About
Although from a farming background in Cobh, I joined the Irish Navy directly from Leaving Cert in 1985. In the mid 1990s while working in the Navy HR Department, I was invited to become involved in an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), which was then in its infancy.
From this my journey into the world of counselling in Cork began. From 1994 to 2000, I completed 5 years in CIT where I graduated with an Honours Degree in Counselling. I completed a Diploma In Addiction Studies in Arbour House Treatment Centre in Cork in 2004, and I then went on to complete a Masters in CBT in 2008 in UCC. Also that year I completed a Diploma as a Stress Management Instructor with the Stress Management Institute of Ireland.
From 1994 to 2010 I worked primarily as a therapist with the Irish Naval Service as well working privately on a part-time basis. I have a particular expertise accumulated in working within the EAP Arena and at this stage I work or have worked for the majority of EAP providers in Ireland. I am an accredited therapist with the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) since 2002. I am a fully accredited CBT therapist with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP).
Since 1999 I have gained immense experience in the provision of Critical Incidence Stress Management (CISM). CISM is an adaptive short term helping process for groups or individuals that have been involved in a traumatic incident. I have provided CISM services both directly and indirectly to either individuals or groups to the following organisations:
- Irish Navy & Army
- Numerous factories in the Munster area
- Dublin Airport Authority (Cork Airport)
- Various Coast Guard organisations around Munster
- Irish Rail & Bus Eireann
- Cork, Limerick & Waterford County Councils
In September 2010 I entered private practice on a full time basis. I was also invited to become the first dedicated CBT therapist in Cork IT, Student Counselling Department, where I work two days a week during the academic year. I work the remainder of the week in my private practice as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist in Cobh County Cork. I am also on the Trinity College CBT Supervisory panel and I currently supervise Cork CBT students on Trinity College’s Diploma in CBT.
Away from the world of therapy in order to have some balance in my life, my primary interests are playing tennis at a competitive level and I am also involved in coaching juvenile camogie teams in Cobh.
Publications
A Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Alcohol Intervention Programme is an Effective Secondary Prevention Approach for New Employees Entering an Irish Workforce: A Pilot. This case report was published in the Journal of Military Medicine in November 2010 and is available by clicking on the following link:
In January 2012 I presented the above paper at the Irish Council of Psychotherapies Second National Conference in Dublin Castle.
Thesis
A Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Alcohol Intervention Programme is an Effective Secondary Prevention Approach for New Employees Entering an Irish Workforce: A Pilot Evaluation. Paul M. Mc Carthy, University College Cork, MA Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
