Dr Sonia Pillai (she/her) is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with over ten years of experience in both clinical and research settings. She completed her doctoral training in Psychology in Trinity College Dublin, where she worked in Adult Mental Health and CAMHS services in the HSE, as well as in psycho-oncology. Outside of her doctoral training, she also has experience in private clinics conducting ADHD assessments, as well as in a research lab looking at neurofeedback as a potential treatment for children with ADHD. As a scientist-practitioner, Sonia values evidence-based practice and has worked in multiple research projects in different countries. She was awarded the Allen Burke prize by Trinity College Dublin for her research looking at cancer distress from an emotion-focused theoretical perspective.
As a clinician, she works from neuroaffirmative and trauma-informed perspectives, and has special interest and experience in supporting people with ADHD, particularly people who have been late-diagnosed, and who struggle with issues such as anxiety, trauma, OCD, grief, self-esteem, and relationships. Outside of her private practice, Sonia is also employed as a senior psychologist in a hospital where she runs DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) and CFT (Compassion-Focused Therapy) therapy groups with adult inpatients.
In her free time, she enjoys drinking (iced) coffee, listening to music, and aspires to be a frequent sea swimmer.