NICE TO MEET YOU

Meet Lorraine O.B. Madden

C. Psychol., Ps.S.I. M6672 M.A. B. Ed. Psych. Ad.Dip.

I'm delighted that you have found EPT Clinic. I hope that myself and our experienced healthcare team can support you and your family.

I began my career working alongside children, parents and educators over 20 years now. I initially studied to become a primary school teacher, and worked as both mainstream and special education teacher. Yet, it was my part-time job that really changed the direction of my career, and really, my life! Without knowing a lot about neurodiversity or neurodivergence at the time, I interviewed for a position as a home tutor with a young autistic boy. I felt a sense of connection and admiration when I was with him and his family that really inspired me to learn more and become a better teacher. I could see that having the right support early on in life mattered, especially if you think about, or see the world differently.

I worked with more and more families, supporting neurodivergent children in their homes and in school, and my experience influenced the way I taught in the classroom. I also began to reflect upon my own learning experience, and how I struggled with reading and spelling when I was in primary school. It helped me understand that all humans are born with a different type of brain and body, and that one of the most important things in life is to learn how to make the most out of the brain and body that you are born with, so that you can find enjoyment and success in life.

Lorraine's Career Background

Over 18 years working with children and families with complex neurodevelopmental profiles.
Began career as a home tutor working with children with autism and complex behavioural and learning needs (2004 – 2008). This work was carried out while studying to become a primary school teacher.
Worked as a primary school teacher with the Department of Education and Skills (2008-2012).
Worked as a psychologist in training with the National Educational Psychological Service, Brothers of Charity and the HSE from 2012 to 2014.
Upon graduating with a first class honours Masters, worked as a psychologist in the HSE in both Early Intervention and School Aged Services (2014-2018).
Founded the Education, Psychology and Therapy Clinic in 2019, building a successful multi-disciplinary psychology, mental health, and disability service.
Recognised as a Chartered Member of the Psychological Society of Ireland, serving on the Division of Educational Psychology Committee as Membership Secretary (2015-2017) and on the Committee of the Special Interest Group in Autism (2018- 2022).
Founder and current Chair of the PSI’s Neurodiversity Special Interest Group (SIG) 2024
Private Consultant Psychologist with the HSE and Tusla (2015- current).
Founding Member of the South-eastern Infant Mental Health Group (2016).
Lecturer in University College Dublin in the Doctorate in Educational Psychology in the areas of attachment, infant mental health, and trauma (2019- current).

My Journey from Teaching to Psychology

I began to think about how all humans are born with a different type of brain- body combination, and how important it is to learn how to about the brain and body that you are born with, so that you can find enjoyment and success in life.

After teaching for 4 years, I completed an advanced diploma in professional development & inclusive education with Queen’s University Belfast. Then I was accepted onto the professional masters programme in educational psychology with University College Dublin.

The weekend after I graduated, I transitioned straight into my first psychologist’s position with early intervention services in the HSE. I was lucky to have had incredibly inspiring and supportive psychology and multi-disciplinary mentors. I learned so much from the families, the children and the other clinicians that I worked with. It was an incredible place to begin my career as a psychologist.

During this time, myself and my now husband, Kevin got engaged, and we decided to move home. So although this sadly meant leaving the remarkable team I was working with, we were delighted to have been able to build a house, and we had our first baby shortly afterwards.

Published Work

Lorraine O.B. Madden was one of the writers of the publication “Professional Practice Guidelines for the Assessment, Formulation, and Diagnosis of Autism in Children and Adolescents, 2nd Edition” published by the Special Interest Group of Autism by the Psychological Society of Ireland (April 2022)
Published works (abstract) in The Irish Psychologist, 2008, Mary Immaculate College, and in the National Educational Psychological Service’s (NEPS) February Research Brief (2014), titled: “A Review of ‘An Investigation into the Effectiveness of Paired Reading on the Reading of Children with Dyslexia, From REACH Journal of Special Needs Education in Ireland, 27(1), 2013, 3-17’”).
Published research author in the UK’s peer reviewed journal Social, Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties (2017).

Professional Affiliations

Chartered Member of the Psychological Society of Ireland
Member of the Division of Educational Psychologists, PSI
Chairperson of the Kilkenny/Carlow Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Steering Group (0-3 yrs)
Member of the Irish Association for Infant Mental Health
Board Member of the Autism Special Interest Group, PSI
Lorraine spent two terms on the Committee of the Division of Educational Psychologists, PSI and she is currently on a national working group with the PSI who are revising and rewriting the Best Practice Guidelines for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in children and adolescents (birth to 18 years)

Testimonials

Specialist Training and Qualifications

Certificated Attachment Story Stems administrator and coder with the Anna Freud Centre, UK (2021).
Introduction to Understanding and Assessing Attachment in School Years: The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families, UK, 2021
Certificate in Somatotopies (Somatic Psychology) – JFK University: 2020
Certificate in Attachment Based Prevention Intervention for Young Mothers and their Babies At Risk. The German STEEP-Project, PSI CPD: 2016
Extensive training in attachment and child development, including Masterclasses in Infant Mental Health (2014 and 2016), and training with the Squiggle Foundation and the NSPCC on Why Babyhood Matters – Pregnancy, birth and the first eighteen months of life: 2017
Infant Mental Health and Educational Psychology: Relationships Matter, PSI CPD: 2016
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 1 from the Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Network: 2015
Certificate in Battlefield Birth? Working therapeutically with birth trauma, tokophobia and perinatal PTSD, PSI: 2019
Certificate in Therapeutic Work with Children, The Power of Play: The Children’s Therapy Centre, Eileen Prenderville: 2016
Certificate in Assessment of Children’s Behavioural, Social, and Clinical Functioning: Presented by Jerome Sattler, Ph.D.: 2015
Certificate Babies in Mind: Why the Parent’s Mind Matters – University of Warwick. Modules covered attachment, infant mental health, and perinatal mental health topics: 2016
ADOS-2 Clinical Training, December, Trinity College Dublin. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) is utilised as part of an Autism assessment. Clinical training instructed in the administration and scoring of the ADOS-2, and its application during diagnostic assessment: 2013
Mental Health Programme Certificate: The Chairman and Board of Directors of Mental Health Ireland: 2005

When I went back to work in the HSE, it was with a different team, and I had a different and difficult experience. Looking back now, I feel that I had a different perspective, energy and approach than some of the other clinicians, and I didn’t feel felt, connected or understood. After a lot of reflection and late night discussions with my family, I decided that life was too short to spend it in a place that I didn’t feel I belonged. So in 2019, I transitioned from a permanent and pensionable job, and set up EPT Clinic. I was terrified, but also very energised about the future and what I could offer families.

It has been a steep learning curve, but I can honestly say that I get up and go into work every day with energy and enthusiasm, looking forward to meeting our team and the families that we work with. I was so proud to have had the efforts of our team officially recognised in 2022, when I was recipient of the “Contribution to Professional Practice Award” from the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). I am also so excited to see the progression of our team in their studies, in their professional practice, and in the publication of their research. One of my 1st assistant psychologists is due to graduate later this year as an Educational Psychologist herself!

Right now, I am most passionate about neurodevelopment, neurodiversity, autism, developmental trauma and positive mental health. This includes supporting families who feel that their child is, or might be, neurodivergent (e.g. autistic, ADHDer, dyslexic, dyspraxic, experienced developmental trauma or experiences obsessive compulsions).

I am also very excited to be involved in a number of research projects, and I always protect time each term to return to UCD as a lecturer at Doctorate level in the areas of complex assessment and formulation, attachment, trauma, infant mental health and private practice. Finally, I am an active member of the Psychological Society of Ireland. In 2022, I was on the authoring group to publish Ireland’s “Professional Practice Guidelines for the Assessment, Formulation, and Diagnosis of Autism in Children and Adolescents“. Then earlier in 2024, I was the founding member of Ireland’s 1st Neurodiversity Special Interest Group (SIG) for psychologists with the Psychological Society of Ireland, appointed as Chair in March this year. This is an area that I am excited to be involved in on a national level.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two amazing children and my family. I am passionate about horses and show-jumping, and I also love going out for a bite to eat with friends.