Dr James O Mahony is a Lecturer and Programme Director for the MSc/ Pg Diploma in Cognitive & Behavioural Psychotherapy. Dr O Mahony has worked in the area of mental health for over 20 years. He has worked as a CNS in Primary Care Mental Health, ANP in Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Assistant Director of Mental Health Nursing and Area Director of Nursing, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services. He was the Director of Operations for State of Mind Ireland, a mental health charity. He is an accredited Cognitive & Behavioural Psychotherapist and is a committee member & current Treasurer on the Irish Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies. He is also trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) which is a specialised form of psychotherapy used to work with individuals experiencing severe emotional dysregulation or those experiencing self-harm and suicidal behaviours. His PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in Medicine & Health with University College Cork examined how social discourses impact on how individuals’ conceptualise depression. He teaches on the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in mental health nursing, on the Doctor of Clinical Psychology programme and is the programme Director for the MSc in Cognitive & Behavioural Psychotherapy. Dr O Mahony supervises a number of research students undertaking the MSc in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy, and doctoral degrees. Dr O Mahony's research interests are underpinned by his clinical, management and research experience that espouses exploration of phenomenon though a lens of compassion, understanding and aims to inform meaningful change for individuals/ families accessing mental health services. The research interests include the phenomenological experience of depression; suicide and self harm research; child and adolescent mental health services research; HIV self stigma and compassion focused therapy and Self Practice/ Self Reflection in Cognitive Behaviour therapy. Dr O Mahony was a member of the National Working Group for CBT for Psychosis as part of the National Clinical Programme, Early Intervention in Psychosis. He was also part of the National Clinical Programme for Self Harm & Suicide Related Ideation. Dr O Mahony was an investigation team member on the Maskey Report (2022).