Vicky Matthews

Background

About Vicky Matthews

I completed my BSc in Biological Sciences with Honours in Neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 2009. I undertook a Psychology conversion course at University College Cork from 2009-2011, where I graduated with a 1:1 grade. I completed my MSc in Foundations of Clinical Psychology at Bangor University, UK, with Distinction. I spent two years in Vancouver, Canada, where I worked at BC Children's Hospital. My first year was spent working on the Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Emergency Unit as a research assistant, and also working part-time as a psychometrist with the OCD Clinic and Research Program at BC Children's Hospital. Next, I worked for a year at the Sunny Hill Health Centre campus, doing psychometric testing with children with complex developmental and behavioural conditions. I then relocated to Cambridge, UK, to complete my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. I worked in a variety of areas during training including Older Adult services, Adult Mental Health, CAMHS, Social Services, and Forensic services, and completed specialist placements in Palliative Care/Bereavement and in a highly specialist Neuropsychology service in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. My thesis focused on disordered eating and insulin non-adherence for weight management purposes in adults with type 1 diabetes. Upon qualification, I took up a role as a Clinical Psychologist within the Paediatric Psychological Medicine team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. I was split between the Paediatric Diabetes Service and the Brainbow Service, a specialist team for children with brain tumours. Ultimately I decided to relocate back to Ireland. I initially took a role in CAMHS within the HSE, but I was very excited to join the exciting, dynamic and rapidly growing team in Hospital Psychology at Cork University Hospital. I currently work as a Senior Clinical Psychologist in Paediatrics. I remain very interested in the intersection between physical and mental health, and I am also keen to support staff, team and organisational wellbeing through the embedding of psychological principles in all areas of work, ideally coming from the top down. In 2023, I started West Cork Psychology, a small-scale private practice that I do alongside my HSE work. I currently focus on offering comprehensive, evidence-based cognitive, psycho-educational and ADHD assessments for adults and children.