Our Team

Katrina Dennehy

Katrina is a senior Psychotherapist, Supervisor, Lecturer and owner of Smaointe CBT. Read her full bio here.

Amy Geary

Amy graduated with a BA (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy. She has been working with clients for just over 2 years now and has worked with presenting issues such as low mood, generalised anxiety and panic and self-esteem issues. Amy is an integrative therapist and supports her clients using a person-centred approach and may integrate CBT approaches.

Amy recognises the mind body connection in healing and as a qualified fitness coach and yoga practitioner she may bring this into her practice. Amongst many areas, she is interested in the regulation of the nervous system and the menstrual cycle for mental wellness.

Maureen Casey

Maureen graduated with an M.A. in Counselling & Psychotherapy and uses a Person Centred Therapy, CBT and Mindfulness as her core therapeutic approaches. She is currently working towards accreditation and comes from a nursing background, with over 20 years experience.

"Life brings plenty of challenges, and my passion is to help people overcome these. I use an integrative, humanistic approach in working with clients, and I am passionate about empowering, supporting and motivating people to reach their full potential."

Noel Dillon-Daly

Noel is an accredited psychotherapist who uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as a core element of treatment.

A member of the Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (IACP), he has extensive experience working with adults facing anxiety, depression, grief, OCD, intrusive thoughts, eating disorders, work-related stress, and more. With a goal-oriented approach and meticulous attention to detail, Noel helps clients gain clarity and develop practical strategies to manage their mental health.

Andrea Donovan

Andrea is a fully accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist offering integrative psychotherapeutic support to clients, with specialized training in CBT, Mindfulness and Adolescent Counselling. She completed her studies in 2014 and has been working in mental health services ever since.

Andrea has degree qualifications in Psychology, Youth Counselling, and Counselling and Psychotherapy and she frequently works with clients in areas such as anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, communication, low motivation, processing and managing emotions, dealing with change, and grief/loss.

Tara Kearns

Tara has Masters qualifications in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and
Healthcare Ethics and Law; a primary degree in Speech and Language
Therapy; and over 15 years of clinical experience. Tara has additional
qualifications in working with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Hearing
Impairment and Voice disorders. Tara is currently working towards
accreditation.

Using CBT, metacognitive and REBT techniques Tara works with
adolescents and adults presenting with anxiety, panic, depression, mood
disorders, low self-esteem, and communication difficulties. Tara is
particularly interested in the interaction between communication
disorders and mental health.

Vivienne Lillis

Vivienne is a pre-accredited counsellor with a BA (HONS) in Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has worked with clients with a variety of presenting issue and has a particular interest in the area of
trauma and the effect of domestic abuse having worked as a counsellor with Clare Haven Domestic Abuse Services.

She uses an Integrative, person centred approach with clients. Drawing on her background as a yoga teacher she encompasses grounding techniques and breathwork to provide a safe and calm space for her clients.

Tessa Kingston

Tessa is a fully accredited Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist. She draws from a variety of therapeutic backgrounds to tailor the experience to individual needs and preferences. Her approach is based in CBT and incorporates other therapeutic fields where appropriate.

Tessa’s style is person-centred and is rooted in trauma-informed, solution-focused, and psycho-educational principals.

“I meet people where they are. Every state is welcome. The focus is to make a safe space where we can co-create a plan using your strengths and capabilities to help you find your way.”

Tessa has worked with a variety of clients ranging from adolescents to retirees. Tessa also works as an ‘Adventure Therapist’ where she takes therapy outdoors and engages in activities as an alternative approach.

Tessa is also a PhD candidate in Psychology with Maynooth University!

Murray Mackenzie

Murray is a fully accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist registered with the BABCP (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies).

He completed an MSC in CBT in 2021 and has been delivering CBT to third level students ever since. Murray has an M.A in Psychology and a Post-graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing and has over 20 years of experience working in mental health. His work history also includes several years serving as a tree surgeon and he maintains a strong belief in the healing power of time spent in nature.

Murray delivers CBT which is informed by CFT (Compassion-Focused therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) skills and has experience adapting therapy for clients who are neurodivergent.

He provides CBT to adults struggling with mood and anxiety issues such as phobias, illness anxiety, panic disorder, generalised anxiety, OCD and PTSD which has developed following a single unanticipated event.

He also treats clients with transdiagnostic issues like low self esteem, clinical perfectionism and repetitive negative thinking.

Kevin Noonan

Kevin is a trainee Psychotherapist and is currently pursuing a BSc degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy and is working towards his accreditation.

As an integrative therapist, he employs a variety of therapeutic techniques, which allows him to tailor his approach to meet each client's unique needs and provide a personalised, supportive experience.

Kevin has a strong passion for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which he has found to be highly effective for his clients. He strives to create a welcoming environment where clients feel empowered to explore their challenges

Simona Pilloni

Simona is a qualified psychotherapist with nearly eight years of experience supporting autistic and neurodivergent young adults and their families. Through her work in a community-based service in Cork, she has developed extensive expertise in helping individuals navigate challenges related to anxiety, depression, stress, panic attacks, life transitions, self-harm and adjusting to a neurodivergent diagnosis.

Her therapeutic approach is compassionate and client-centered, with a strong emphasis on resilience and personal growth. Drawing inspiration from Stoic philosophy, Simona firmly believes that "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." This perspective forms the foundation of her work, helping clients develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, and a sense of empowerment in their lives.

Simona offers sessions in both English and Italian, making her services accessible to a diverse range of clients. She is currently working towards accreditation and remains committed to continuous professional development to ensure the highest quality of care. Simona is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to take control of their well-being.

Brigid Sinnott

Brigid is a trainee Cognitive Behaviour Therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience working as a behaviour analyst. Brigid has a Psychology degree, a Masters in behavioural disorders and is a board certified behaviour analyst, BCBA.

Brigid has extensive experience developing whole-person support plans and interventions for comprehensive behaviour change, wellbeing and life goals progression.

Brigid is a member of Psychological Society of Ireland, British Psychological Society, the Association for Behaviour Analysis International (ABAI), the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science (ACBS) and a student member of the BABCP.