Psychology · Dublin & Ireland
Dr Elaine RyanPsychD
Doctor of Psychology specialising in OCD and anxiety disorders
Doctor of Psychology with over 20 years’ experience specialising in OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, and health anxiety. Formerly worked in the NHS at Highly Specialist level, using evidence-based CBT and ERP.
Areas I specialise in
My clinical work focuses primarily on OCD and anxiety disorders. I use evidence-based CBT and, for OCD, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), with treatment tailored to the patterns maintaining each problem. I have doctoral level & post doctoral training in OCD and anxiety disorders.
Health Anxiety
Break reassurance and checking cycles and regain confidence.
Online Screening Test
I have a selection of online tests that can tell you more about your condition
Therapy & Self-Help
Choosing therapy in Dublin can feel confusing because there are so many titles and approaches. If you’re struggling with OCD, health anxiety, panic attacks or anxiety, evidence-based treatments include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and — for OCD — Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
I am a Chartered Psychologist with more than 20 years’ experience specialising in OCD and anxiety disorders, including many years providing CBT and ERP in private practice in Dublin and online across Ireland.
On MyTherapist.ie, I explain OCD and anxiety, the psychological treatments used to help, and how to choose a useful next step. Explore expert guidance and practical resources, or learn through my structured, self-paced psychological programmes.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
A structured, practical therapy that helps you break anxiety and panic cycles, reduce avoidance and safety behaviours.
ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention)
A form of CBT designed for OCD. ERP helps you face triggers without doing compulsions or subtle safety behaviours (including mental rituals).
ACT (Acceptance and commitment Therapy)
Acceptance-based skills that build tolerance for uncertainty and help you move toward valued actions instead of anxiety-driven habits.
Resources
OCD recovery
OCD Avoidance: Why Avoiding Triggers Can Keep You Stuck
How avoidance fits the OCD cycle, how to retain ordinary safety and how to map a manageable activity to reclaim through CBT and ERP learning.
Anger
Replaying Arguments: How to Stop Anger Rumination
How to distinguish useful reflection from replaying a grievance, make one practical decision and stop rehearsing the same argument.
Anxiety
Anxiety, Muscle Tension and Trouble Relaxing
Understand anxiety-related tension, restlessness and trouble relaxing, with a practical example of changing worry and checking without demanding perfect calm.
Social anxiety
CBT for Social Anxiety: What Good Treatment Actually Changes
CBT for social anxiety works on predictions, self-focused attention, safety behaviours, avoidance and post-event review—not just positive thinking.
Anger
I’ve Just Lost My Temper: What to Do in the First Hour After an Anger Outburst
If you are reading this just after losing your temper, I want you to do one thing before you analyse anything: make the situation …
Panic attacks
Fear of Fainting, Vomiting or Losing Control During a Panic Attack
Panic attacks often come with one terrifying prediction. For some people it is, “I will faint.” For others it is, “I will vomit.” For …