them with understanding more about their experiences and with ways to cope with life’s stresses.

 Interests & Hobbies: In my spare time I enjoy walking while listening to a good podcast, reading, spending time in nature, going to gigs, and spending time with friends and family. I started kayaking last year and couldn’t think of a nicer way to explore Galway.

Advice to Younger Self: There’s value in every experience – it can be freeing to think everything happens for a reason and that the tough times teach us about ourselves and make the good times all the more special.

Study and Work

Prior to joining Jigsaw Galway, I worked as a Senior Jigsaw Clinician at Jigsaw Roscommon and Jigsaw Offaly. I trained as a social worker graduating from Salem State University in the US completing my internship at Boston Children Hospital.  I went on to take up the role of Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the hospital’s emergency and psychiatry departments where I was an instructor in the training program. I have also experience in community settings providing in home therapy services.

Interests & Hobbies: Forever following Mayo football team, some day we are going bring Sam home! I like cycling to work and playing a bit of five a side soccer. I love camping with the family and going out with my mates.

Advice to younger self:

As Jon Kabat-Zinn put it “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”

Study and Work

In 2018 I qualified from the University of Salford (UK) with a BSc in Occupational Therapy.

After graduating I worked as a key member of a multi-disciplinary team in a medium secure mental health unit in the UK. Within the unit I helped people to improve their wellbeing and independence through engaging in meaningful roles and activities. I also facilitated a range of therapeutic groups.

In 2020 I immigrated to Ireland and worked as part of a mental health team for homeless people where I supported individuals to improve their routines, manage their mental health and gain skills for independent living.

For many years prior to graduating I worked as part of the safeguarding team for the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted, UK).

Interests and Hobbies: In my spare time I enjoy catching up with friends and family. I also enjoy nature walks, reading, yoga, live music, and being cosy and watching films!

Advice to Younger Self: When you have a problem, just think, will this matter in a week… in a month… in a year? Your feelings are valid and it’s ok to ask for help.

Study and Work

I began my journey into mental health work training in alternative healthcare and learned Reiki and Reflexology, before going on to train as an Integrative Psychotherapist in 2004.

I’ve since gained an Honours Degree in Holistic Psychotherapy with ICPPD and a Diploma in Expressive Arts which brings an aspect of creativity to the work I do.

I volunteered with the Rape Crisis Centre for several years, gaining experience in the SATU unit and also volunteered in a Community Counselling Centre in Galway for several years gaining experience in one to one counselling with adults.

Before joining Jigsaw as a Clinician in 2021 I was several years working in Social Care as a support worker in Homeless Services, supporting men, women and young people in residential settings and outreach services.

Interests and Hobbies: I love living on an Island and being close to the sound, smell and feel of water and spend a lot of time in the outdoors with my 2 dogs tramping around woodlands and parks. I enjoy open water swimming which became a hobby for me during Covid times and dip regularly all year round.

When not out and about I love to relax and am often found with a good book or curled up watching something on TV or listening to music.

My favourite countries to visit are ones where food is a real celebration and full of flavour. I would love to visit Malaysia one day, the country of birth and travel more in general.

Advice to younger self: Be yourself, everyone else is taken

Laugh more, worry less

Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams, they will lead you to the best places