About

Davida attained her undergraduate psychology degree from Trinity College Dublin and graduated with a 1st class honours from her Masters in Educational Psychology from University College Dublin. She also holds a further professional certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from Waterford Institute of Technology.  

Davida  has  been working with children with additional needs for over twenty years, including placements in Crumlin Children’s Hospital and a range of special schools. Prior to setting up The Children's Clinic, she worked as a Senior Psychologist in HSE Disability Services in Carlow/Kilkenny and prior to this in HSE Beechpark Services, Dublin (providing specialist services to children with autism and their families). 

Davida is also a lecturer and trainer, providing consultation in the area of disability (and in particular autism) to a number of different groups and agencies including Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, the National Council of Special Education and the National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) in addition to presenting training workshops at Psychological Society of Ireland conferences. She has presented recently at the As I AM and Cork Autism conferences. 

Davida has contributed to local and national media including KCLR's Sunday Brunch with John Masterson, Newstalk, the Irish Independent and the Organisation for Autism Research as well as professional publications in The Irish Psychologist. In 2014, she was commissioned by the Psychological Society of Ireland to write their annual 10 Tips, on this occasion to coincide with World Autism Day.

Davida is a Chartered Educational Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and a member of the PSI ASD Special Interest Group.  

She is a passionate advocate for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in Ireland and has a particular interest in supporting teens and young adults with additional needs to live full, happy lives, connected to their communities.