Professional credentials and memberships
Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)
- PSI Fellow
- Chartered Psychologist
- Chartered Counselling Psychologist
- Chartered Health Psychologist
- Chartered Forensic Psychologist
- Chartered Sports and Exercise Psychologist
- Chartered Psychotherapeutic Psychologist
- Chair of Addiction Psychology SIG
British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Full member
Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI)
- Full member
- Accredited Clinical Supervisor
Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT)
- Member of MINT
- Motivational Interviewing Trainer (TNT) and Coder (MITI)
- Appointed TNT trainer for the 2012 annual TNT training
- Certified MI Trainer
MI-Campus
- Certified Motivational Interviewing practitioner
Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP)
- Accredited Psychotherapist
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Licensed Counselling Psychologist
Current Appointments
2025-Present:
Sport Ireland Institute – Clinical Sport Psychology Lead Consultant
Clinical lead for Ireland Sport Institute’s Clinical Psychology department. Management and governance of the service and provision of psychological support to Olympic carded athletes. Responsible for the implementation of psychological supports, monitoring and clinical governance.
2011-Present:
HSE Mid West Alcohol and Drug Service –Clinical Lead
Clinical lead for HSE Mid-West Alcohol and Drug Service involving provision of clinical governance and oversight of Drug and alcohol services of the Mid West area (Limerick city, county, North Tipperary and Co. Clare). Responsible for the design, implementation and monitoring clinical governance and quality standards. Provide clinical supervision and clinical governance oversight of all clinical activities within the HSE and funded services.
2018 – Present:
PSI Special Interest Group in Addiction Psychology –Chair
Chair of the PSI’s Special Interest Group in Addiction Psychology, which we established in March 2018.
2013 – Present:
Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) –TNT Coordinator
Coordinator and chair of MINT’s annual Training New Trainer’s (TNT) event. This is the event that is required to be completed in order to become a member of the international Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). This involves project managing the application process (including coordinating application review committees and appointment of trainers), the actual training content and liaising between the MINT board and all applicants, trainers, coders and reviewers.
2025 – Present:
Gambling Regulatory Authority –Authority Member
Appointed by the Minister for Justice to the GRAI Authority to govern implementation of the regulation of Gambling in Ireland.
2011 – Present:
Change Psychology Services –Founder
Founder of Change Psychology Services, supplying training in a range of Psychology topics and therapies (providing public service and in-house trainings as on-going contracts with a range of public healthcare and training institutes, colleges and universities around Ireland), counselling, service consultation, clinical supervision and court work (expert witness testimony, victim impact assessment and court report writing).
2008 – Present:
Lecturer
I frequently provide various training and lecturing inputs. This involves a range of subjects and settings (e.g. Trinity Psychology doctoral programme inputs and various in-house trainings).
Historical Appointments
2022–2025:
Psychological Society of Ireland (GMC) — Chair
- Chaired the Graduate Membership and Qualifications Committee.
- Oversaw recognition of psychology qualifications and professional eligibility, both domestic and international.
2020–2023:
Key Assets Consulting — Consultant Psychologist
- Conducted psychological assessments for legal and statutory purposes.
- Delivered reports on parental capacity, risk of recidivism, cognitive functioning, and trauma impact.
- Trained in ADOS 1 & 2 and Meaning of the Child (Levels 1 & 2).
2019 – 2025:
CORU Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board –Board Member
Served on the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board, following appointment by Minister Simon Harris TD, supporting the statutory regulation of these professions in Ireland.
2019–2020:
IICP College — Visiting Lecturer
- Taught undergraduate courses in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
- Provided academic mentorship and curriculum support.
2013–2014:
Saoran — Consultant Psychologist
- Designed evidence-based digital therapy modules for clinicians and clients.
- Translated therapeutic models into structured interactive content.
- Developed cloud-based “homework” tools to enhance therapy integration.
2008–2015:
The Learning Curve Institute — Senior Trainer/Lecturer
- Delivered long-term national training programmes in case management, key working, and care planning.
- Led implementation across nine pilot sites in addiction and mental health services.
- Delivered training across a variety of subjects, including Motivational Interviewing, Community Reinforcement Approach, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Relapse Prevention and the Transtheoretical Model.
2008-2012:
Glyndŵr University Wales –Programme Lead and Research Fellow
Served as senior lecturer on two BA (Hons) degree courses: Counselling and Psychotherapy, and Addiction Counselling. Held the position of department head (Programme Leader) for Addiction Counselling.
2004-2011:
Forest Healthcare –Director of Psychology / Treatment Director
Served as Treatment Director for this residential centre, supporting residents with addiction and/or mental health difficulties.
1999-2004:
Cheadle Royal Hospital –Senior Psychologist
Led the psychology department at a psychiatric hospital providing services for addiction, depression, anxiety disorders and severe mental illness.
1998-1999:
Priory Healthcare –Assistant Psychologist
Worked as an Assistant Psychologist at a psychiatric hospital specialising in addictions and mental health.
Publications
- O’Driscoll, C. (2012). Motivational Interviewing in a Residential Treatment Programme. Motivational Interviewing: Training, Research, Implementation, Practice. ISSN 2160-584X (online) Vol. 1 No. 1 (2012). DOI 10.5195/mitrip.2012.13
- O’Driscoll, C. (2013). Motivational Interviewing: A Model in a Story. In Van Hout MC (Eds). Drug Use and Abuse: Signs/Symptoms, Physical and Psychological Effects and Intervention Approaches. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science. ISBN-978-1-62618-232-5.
- O’Driscoll, C. (2014). Addiction: A Guide To Understanding Its Nature and Essence. NY: Nova Science. ISBN: 978-1-63117-706-4
- O’Driscoll, C. (2015). Picking A Path: Counselling versus Non-Counselling Intervention Distinctions in a Community Addiction Service. The Irish Psychologist. 40(6), 141-5. ISSN 07904789
- Bingham, T., O’Driscoll, C., & De Barra, G. (2015). The National Student Drug Survey. Retrieved from http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24807/1/National%20Student%20Drug%20Survey%202015.pdf
- O’Driscoll, C. & Foy, S. (2017). Working with Clients with Addiction: What Psychologists Need to Know. The Irish Psychologist. 43(12), 276-80. ISSN 07904789