Michelle Murray
Michelle is the founder of Anchor Therapy. She completed her BSc in Occupational Therapy in TCD in 2010.
Between Ireland and Australia Michelle has worked in inpatient psychiatric settings and mostly in the community supporting young people and adults specialising in mental health and neurodiversity.
She has also completed additional training in using ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), CFT (Compassion Focused Therapy) and trauma informed approaches.
Michelle is passionate about changing the way schools, colleges and workplaces support neurodiversity and mental health. She continues to grow Anchor Therapy with a strong desire to make OT available and accessible to everyone in the community. Michelle uses a neuroaffirmative approach in her work while supporting clients to learn about and nurture their own self compassion.
In her spare time she loves being outside, doing yoga or watching a good movie.
Michelle works in Dublin face to face Tuesdays and Wednesdays and online Mondays and Thursdays.
Ailís O Dea
Ailís is a Senior Occupational Therapist with over 10 years of clinical experience. For the past seven years, she has specialised in supporting adults and teenagers in the area of mental health, working with people experiencing a wide range of mental health conditions and neurodivergence.
Her practice is neuro-affirming, strengths-based, and person-centred. She has also completed training in motivational interviewing and enjoys bringing creativity and fun into her sessions to help people feel safe, supported, and empowered in their own goals. Ailís works with people both in the community and in clinical settings, supporting them to access their communities and engage in occupations that are meaningful to them.
Beyond her clinical work, Ailís is passionate about healthcare equity and occupational justice. She has volunteered in a hospital in Uganda and contributed to anti-racism working groups and initiatives advocating for fairer access to meaningful healthcare for marginalised people.
Outside of work, Ailís enjoys CrossFit, running, yoga, sea swimming, and anything competitive. She is an avid reader, loves spending time with animals—especially dogs—and values the balance between movement, rest, and play in everyday life.
Ailís offers both online sessions and in-person appointments in Dublin and Cork.
Rachel Ardagh
Rachel is a Senior Occupational Therapist who graduated from Trinity College in 2007. She has worked in various sectors for the past 15 years, including disability, paediatrics, equine assisted therapy, and has specialised in the area of mental health for the past 6 years. Rachel also works part time as a Senior Clinician, in a transdisciplinary role for a youth mental health organisation.
Rachel’s approach to OT is firmly grounded in cultivating more self-compassion and awareness in order to support people to engage meaningfully in what’s important to them in their lives. Rachel has training in various therapeutic approaches which are also woven into her practice, including ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), CFT (Compassion Focused Therapy) Solution Focused Therapy, Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness, and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. She graduated with a Masters in Mindfulness Based Interventions from UCD in 2020 and sits on the Board for the Mindfulness Teacher’s Association of Ireland.
Rachel is available for sessions online.
Jack Cairns
Jack is a Senior Occupational Therapist with Anchor Therapy. He has 10 years of clinical experience across mental health, intellectual disability and neurodiversity in Ireland and England. His practice is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves to live a life that feels meaningful and balanced.
Jack works with people to explore what is important to them - it could be work, college, re-evaluating their day-to-day routine, how connected they feel to other people in their lives or simply finding ways to feel more regulated and confident in their everyday life.
Jack takes a neuroaffirmative and recovery-oriented approach which means that I support people to understand their strengths, honour their needs, and build strategies that fit who they are rather than trying to "fix" them.
Jack is passionate about translating the science of occupation into practical strategies that help people to reconnect with what gives them purpose, what gives them joy, and to help people to reconnect with themselves and with their community.
Jack offers face to face sessions in our Dublin office.
