Daire is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland (P.S.I.) (C. Couns. Psychol., Ps.S.I.) and possesses a Professional Doctorate in Psychotherapy. He works therapeutically with children, young people and adults as well as offering a consultative service, family therapy based interventions, parent support, clinical supervision and training.

His professional background is rich and varied including: secondary schools; the HSE’s National Counselling Service (working with adults who experienced abuse in childhood), the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Counselling Support Service (ARCCS); St. Clare’s child sexual abuse assessment and therapy service; and Five Rivers Fostering. Prior to qualifying as a Counselling Psychologist, he worked as a residential Social Care Leader, working with young people in care, as a member of An Garda Siochana (Irish Police Force), in Dublin Simon Community and Youth & Community Services.

His therapeutic approach aims to be holistic and person-centred with the intention of meeting people where they are at in a compassionate, soulful and down to earth manner. It is an integrative style of therapy that is collaboratively tailored to the individual needs of each person.

Daire has many years experience of closely working with parents and assisting them with the many challenges that naturally arise. He has trained in a number of evidence based parenting approaches including Filial Therapy (Parent-child play therapy), Emotion-Focused Family Therapy and the Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) Programme. He is passionate about supporting parents, helping them explore what is happening and collaboratively designing practical ways of helping. His approach centres on assisting parents develop and maintain positive parent-child relationships while setting firm and gentle limits where needed.

The research component of Daire’s Doctorate in Psychotherapy analysed the in depth and personal psychotherapy experiences of young people in foster care providing unique insights that have helped inform his therapeutic work. He is a Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy/parenting/practice (DDP) informed practitioner committed to offering tailored, understanding and trauma informed services to children/young people in care and their caregivers.

As a certified Filial Therapist - Supervisor and the designated Filial Therapy Instructor for Ireland, as well as Guest Lecturer on the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology Course in Trinity College Dublin/other university postgraduate programmes, he is keenly interested in training others and welcomes requests, tailoring training to your needs.

Daire is a fully trained Transpersonal Therapist, Shamanic Practitioner and Shamanic Counsellor. Transpersonal Therapy integrates spiritual traditions and rituals into modern psychology including meditation and mindfulness, breathwork, Reiki, shamanic journeying, guided imagery, journaling, and nature awareness. Daire offers a safe, compassionate, down to earth and practical approach to this ancient form of healing.

Recent publications include:

Gilmartin, D., McElvaney, R., & Corbally, M. (2022). “Talk to me like I’m a human” An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the psychotherapy experiences of young people in foster care in Ireland. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 36(1), 66–88. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2022.2062702

Gilmartin, D., & McElvaney, R. (2020). Filial Therapy as a core intervention with children in foster care. Child Abuse Review, Vol. 29: 159 - 166. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/car.2602