Director
Deirdre Flynn is the Director of the Student Counselling Service at MIE (part-time). She is an accredited Psychotherapist and Supervisor with Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP) and is a member of the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland (PCHEI). Deirdre was the Director of Student Counselling, Student Learning Development and Student2Student in TCD (Trinity College Dublin) from 1993-2021. In addition, she has worked in a variety of community, hospital and educational settings and roles both here and abroad.
Deirdre is committed to developing quality services for students based on best practice evidence and standards, working in partnership with MIE colleagues and students. If you would like to meet with her to discuss the development of the MIE Student Counselling Service, she is on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Counselling Team
Orla Stafford is a Student Counsellor at MIE (full-time). She is a pre-accredited Psychotherapist with the Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (IACP) and is a member of the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland (PCHEI).
Orla has extensive experience of supporting third level students in areas such as anxiety, overwhelm, body image and self confidence. Orla carries out her work with a deep sense of empathy in an integrative approach combining person centred, CBT and psychodynamic approaches to guide the therapy process. Orla strives to offer students a meaningful therapeutic relationship in which awareness, self understanding, and growth can occur.
Eimer Kernan is a Student Counsellor at MIE (part-time). She is a pre-accredited Psychotherapist with the Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (IACP) and is a member of the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland (PCHEI).
With a background in pluralistic counselling and psychotherapy, Eimer draws on a range of approaches in her work with students including Humanistic/ Person-Centered, CBT and Integrative. Fully appreciating that each student’s situation is unique, she works collaboratively to develop an individual plan with each one to reduce distress and improve overall health and wellbeing. Eimer is on campus Mondays and Thursdays.
Lynne Chen is a Student Counsellor at MIE (full-time) *. She is an accredited Psychotherapist with the Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (IACP) and is a member of the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland (PCHEI).
Lynne has worked in a variety of social and family services in Ireland and abroad. She has focused her research on ethnic identity and psychotherapy in Ireland and is committed to providing and developing a student counselling service that recognises and values the dignity and diversity of all students.
*Lynne is currently on leave from her post.
Skills Sessions
Shalaleh Karkon is an Assistant Psychologist in the Student Counselling Service at MIE (part-time). She is completing her Ph.D. at Trinity College Dublin and has undertaken previous research on the Sense of Belonging among Third Level International Students in Ireland. Shalaleh provides initial consultations and skills sessions for MIE students attending the Student Counselling Service including managing anxiety & overwhelm, sleep, procrastination, and positive thinking. She is on campus on Tuesdays.
