top of page

Dr Susan Mary Lawlor PhD, PgCOUNS., M.A. Couns&PsychTh, MA., BA, MNAPCP

​

Dr. Susan Lawlor is a global multi-award-winning Psychotherapist; Sociologist; Scholar; Global Presenter; Co-founder of State of Mind Ireland; Founder of State of Mind Ireland Mental Health Clinic, Lecturer and Academic Supervisor. She has been involved in the field of mental health for over fifteen years and runs the State of Mind Ireland’s Mental Health Clinic in Co. Cork offering psychotherapy/counselling to young people, adults, couples, and groups in person, via the phone or via Zoom call locally, nationally, and internationally. She works on an array of mental health conditions with clients of all ages across the globe. Dr. Lawlor lectures in Counselling on a consultative basis in the Cork College of Commerce. She also lectures in Skills-based Psychotherapy for Master students in ICHAS, Co. Limerick and in Youth Work, Conceptualising Frameworks and Psychotherapy for BA Social Study students in ICHAS, Co. Limerick. In addition, she works as an Academic Supervisor for Master students, ICHAS, Co. Limerick. Lastly, Dr. Lawlor provides interactive workshops/talks in the local community in schools, sporting clubs, community groups, local businesses, and Organisations centered on all aspects of mental health. Dr. Lawlor works as an external assessor of postgraduate certificate, post graduate diploma, and Master’s degree in play therapy programmes.

 

Dr. Lawlor has earned several awards, including Special Recognition The Hero Awards in January 2021. The National Hero Awards celebrates Ireland’s everyday heroes and are in recognition of the kindness, strength, and fortitude by an everyday hero. She also won Connect Kerry Women in Business Community Champion Award and the prestigious Unsung Hero Award in association with Radio Kerry and Fexco. In June, she received her highest accolade to date, as she was chosen as the winner of the ‘Individual’s’ category in the World Dignity Mental Health Champions – a global awards initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health. Dr. Lawlor presented her work in June 2022 at a Symposium at the World Mental Health Congress in Westminster London and received her global award.

 

Dr. Lawlor is a successful scholar and graduate of NUI Maynooth obtaining a B.A. (Hons) degree, a M.A. (Hons) degree, 1.1 Hons Postgraduate in Counselling Skills and a Doctorate (Hons) degree in Sociology, and recipient of the prestigious IRCHSS Scholarship. She has also attained a First-Class Hons Master’s (Hons) degree in Psychotherapy and Counselling, Limerick, where she also attained a First-Class Hons grade in her two final year projects and a First-Class Hons grade in her Dissertation. Dr. Lawlor has completed six academic dissertations to date and has also completed an unlimited number of certificates across the lifespan of mental health conditions.

​

Dr_edited.jpg

Profile

Multi-Award-winning ‘Mental Health Community Champion’ on a local, national, and international/global scale

​

  • 2022 World Dignity Mental Health Champion Award Winner, Individual Category 2020 for raising awareness of the importance of dignity and respect for people living with mental health conditions with the intent of ending stigma surrounding mental health on a global scale. The World Dignity Project is an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health.

  • 2021 National Mental Health Hero Award Nominee with Special Recognition 2020. The Hero Awards are sponsored by PayPal, Telus International and Zurich, who want to identify the exceptional stories of fortitude, courage & kindness in 2020 and the ordinary individuals who went beyond the call of duty to make an extra ordinary impact on their community. The Mental Health Hero Award is for those who have championed extraordinary support to ensure the mental wellbeing of others.

  • 2020 Key speaker at the launch of the ‘As I Am’ initiative by Adam Harris in Tralee, to ensure that Tralee can become an ‘Autism Friendly Town’.

  • 2019 Kerry Hero Award Winner 2019 in association with Radio Kerry and Fexco for raising awareness of mental health throughout the GAA – State of Mind Ireland

  • 2019 Connect Kerry Women in Business Community Champion Winner for raising awareness of mental health throughout Ireland – State of Mind Ireland

  • 2019- Present Speaker on Radio Kerry on various mental health matters

  • 2017-Present Mental Health Advocate, appearing in articles in The Kerry’s Eye, The KerryMan, Connect Kerry Magazine.

  • 2019 Awarded the ‘Amber Flag’ for mental fitness educational programme introduced to the KOR GAA Club, the first of its kind in Kerry GAA.

  • 2019 First woman to speak as an honorary speaker for the KETB Graduation, Kerry

  • 2018 Guinness World Record Holder, State of Mind Sport UK/ State of Mind Family, World Largest Mental Health Awareness Lesson, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, UK

 

Qualifications

​

  • 2020 M.A (1.1. Hons) in Psychotherapy and Counselling, ICHAS, Co. Limerick.

  • Thesis Title: Investigating Adolescent Gaelic Footballers Experiences of Mental Health Within The GAA: An Ecological Systemic Approach

  • 2009 PhD (1.1. Hons) in Sociology, NUI Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Viva Voca passed in October 2008. Attained prestigious scholarship from the IRCHSS. Dissertation Title: Understanding And Constructing Adolescents Experiences Of Facial Difference. Postgraduate Representative, Sociology Department, NUI Maynooth (2004- 2008)

  • 2005- 2006 (1.1. Hons) NFQ Level 7 Counselling Skills Postgraduate Course, Dept. of Adult Education, NUI Maynooth. Thesis Title: Euthanasia and its effects on significant others.

  • 2004 Applied Research Methods Course in the Social Sciences, Manchester Royal Infirmary, School of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Manchester.

  • 2004 Research Methods Skills Course, NUI Maynooth- Quantitative Methods, SPSS, and survey analysis.

  • 2003 M.A (Hons) in Sociology, NUI Maynooth, Maynooth, Co, Kildare. Thesis Title: Advertising Cosmetic Surgery and the Body in Consumer Culture.

  • 2002 B.A. (Hons) in Sociology and Geography, NUI Maynooth, Maynooth, Co, Kildare. Mathematics was the third subject I studied in the first year of the B.A.

  • Geography Thesis Title: Migration in Maynooth

  • Sociology Thesis Title: Single Teenage Parents 

​

 Other Courses

​

  • 2022 Emotionally based school avoidance, The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH).

  • 2022 Autism Awareness eLearning Programme in association with the HSE, Tallaght Hospital, Children’s Health Ireland, Trinity College, Dublin and ASIAM.IE.

  • 2022 Autism Beyond Limits, Online Conference with autismcork.ie

  • 2022 Working with ‘ADHD and ASD’ clients, Professor Patrick McGhee, University of Bolton.

  • 2022 The Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R), Emma Woodhouse, Director of Compass Psychology Services Ltd., Compass Psychology, UK.

  • 2022 The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Second Edition (ADOS-2), Emma Woodhouse, Director of Compass Psychology Services Ltd., Compass Psychology, UK.

  • 2022 Sex and Sexuality in the clinic, Dr. Mou Sultana, Counselling Psychologist, NAPCP.

  • 2022 Introduction to Mental Health Medication, Ita Fitzgerald, St. Patricks Mental Health Services, Dublin.

  • 2022 Understanding And Managing Loneliness, Rory Lees-Oakes, Counselling Tutor, UK.

  • 2022 Understanding Domestic Abuse To Improve Psychological Supports, Laura Cahill, NAPCP Workshop.

  • 2022 Ingredients to Good Forensic Report, Dr. Edward Ong, Your Ears and Heart (YEAH)

  • 2021 Treating Complicated Grief Training, Investigating the main features of Complicated Grief and its treatment from a psychotherapeutic perspective, Professor Patrick McGhee, University of Bolton.

  • 2021 Treating PTSD Training, Investigating the main features of PTSD and its treatment from a psychotherapeutic perspective, Professor Patrick McGhee, University of Bolton.

  • 2021 Treating Low Self- Esteem Training, Investigating the main features of low self-esteem and its treatment from a psychotherapeutic perspective, Professor Patrick McGhee, University of Bolton.

  • 2021 Treating Social Anxiety Training, Investigating the main features of social anxiety and its treatment from a psychotherapeutic perspective, Professor Patrick McGhee, University of Bolton.

  • 2021 Treating Depression Training, Investigating key issues in the treatment of clients suffering from depression, Professor Patrick McGhee, University of Bolton.

  • 2021 EMDR Training, NAPCP, Co. Dublin

  • 2021 Training in Online Therapy Skills, Ethics and Legal Considerations, NAPCP, Co. Dublin

  • 2021 Dr. Richard Schwartz Workshop , An Introduction To The Internal Family Systems Model, PCPSI, Co. Cork

  • 2020 Dr. Richard Schwartz , An Introduction To The Internal Family Systems Model, PCPSI, Co. Cork

  • 2020 Youth Mental Health First Aid, MHFA HSE Training, Co. Dublin

  • 2020 Working with Low Self-Esteem A Cognitive Behavioural Case Formulation Approach, NAPCP, Co. Dublin

  • 2020 Technology Facilitated Counselling & Psychotherapy, ICHAS, Co. Limerick

  • 2019 Bereavement Assessment Through Suicide Training, Pieta House, Tralee, Co. Kerry

  • 2019 Adult Suitability and U18 Suitability Assessment Training, Pieta House, Tralee

  • 2019 Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, HSE, Listowel, Co. Kerry

  • 2019 Zero Suicide Alliance Training, Suicide Awareness Skills, E-learning Programme

  • 2019 QPR Gatekeeper Training, Suicide Intervention Skills, QPR Institute, Co. Limerick.

  • 2019 SafeTalk ‘Suicide Alertness for Everyone’ Training, HSE, Listowel, Co. Kerry

  • 2019 Children First Aid – Introduction to Children First, Tusla E-learning Programme

  • 2019 Self-Harm Awareness Training, HSE, Listowel, Co. Kerry

  • 2019 Pieta House, U18 Training on Child Protection Policies & Working with Adolescents, Pieta House, Centre for the Prevention of Suicide & Self- Harm, Cork

  • 2019 The Pieta Way Therapy Programme Training, Pieta House, Centre for the Prevention of Suicide & Self- Harm, Cork

  • 2017 Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course (approved by Kerry ETB as per Croke Park CL 2011), Tralee, Co. Kerry

  • 2015 State of Mind Training Consultant/ Facilitator Training, University College Cork, Cork

  • 2015 Facebook Marketing for Small Businesses, Excel with Business

  • 2015 Twitter Marketing for Small Businesses, Excel with Business

  • 2014 Social media for charities: Intermediate Level, The Guardian Masterclass, London

  • 1993- 1996 3 Year Civics Course in Ireland (Hons), Tralee, Co. Kerry

Achievements

​

  • 2021 National Mental Health Hero Award Nominee with Special Recognition 2020. The Hero Awards are sponsored by PayPal, Telus International and Zurich, who want to identify the exceptional stories of fortitude, courage & kindness in 2020 and the ordinary individuals who went beyond the call of duty to make an extra ordinary impact on their community. The Mental Health Hero Award is for those who have championed extraordinary support to ensure the mental wellbeing of others.

  • 2020 World Dignity Mental Health Champion Award Winner, Individual Category for raising awareness of the importance of dignity and respect for people living with mental health conditions with the intent of ending stigma surrounding mental health on a global scale. The World Dignity Project is an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health.

  • 2019 Kerry Hero Award Winner 2019 in association with Radio Kerry and Fexco for raising awareness of mental health throughout the GAA – State of Mind Ireland

  • 2019 Connect Kerry Women in Business Community Champion Winner for raising awareness of mental health throughout Ireland – State of Mind Ireland

  • 2019 Awarded the ‘Amber Flag’ for mental fitness educational programme introduced to the KOR GAA Club, the first of its kind in Kerry GAA.

  • 2018 Guinness World Record Holder, State of Mind Sport UK/ State of Mind Family, World Largest Mental Health Awareness Lesson, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, UK.

  • 2009 Centre for Recovery and Social Inclusion (CRSI) Award. Awarded for voluntary research work in the Centre for Recovery and Social Inclusion, Cork. My paper focused on the beneficial and effective uses of utilising qualitative methods when ‘working’ with the mentally ill.

  • 2006-2007 Awarded the prestigious Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences Scholarship (IRCHSS Scholarship).

  • 2003- 2008 Postgraduate Representative, Department of Sociology, NUI Maynooth. Nominated by my post-graduate peers.

  • 1999 6th Year Prefect, St. Mary's Moyderwell Secondary School, Tralee, Co. Kerry. Nominated by teaching staff and my peers.

  • 1996 Top prize in Civics project on ‘The Famine’, St. Mary's Moyderwell Secondary School, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

  • 1990 Awarded by Kerry County Library and St. Mary's Moyderwell Secondary School, Tralee, Co. Kerry for my writing skills.

bottom of page