Clare graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in 2011 with a Master of Science (MSc) in Child Art Psychotherapy. During her time as a trainee child art psychotherapist, she worked in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Co. Louth. Clare also has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Care. As part of her undergraduate degree, she gained invaluable experience as an integral member of the staffs working in Residential Care, Neighborhood Youth Project, Magnet Training Centre and Women’s Aid.
Upon graduation Clare used her art psychotherapy skills within her employment with the School Completion Programme. She engaged with young people from 12 to 18 years of age through child art psychotherapy in a second level school from 2012 to 2019. Clare worked with the Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service where she worked therapeutically with children from 4 to 18 years of age and adults offering parenting and therapeutic supports. Clare also has a Certificate in Theraplay and MIM Assessment with the Theraplay Institute and is working toward certification as a Theraplay therapist that she sought due to the increase in referrals she received for children and adults in relation to attachment difficulties.
In 2021- 2022 Clare worked as an Assistant lecturer in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) where she supervised students during their work placements on the Social Care (Hons) Degree Course while also teaching students and supporting their learning to achieve their Coru standards of proficiency. She also partook in assessment, monitoring, and evaluation of students’ examination work. She continues to provide guest lecturers on therapeutically working with children and families. From 2021 Clare has worked as a private art psychotherapist working with Turas Counselling Dundalk with adults in recovery from addiction. She provides full day group art psychotherapy sessions and a six week group art psychotherapy programme that focuses on addiction and recovery. Clare also co-facilitates the 15 week Transformation Recovery Programme (TRP) for adults in Recovery from their addiction.
Clare is the founder of Misneach Psychotherapy. She has over 20 years’ experience within the Social Care sector and over 15 years’ experience working as an art psychotherapist in Ireland. Clare’s special interests include mental health promotion, and prevention, and working with children, adolescents and adults suffering from attachment difficulties, anxiety, difficulties relating to expressing emotions and self-image, trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), addiction and parenting support. Clare has personal Indemnity insurance with PPS (Psychologists Protection Society) and is a member of ACAP (Association of Child Art Psychotherapists).