Ph.D., DClin.Psych., C.Psychol., Ps.S.I (M9894C)

I draw from many years of clinical experience and from a breadth of evidence-based approaches to support those I work with to embrace their essence and realise their potential to thrive exactly as they are.

I attained my B.A. in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin in 1999 (1st Class. Hons) and after three years in the USA working in childcare and travelling, I returned to Trinity College, completing a PhD in Cognitive Development in 2006. Following this, I spent a year in a special education role in two primary schools in Dublin, before taking a role as an Assistant Psychologist in Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. I then returned to Trinity College for my doctoral training in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych) which I completed in 2010. I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland and am looking forward to when Psychologists are called to the Irish Regulatory Body for allied health professionals, CORU to register.

I spent 8 years in the Louth HSE Primary Care services as a Clinical Psychologist supporting children, young people and their families through assessment and individual and group therapeutic input. Since 2018 I have worked with children, young people and their parents exploring autism through assessment in my private practice, with two of those years working concurrently with the HSE Sligo/Leitrim Children’s Disability Service on a contractual basis as a Senior Clinical Psychologist. From 2022 to 2023 I worked as a Senior Clinical Psychologist on a contractual basis with The Adult Autism Practice which offers Neuro-affirmative Autism assessments for adults.

I have been really inspired and humbled by the neuro-affirmative movement which has motivated me to change my practice to become more conscious of the strengths and needs of all of those I work with, especially those in Autistic and otherwise-neurodivergent community. This has spurred me to found The Butterfly Practice - a Practice of like-hearted clinicians committed to providing best practice, neuro-affirmative assessments here in Ireland.

I am passionate about so many things psychological, including Neuro-divergence, psychological growth through adversity, High Sensitivity (I am a Highly Sensitive Neurotypical), neurodivergence and trauma, Interpersonal Neurobiology (completing a comprehensive course in IPBN with Dr. Dan Siegel in 2020) and how we can deepen our connection with the most important people in our lives – ourselves.

My greatest learnings come to me not through books or training, but through the immensely rich experience of working with clients and their families and by seeing my entire life as a teacher. My two children are, of course, my 'very greatest' teachers 😊 and my Portuguese water dog called Manni, who shows me how to come back into connection over and over again.

BSc., CORU (SL019495)

I’m Faye Speech and Language Therapist. I graduated with a BSc in Speech and Language Pathology, from Queen Margaret’s University, Edinburgh, in 2003. Since then I have been working with children, of all ages, who present with a wide variety of speech, language and social differences. I began my career providing supports to teachers and SNA’s in schools for Autistic children. It was as part of the Team in Mater CAMHs service in 2004, that I began my training and experience and learning in providing Autism assessments.

The sea and the mountains drew me back to Sligo where I began work for the HSE Early Intervention Team, playing a key role in establishing this team alongside my esteemed colleagues. My role as a Senior Speech Therapist, enabled me to provide assessment, therapy and parent training to many families over the years.

On the journey for a more balanced life for myself and my family, I became an independent Speech and Language Therapist in 2011 setting up a private practice where I supported children and their families in a space where we could work at a pace that was needed for each individual. In 2018 I partnered with Dr. Julie Meehan, Clinical Psychologist to provide MDT Autism assessments for children and young people. I am now delighted to be able to work with The Butterfly Practice since 2024 engaging in neuro-affirmative Autistic Discoveries for children and young people. I also work with adults with disabilities in Donegal and I love the diversity and range that my various roles offer me.

I am a full member of CORU, the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT), past chairperson of the Independent Speech and Language Therapists of Ireland (ISTI) and most importantly, a mummy of two boys.

BSc. (Hons), CORU (OT023720)

I am a CORU registered Occupational Therapist with more than 16 years of experience. I am dedicated to empowering individuals and their families by combining evidence-based approaches with neuro-affirming practices to help them achieve their goals and fulfil their potential.

I am a Mum of 3 children and the founder of Pebbles Occupational Therapy, a private practice located in Strandhill Co. Sligo. The practice offers a compassionate and high-quality OT service to children, young people, and their families. I am passionate about promoting well-being, inclusion, and self-advocacy for all of the clients I work with. 

I love working in a multidisciplinary way with The Butterfly Practice and it gives me great joy to be part of the Autistic Discovery Process for children and young people that the practice offers. 

BSc, MSc (Language Sciences), CORU SL041153.

I graduated from the University of Ulster, Jordanstown, in 2007 with a BSc in Speech and Language Therapy. I also have a post-graduate Masters in Language Sciences, with specialisation in language development, from University College London and hold a post-graduate certificate in Aural Rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin.

I have lived and worked across three different countries, Ireland, the UK (London) and Canada (Toronto) and have over 12 years of diverse clinical experience administering assessment and providing evidence-based intervention in a variety of settings including community clinics, mainstream and special schools.

I have mostly worked with the Paediatric population in early intervention and primary schools, including children with attention differences, speech and language differences and play and social interaction differences.

I have specialised in the field of Autism and have spent many years working as part of an Autism team within the NHS in London, assessing and diagnosing Autism and providing specialist training for parents and education staff about Autism.

I’m a member of the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT), the Independent Speech Therapists of Ireland (ISTI), the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). I’m also a registered therapist with CORU and the HCPC (UK).

When I’m not working, I mostly like to be outdoors in nature, running, hiking and sea swimming/dipping with friends! I I believe that these extra curricular outlets provide me with the energy needed to be a better clinician for all the wonderful families that I work with.

I am on maternity leave at present an I look forward to re-joining The Butterfly Practice team in the future.

B.A, MSc. (Psychology), P.S.I. (Graduate member): M14294

Hi, I’m Zita McLaughlin, an Assistant Psychologist here at The Butterfly Practice. I started out studying Drama, Theatre and Performance, and Law at the University of Galway, which is where my passion for psychology really took off. I found it so interesting how theatre and human behaviour connect, and that only grew while working as a theatre facilitator at Sligo Youth Theatre. I recently wrapped up my MSc in Psychology from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, in 2023 and joined The Butterfly Practice the same year. It’s been such a rewarding experience getting to know the clients, my colleagues, and everyone I’ve met along the way.

When I’m not working, I’m usually out hiking with family and friends, walking my dog Tobias, cooking, or going to see a good play to stay connected to my theatre roots.