Meet the ICPPD Tutors

Miriam Finnerty

Miriam Finnerty MIACP, is a skilled and experienced counsellor and psychotherapist who applies an integrative person-centered approach and believes every human is unique, the client is the expert and the one who can implement the right change in their life. Miriam is a Shamanic and Rahanni Practitioner and can incorporates energy and spiritual practices in her integrative approach to support the alignment of the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the Self. Miriam is empathetic, authentic, non-judgemental, compassionate, respectful, ethical and provides a uniquely tailored approach for her clients.

Miriam received a Bachelor Degree in Counselling from the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Western Australia and a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy from ICPPD, Athlone, Ireland. Miriam has worked as a therapist in not-for-profit organisations in Australia and in Ireland, along with a large employee assistance program in Ireland.

Miriam works in private practice, Spring Sanctuary Counselling & Psychotherapy, in County Galway and she offers face to face and online holistic services. In early 2023, Miriam began tutoring for ICPPD, she is passionate about teaching and feels privileged to support the development of the learners knowledge of holistic counselling and psychotherapy while enhancing their personal understanding and growth.

Miriam Finnerty is an Accredited Member of the Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy M13967

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Alison Joyner

Allison Joyner is an accredited psychotherapist and supervisor, group facilitator and lecturer in the fields of psychotherapy and supervision.  She has been teaching in third level education since 2006, primarily in the fields of existentialism and psychodynamic perspectives. 

She is passionate about every person’s freedom to choose a life of well-being and inner peace and her teaching methods incorporate this perspective for both the trainee and future clients. 

Her primary qualifications include :  
Bachelor of Arts in Counselling & Psychotherapy
Masters in Supervisory Practice
Post Grad Professional Certificate in Group Facilitation
Post Grad Certificate in Jungian Psychology with Art Therapy
Post Grad Certificate in Mediation Skills

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Melanie McGovern

Dr. Melanie Lohan McGovern is an IACP accredited psychotherapist. She qualified with a doctorate in psychotherapy by professional studies, from Middlesex University, London. Her primary professional qualification was in optometry. She worked in this profession for over a decade, before returning to college to further educate. She furthered her education in philosophy, iridology, nutrition, holistic counselling and psychotherapy. Shortly after, Melanie continued on to attain a first class Masters degree in psychotherapy and counselling.

In 2020 Melanie was the recipient of the IACP research bursary award. Further in 2021, her research succeeded to claim the IACP’s research excellence award. In addition, Melanie has disseminated her research findings at the European Conference for Mental Health and designed workshops to enable advanced learning. Additional works include publication on her research findings in both academic and journal format, i.e European Journal for Qualitative Research in Psychotherapy and The IACP journal.

Melanie works from her private practice in Salthill, Galway. She endorses an existential –humanistic approach. Her work is based on evidence-based practice. As her practice matures existential philosophies and reframing of old psychodynamic theories supports her work. The nurturing of the therapeutic relationship is central to Melanie’s philosophical approach.

Melanie tutors group process with ICPPD. She is a research supervisor for the final year research projects and is one of the core tutors of ICPPD.

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Ciara McGriskin

Ciara has been working in the area of Adult Education and Training for over 20 years and has extensive experience as a Trainer and Group Facilitator.

Ciara holds a number of qualifications including a Master’s in Counselling & Psychotherapy (MA) specialising in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, A Degree in Arts (BA) specialising in Training & Education and a Professional Diploma in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy. Ciara has worked as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist in a number of community-based organisations and in private practice since 2013.

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Sharon O’Farrell

Sharon O’Farrell is an IACP and IAHIP accredited psychotherapist and clinical supervisor with almost 20 years of solid experience of working in one-to-one and group settings.

As a Humanistic and Integrative psychotherapist, Sharon draws from a variety of approaches from her ‘‘therapeutic toolbox’’.  Sharon has a genuine commitment and love for continuous professional development and has additional trainings and qualifications in areas such as Clinical Hypnotherapy, Psychosomatic Bodywork, Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Psychotherapy, Creative Expressive Arts and Trauma Recovery, Relationship Coaching.  She also completed additional training in the USA with Dr. Ed Lynch and William Mannle at the New England Center for Systemic and Family Constellations in Connecticut, USA.

Sharon brings a combination of academic knowledge, training and professional experience to her work underpinned by solid psychotherapeutic approaches.  As a result of her own enriching experience of psychotherapy, her own curiosity and interest in human potential was heightened.  This led her on a journey of becoming a psychotherapist to  help people reach their potential and gain an overall sense of wellbeing.

Sharon also has a vast interest in the areas of art and creativity, Transpersonal Psychotherapy and the field of Metaphysics and energy healing and is also a Reiki practitioner. She incorporates this into her work – where appropriate – in order to help people explore their inner potential, connect with all aspects of their Self: emotionally, psychologically, mentally, physically and spiritually, in order to find meaning and purpose in their lives. On a sidenote, she is also known for her healing work with horses in particular.

Her broad skills and years of experience as a psychotherapist allow her to treat each person as the unique individual they are, with sessions that are finely tailored to and attuned to the person’s own needs.  She is passionate about teaching and alongside her work as a Tutor and Research Supervisor with ICPPD, Sharon maintains a busy private practice in County Meath as a Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor.

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Mark McGuire

Mark is an accredited Psychotherapist and Supervisor with the IACP and holds an MA in Child, Youth and Family Studies along with a B.Sc. in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Mark has post-graduate qualifications in CBT and has trained with Dr Aaron Beck in The Beck Institute in Philadelphia. Mark has also received post-graduate qualifications in Traumatology and EFT and has worked extensively with adult survivors of childhood abuse. Mark has also worked with adolescents presenting with complex needs and challenging behaviours in both therapeutic and residential settings.

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Martha McKeon Lynch MSc 

Martha completed her diploma in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy with the International College of Personal and Professional Development and her master’s degree in Adolescent Psychotherapy with Dublin Counselling & Therapy Centre which is affiliated with the University of Northampton. Martha is a trauma informed, humanistic and relational psychotherapist and specialises in adolescent psychotherapy and development. As well as working as a tutor for ICPPD, Martha runs a busy private practice as a psychotherapist in Galway City. She works with adults in a range of areas and supports many young people and their parents.

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Ciaran Mahony

Ciaran Mahony has been working as a humanistic and integrative psychotherapist for the past twenty years. His many qualifications and trainings include the following areas: Psychodynamic, Person Centred, Gestalt, art and creative processes, body based approaches, trauma informed approaches, working with young persons and adolescents and existential and transpersonal philosophies. He also has a keen interest in the areas of male mental health and gender and sexuality. He has also worked as a clinical supervisor for the past five years and has more recently begun tutoring on psychotherapy trainings. Ciaran believes that individuals are truly unique and endeavours to support them to become more acquainted with the needs of their most authentic or true self and to allow this true essence or spirit to guide their life journey. This often involves an inner journey which can be painful but ultimately leads to a much more fulfilling engagement with ourself and those around us. He brings this philosophy to his work with clients, students and supervisees.

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Christine Moran

Dr. Christine Moran is Academic Director at ICPPD. 

Christine holds a Doctorate in Psychotherapy from the Metanoia Institute and Middlesex University.  She is founding member of ICPPD,  New Beginnings Counselling and Psychotherapy Services and Dear Precious Being Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre.

Christine also holds an M.A in Holistic Development for Pastoral Ministry, a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Supervision and training in Expressive Arts. She is an IACP accredited therapist and supervisor. She received the prestigious IACP Carl Berkley award in recognition of her work in the field of counselling and psychotherapy in Ireland.

She is also a module tutor, and a senior faculty member at the College and has specific interest in holistic education and humanistic principles in counselling and psychotherapy training including the importance of personal development.

She has written a book Dear Precious Being, and several articles and blogs and has presented at national and international conferences.

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Liz Sugar

Liz qualified in 2004 having trained with the Tivoli Institute, followed by an additional year at PCI.    She moved to the Midlands in 2009 and established her practice in Moate.  She also qualified as a supervisor in 2011.  She has been with ICPPD since 2011 and has held her current role as Clinical Practice Co-Ordinator and In House Supervisor since 2012.  She is passionate in her commitment to being part of training the next generation of psychotherapists and being part of a college that supports a holistic training. Her practice is both cross professional supervision and psychotherapy where she works from a humanistic stance. She is a past chairperson of the Midlands region IACP committee.

Qualifications:

Diploma in Advanced Reflexive Supervision

Advanced Diploma in Suicide Studies

BSc (1st Class Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy

Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy

Masters in Business Administration

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