Do you experience sudden episodes of intense and overwhelming fear that seem to come on for no apparent reason? Read More

Clinical Disorders and Problem Areas

Extensive research on Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies has been carried out. It has been shown to be an effective form of treatment, particularly for the following:

Obsessional OCD

About Jackie O’Kelly

Jackie's professional background originates in psychiatric nursing. She completed her 3 year Registered Mental/Psychiatric Nurse training in Birmingham, UK in 1988.

Having developed an interest in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (CBT), in 1991 she successfully completed the English Nursing Board (ENB) 650 Course (Sheffield, UK) in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy. This highly respected course was of 18 months duration on a full time basis.

In 1997 she completed her M.Sc. in Practitioner Research at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Post Qualification Experience

During the final 6 months of and subsequent to her Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (CBT) training Jackie set up and established a CBT service in South Birmingham before returning to Sheffield at the end of 1991. She became Principal Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, which involved the clinical management of a large department of Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists in addition to retaining a significant clinical, supervisory and teaching role.

She was involved in the teaching and supervision of health professionals including GP's, hospital based medical staff, community psychiatric and ward based nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and other psychotherapists She particularly enjoyed her role as guest lecturer and supervisor on the ENB 650 course, training fellow Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists and was also a guest lecturer in the University of Central England at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences. She was an active member of regional CBT interest groups and was conscientious in relation to her ongoing professional development with regular attendance at CBT conferences, workshops and training events.
 
In 1995 Jackie moved to Ireland to work in the Department of Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy in St Patrick's Hospital, Dublin. She completed her Master's Degree in Research Methodology subsequent to her move to Ireland investigating the presence and experience of Body Image Disturbance in a Non Eating Disordered population. She also worked as a co-investigator on two research projects (1996 and 1998) investigating the efficacy of Paroxetine versus placebo in Social Phobia. She has also been involved in some media work with R.T.E. including "Leargas" and "Beastly Behaviour" as well as pre-recorded and live radio.

Although highly experienced with a wide range of problem areas, Jackie’s particular area of personal interest is in the range of anxiety disorders, including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder/OCD, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/PTSD, Generalised Anxiety Disorder/GAD, Health Anxiety/Hypochondriasis and Specific Phobias. She established her private clinic in 2000 whilst still working part-time in St Patrick’s Hospital until finishing there 2004.

Jackie is very proud of her psychiatric nursing roots and is grateful to this profession for her specialist nurse training in CBT which has provided her with the qualification required for accreditation and registration in CBT. She maintains her nursing registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

She now works as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist in private practice from her base in Rathangan, Co. Kildare. She also provides CBT services to the HSE as an external private service provider when required.