Kildare academic wins inspiration award
Dr Katriona O'Sullivan
THE Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) has honoured the Maynooth academic, and bestselling author of ‘Poor’ Dr Katriona O’Sullivan with the 2025 Public Inspiration Award.
Dr O’Sullivan’s remarkable journey from adversity to academic and professional success, coupled with her advocacy for social inclusion, education, and mental well-being, aligns with the core mission of the counselling and psychotherapy professions - empowering others to overcome difficulties and reach their full potential.
“By sharing her uplifting story and championing the importance of access to counselling and mental health support services, Katriona O’Sullivan provides hope and motivation to many,” said IACP Chief Executive Officer Lisa Molloy.
“Her leadership and impactful contributions are an inspiration, and she truly embodies the spirit of the IACP Public Inspiration Award.
“During her speaking engagements, Dr O’Sullivan often discusses resilience and overcoming adversity, drawing from her personal experiences and therapeutic journey while highlighting the need to remove barriers so that therapy and its benefits are available to everyone.”
Dr O’Sullivan said: “As a failing adult, who found it hard to make 'good choices' I never understood what was wrong with me.
“I never knew that trauma, hurt, and poverty from my childhood could affect my ability to be good, and happy - until I started therapy at the age of 21."
She added: “This is when I began to heal, and to understand, that I did the very best I could with the tools I was given. To receive the IACP Public Inspiration Award is an honour for me; not only because it recognises the work, I am doing to try to change mindsets, but because it comes from an organisation that advocates for therapy, for support, which knows the importance of supporting the mental health of people. Thank you for the award and the work you do - I am truly honoured.”
Dr. O’Sullivan holds a PhD in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin and is an award-winning lecturer.
She is currently the senior lecturer in the Assisting Living and Learning Institute in Maynooth University and her memoir debuted at No.1 on the Irish Non-Fiction bestseller list.
The IACP Public Inspiration Award honours a member of the public for their contributions to mental health awareness, to the development of the counselling and psychotherapy profession by creating and influencing projects, or by promoting counselling and psychotherapy development work at the local and national level. The IACP committees put forward the nominations and Dr O’Sullivan was nominated by the Northeast Regional Committee.
The annual awards ceremony was held at the IACP’s 10th Annual Conference at the Maryborough Hotel, Cork last month.
The IACP was established in 1981 to identify, develop and maintain professional standards of excellence in counselling and psychotherapy, and represents more than 6,400 members based in communities all over the country.
