Olive O’Grady

 

Early Career and Training

Olive completed her BA in Humanities studying psychology and sociology through the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2008 Her research thesis focused on the influence of adolescent relationships on binge drinking.  She continued on to complete a two-year higher diploma in integrative psychotherapy through the University of Limerick.

In 2011 Olive went on to complete a Masters in Integrative Psychotherapy, where she conducted research with undergraduate students to investigate why people don’t seek help when in distress. She also completed a diploma in counselling supervision in IICP Dublin 2017.

Olive is an experienced psychotherapist and has been working in private practice for over ten years, seven of these at The Crescent, Lower Salthill in Galway and here at Evidence-based Therapy Centre since early 2019. In private practice, Olive has worked with mental health and personal issues with clients across the lifespan, with all sexual orientations as well as with families. Olive also has vast experience working with parents who have suffered a trauma at the birth of their child, mums who have had a difficult pregnancy, and with parents who have been bereaved.

Olive worked at the NUIG Student Counselling Service from 2011 to 2018.  In this role, she worked extensively with students who have mental health issues or distressing personal issues. Olive also worked as a programme manager with the YOULEAD youth mental health research group and the PSYCHE Improving psychosocial supports in youth mental health with Professor Gary Donohoe and colleagues at the School of Psychology NUIG from September 2018 until August 2021. She is now focussing solely on her therapeutic work at EBTC.

Specialist training and supervision

Olive has embarked on further specialist training and supervision over the last three years.  Olive developed a keen interest in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), a therapeutic approach developed by Prof Paul Gilbert for clients that have patterns of self-criticism and shame, with the aim of develop a more compassionate relationship with the self.  Olive completed the introductory and advanced CFT programmes and then went on to do specialist CFT perinatal training with Dr Michelle Cree and group CFT therapy skills with Kate Lucre.  She has received specialist CFT supervision since starting at EBTC to integrate these trainings into her practice. Olive also completed further trainings with Irvin Yalom on ‘A matter of death and life’ and An Introduction to Psychoanalysis with the Freud Lacan Institute Ireland.  More recently, Olive developed an interest in working with people who have problems with eating and is currently studying a specialist CBT-E programme in Oxford University. 

Approach to Therapy

Olive is an integrative therapist, meaning she uses a number of approaches in her work. She blends humanistic, existential and gestalt therapies alongside psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioiural and Compassion Focused Therapies. The approach used is tailored to the individual’s needs.

The psychodynamic approach focuses on the unconscious conflicts from early life that may cause difficulties in day to day living and relationships. This work is based on a strong therapeutic relationship and may involve working through some painful experiences. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) explores locked in thoughts and current patterns and questions how this can be done differently. The humanistic approach provides a genuine, safe and non-judgemental place where you are listened to. The existential approach helps you to work with uncomfortable feelings and explores why and how they affect the way you react to life’s situations. The gestalt approach brings your awareness to your feelings in the here and now. The blocks you are experiencing in life are explored through the therapeutic relationship. Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) focuses on developing the compassionate self so that you can relate to parts of you that are struggling in a helpful way. 

Perinatal Therapy

Olive runs the perinatal therapy service in partnership with our specialist women’s health physiotherapist Sylvia Farrell. Olive has been providing specialist perinatal therapy since 2015. She is highly experienced using evidence-based interventions to alleviate the psychological distress that can be associated with pregnancy and birth. You can learn more about our perinatal service here.

Memberships

Olive has been an accredited professional member of the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP) since 2011.

Appointments and hours of work

Olive can offer appointments from Mondays to Thursday. If you would like to book an appointment for our assessment clinic to be matched with the right therapist for you, please call Evidence-Based Therapy Centre on 091-727777 or get in touch via the contact page.