Working life: HSE clinical psychologist Kevin O’Hanrahan

Kevin O’Hanrahan, clinical psychologist, HSE

Kevin O’Hanrahan, clinical psychologist, HSE

8.30am

Hand hygiene and social distancing are high on the agenda from the get-go.

Teletherapy – therapy over the phone or via video - is relatively new to most psychologists, however professional bodies such as the Psychological Society of Ireland have issued guidance and support, which has eased this transition.

Covid-19 is a difficult time for our clients and we want to support them as best we can. Psychologists, along with our multidisciplinary colleagues, are finding new ways to work.

9am

My first session is a therapy session conducted over the phone. While the majority of clients are staying at home, they need our help, and mental health services very much remain open. After each session finishes, I write a short summary and email it to the client.

12 noon

I work on planning an upcoming placement for a trainee clinical psychologist. Trainees spend the majority of their clinical training on placement and we have two due to start in the coming weeks. It is an unusual time to join our community mental health team, and I want to support them and ensure they can hit the ground running. This involves identifying potential clients who may benefit from working with a trainee as well as logistical issues such as ensuring the trainee will be able to practice social distancing and can continue to conduct clinical work via telephone or video technology if required.

1.30pm

I finish a report that summarises working with a client who had been experiencing obsessive compulsive disorder. We worked together for five months, and I’m very pleased with the progress made.

2.30pm

We have our weekly multi-disciplinary meeting via Zoom. Now more than ever, communication with colleagues is vital. These meetings allow us to ensure continuity of care as well as check in with and support each other.

3.30pm

I work on developing a system to facilitate team-based case management. This system will help if we need to move towards supporting people from a team rather than an individual basis, in the case of future redeployment, for example. I work within adult mental health community services in Dublin North city and county

5.30pm

I finish my day by catching up on emails and checking tomorrow’s diary. When I get home, I go for a run. It helps to clear my head.