Dr Blanaid Gavin
Job Title:
Counsellor Biography:
Dr Blánaid Gavin Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist MB, M.Sc. (CBT), MRCPsych has worked for over 10 years with children who have experienced mental health difficulties. She has extensive training in a number of therapeutic interventions including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Behavioural Therapy, Family Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Supportive Therapy, Parenting, Motivational Interviewing, Dynamic Psychotherapy and Brief Solution Focused Therapy.
As a Clinical Lecturer in University College Dublin (UCD) School of Medicine, she is responsible for running CBT courses which train clinicians in this very effective therapy.
Dr. Gavin has instigated a number of very successful service innovations and has chaired/been a member of a range of national committees designed to improve mental health services for children in Ireland.
She is actively involved in research on an ongoing basis and has published widely in national and international peer reviewed journals.
Dr Gavin has led training developments to heighten awareness of children's mental health in a number of different national agencies and and has co-written the national guidelines for the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) on Children's Mental Health in addition to the national ICGP Psychosis guidelines. Her new book Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Guide for GPs is being published this year.
Working with the Department of Education, Dr. Gavin developed training for teachers in supporting children with emotional and behavioural challenges in the classroom. She is the co-author of Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Guide for Teachers.
Dr Gavin has collaborated with a number of child/family support and advocacy groups to enhance public understanding of mental health difficulties in children.
Dr Gavin is committed to improving services for young people with mental health difficulties and co-founded the first national special interest group in Youth Mental Health. This led to the development of the International Declaration of Youth Mental Health which was endorsed by leading mental health services world-wide.
