MIC welcomes new DECPsy team

Mary Immaculate College (MIC) is pleased to introduce the newly expanded team behind its Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology (DECPsy), one of Ireland’s most sought-after training routes for aspiring educational psychologists.

L-R: Maeve Geary, Joanne Keane, Professor Emer Ring, Dr Seán Nolan, Dr Aidan Corr, Gabrielle Greene, Dr Edel Higgins and Dr Irene Timmons

Established in 2016, the three-year, full-time DECPsy equips trainees with the knowledge, professional competencies and supervised experience required to work as educational psychologists in a wide range of education and health settings. The programme focuses on the integration of theory and practice, preparing graduates to work autonomously and collaboratively with children, young people, families, schools, and wider community services.

Each year 14 trainees are admitted to the programme, with places funded equally by the HSE and the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). The DECPsy is delivered by a highly experienced specialist team whose backgrounds span both Irish and international practice in educational and child psychology.

The core team for the 2025 cohort includes Programme Director Dr Aidan Corr and Gabrielle Greene, Personal and Professional Development Coordinator, alongside Senior Educational Psychologists Dr Seán Nolan, Dr Edel Higgins, Dr Irene Timmons and long-standing team member Dr Therese Brophy. Together, they bring expertise across clinical, educational and research contexts, supporting trainees through professional placements, supervised practice and doctoral research.

Speaking about the year ahead, Dr Corr noted:

“As I step into this role, I’m proud to lead a programme that plays such an important part in shaping future educational psychologists. Our strengthened team brings deep psychological expertise, and we remain focused on preparing trainees to meet the complex and changing needs of children, families and schools.”

DECPsy has received a strong volume of applications to date, with the closing deadline for submissions this Friday, 30 January.