Dr Elaine Ryan

Doctoral-level CBT & ERP psychoeducation for OCD, panic and health anxiety — online programmes across Ireland.

PsychD (Surrey) • Chartered Psychologist (BPS) • Former Highly Specialist Psychologist NHS

Dr. Elaine Ryan Chartered Psychologist

About Dr Elaine Ryan (PsychD)

I’m Dr Elaine Ryan (PsychD) — a doctor of psychology and clinical educator specialising in OCD, panic attacks, health anxiety, and complex anxiety disorders. For over 20 years, my work has focused on translating evidence-based psychological treatment into clear, practical programmes that people can use in real life.

MyTherapist.ie exists for one purpose: to give you access to structured, evidence-based psychoeducation, screening tools, and step-by-step self-help programmes grounded in clinical best practice — especially CBT and Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and intrusive thoughts.

Important note: MyTherapist.ie provides psychoeducational resources and self-help programmes. It is not a crisis service and it does not replace medical or emergency care. If you’re in immediate danger or at risk, contact emergency services or your GP/Out-of-hours service.

Credentials & Verification

You are reading content written and clinically governed by a professional with verified training and long-term clinical experience.

What I Specialise In

My core clinical focus is the full spectrum of anxiety disorders, with particular depth in:

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) — including intrusive thoughts (e.g., harm, sexual, relationship, contamination, checking, “just right” OCD)
  • Panic attacks & panic disorder
  • Health anxiety (fear of illness, bodily scanning, reassurance loops)
  • Generalised anxiety (chronic worry and intolerance of uncertainty)
  • Anger & emotional regulation (skills-based approaches for reactivity and impulse control)

Across all of these, the clinical target is the same: breaking the avoidance-relief learning loop that keeps anxiety alive — using methods that are supported by evidence and aligned with major clinical guidance.

My Clinical Background

Before building digital psychoeducational platforms, I worked in the UK National Health Service (NHS) as a Highly Specialist Psychologist within multidisciplinary teams, supporting complex presentations where generic supportive counselling is rarely sufficient.

My NHS work included experience across:

  • Adult mental health
  • Personality disorder services
  • Learning disability services
  • DBT programme environments (skills-based and behavioural frameworks)
  • Supervision and training contexts, including supporting developing clinicians and CBT placements

This background matters because OCD and severe anxiety are frequently misunderstood — and many people waste years in treatments that provide insight and reassurance but do not change the maintaining mechanisms.

Evidence-Based Approach: What Guides the Programmes on This Site

MyTherapist.ie is built around what actually works for OCD and anxiety when applied correctly.

1) CBT that targets maintaining mechanisms

Not just “thinking positive” — but working with the processes that drive symptoms: threat appraisal, safety behaviours, avoidance, intolerance of uncertainty, and reassurance seeking.

2) ERP for OCD and intrusive thoughts

For OCD, ERP is foundational. The goal isn’t to “feel calm” — it’s to learn, repeatedly, that you can experience uncertainty and discomfort without rituals, and still be safe.

3) Skills-based frameworks when needed

Where relevant, programmes draw from evidence-informed approaches such as ACT-style strategies, mindfulness skills, and DBT-informed emotional regulation tools, especially for panic sensitivity, rumination, and reactive anger.

Everything is designed to be:

  • Practical
  • Structured
  • Step-by-step
  • Focused on behaviour change and repetition, not reassurance.

Moodsmith Ltd & MyTherapist.ie: How They Fit Together

I run two connected platforms under one clinical governance structure:

  • Moodsmith Ltd is the parent organisation I direct, responsible for clinical governance, programme development standards, and content oversight.
  • MyTherapist.ie is the public-facing platform providing psychoeducation, screening tools, and structured self-help programmes for OCD and anxiety-related conditions.

This structure exists for one reason: it ensures that everything you read or use here is clinically governed psychoeducation built to the same standards I would use in professional settings.

What Makes This Different From Generic “Mental Health Content”

A lot of mental health content online is written to sound supportive. That’s not enough for OCD, panic, and health anxiety.

This platform is designed to deliver:

  • A clear understanding of what maintains your symptoms
  • A realistic plan for what to do next
  • A framework for judging whether an approach is helping or accidentally maintaining the cycle

I focus heavily on the parts that are commonly missed:

  • Hidden mental rituals (mental checking, neutralising, analysing “what it means”)
  • Reassurance dependency (including subtle reassurance through research)
  • Safety behaviours that look “responsible” but keep fear alive
  • Practical implementation details: how to choose exposure levels, how to avoid “ERP that’s actually reassurance,” and how to measure progress behaviourally, not emotionally.

Media & Public Commentary (Verified)

My work has been referenced and featured in established media outlets, reflecting my long-standing role in public psychoeducation around anxiety and OCD.

How to Use This Site (Best Starting Points)

If you’re new here, start with one of these:

Editorial & Clinical Review Policy

  • All psychoeducational content, screening tools, and programmes are created and overseen by Dr Elaine Ryan (PsychD).
  • Content is reviewed and updated to reflect recognised clinical guidance and developments in evidence-based practice.
  • Last reviewed: January 2026]
  • Sources include established clinical guidance and peer-reviewed research where appropriate.

If you spot an error or an outdated reference, contact us here

Ethics, Privacy & Data Protection

I take privacy seriously and follow appropriate standards for online psychoeducation.

  • GDPR-aligned privacy practices
  • ICO registration: ZA472099
  • You can review the Privacy Policy here

In My Own Words

My work is about giving you a clinical map: what maintains the problem, how to interrupt it, and how to build confidence through repeated, evidence-based practice.

If you want a structured plan, start with a guide or a screening tool — and if you’re ready to train the skills properly, explore the programmes.

Dr Elaine Ryan (PsychD)
Clinical Director, Moodsmith Ltd
MyTherapist.ie — Evidence-based psychoeducation and self-help programmes