Dr Catriona O'Toole

    Education

    Gaeilge agus fáilte

    Associate Professor

    Maynooth University School of Education
    Second
    216
    (01) 708 3445

    Biography

    Dr Catriona O’Toole is a chartered psychologist and Assistant Professor in Maynooth University Department of Education.

     Her research focuses on whole-school approaches in mental health promotion and wellbeing and she has won award for her work in this area. She has a particular interest in childhood adversity and trauma-informed practice in education.

     Her work also explores how education can contribute to human flourishing and to the creation of peaceful and equitable societies,  especially through promoting mindfulness and compassion in education. 

    In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. My work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
    Goal 3: Good Health & Wellbeing
    Goal 4: Quality Education
    Goal 16: Peace Justice & Strong Institutions

    Research Interests


    • Wellbeing and mental health in school and community settings
    • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Trauma-Informed Practice
    • Social Justice, equality and diversity
    • Mindfulness and compassion
    • Education for human flourishing and sustainable futures

    Research Projects

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    Project Youth: A Feasibility Study PI Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force / Consultancy 07-JAN-22 31-DEC-22 7700
    ‘Design, Delivery & Evaluation of a Trauma-Informed Professional Development Programme for School Personnel’ PI / 01-OCT-21 31-MAR-22
    The impact of Covid-19 on the wellbeing of students, teachers and school community PI / 01-JUN-21 15-SEP-21
    Sanctuary Schools: Building Capacity for Trauma-Informed Practice in Education PI Irish Research Council (IRC) / New Foundations 01-MAR-21 01-DEC-21 11934
    Education for Human Flourishing Co-PI / 01-JAN-20
    Working out? The dynamics of parental employment and childcare and the impact on child wellbeing Co-PI / 01-JAN-11 01-JAN-13
    Good practice guidance for schools: Responding to the complexity of school non-attendance PI TUSLA Child and Family Agency / Consultancy Development of School Absenteeism Resource for Co. Kildare 01-DEC-21 31-MAR-22 4061
    Bernadette Phillips- The Montessori School as a healing environment: Translating childhood trauma research into effective trauma-informed educational practice. PI Irish Research Council (IRC) / Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship IRC GOI PG 2020 Scholarship on behalf of Bernadette Philips 01-OCT-20 30-SEP-24 109124.7
    A participatory needs analysis with young people in Kildare/West Wicklow PI Department of Children and Youth Affairs / 01-JAN-17 30-JUN-17 9000
    Frivolous or fundamental? Exploring the nature, value and consequences of children’s play activities in contemporary Ireland. PI Irish Research Council (IRC) / Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship 01-OCT-15 30-SEP-17 47955
    Review of the state-of-the-art in Mental Health Promotion in Schools PI / 01-MAR-21 31-DEC-21
    Sanctuary Schools: Building Capacity for Trauma-Informed Practice in Education PI Irish Research Council (IRC) / 01-MAR-21 31-DEC-21 12000
    Training Needs Analysis of Professionals working with Children, young people and families in Co Kildare PI Kildare Children & Young People's Services Committee (CYPSC). / Consultancy 01-NOV-19 30-SEP-20 3828
    Cochrane Systematic Review of preschool and school-based mindfulness interventions Principal investigator / 01-JAN-17

    Post Doctoral Fellows/Research Team

      Researcher Name Project Role Funding Body
    Mira Dobutowitsch Training Needs Analysis of Professionals working with Children, young people and families in Co Kildare Co-PI Kildare Children & Young People's Services Committee (CYPSC).

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2022 'Montessori, the White Cross and Trauma-Informed Practice: Lessons for Contemporary Education'
    Phillips, B. , O'Toole, C., McGilloway, S. & Phillips, S. (2022) 'Montessori, the White Cross and Trauma-Informed Practice: Lessons for Contemporary Education'. Journal of Montessori Research, [Details]
    2021 'Same storm, different boats! The impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of school communities'
    O’Toole C.;Simovska V. (2021) 'Same storm, different boats! The impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of school communities'. Health Education (Bradford, West Yorkshire, England), [DOI] [Details]
    2021 '‘What Kind of Education System are We Offering’: The Views of Education Professionals on School Refusal'
    Devenney R.;O'toole C. (2021) '‘What Kind of Education System are We Offering’: The Views of Education Professionals on School Refusal'. International Journal Of Educational Psychology, 10 (1):24-27 [DOI] [Details]
    2021 'When it matters most: a trauma-informed, outdoor learning programme to support children’s wellbeing during COVID-19 and beyond'
    Mulholland M.;O'Toole C. (2021) 'When it matters most: a trauma-informed, outdoor learning programme to support children’s wellbeing during COVID-19 and beyond'. Irish Educational Studies, [DOI] [Details]
    2021 'When trauma comes to school: Towards a trauma-informed praxis in education'
    O'Toole, C (2021) 'When trauma comes to school: Towards a trauma-informed praxis in education'. International Journal of School Social Work, 6 (6) [DOI] [Details]
    2019 'Time to teach the politics of mental health: Implications of the power threat meaning framework for teacher education'
    O’Toole C. (2019) 'Time to teach the politics of mental health: Implications of the power threat meaning framework for teacher education'. Clinical Psychology Forum, 2019 (313):15-19 [full-text] [Details]
    2017 'Preschool and school-based mindfulness programmes for improving mental health and cognitive functioning in young people aged 3 to 18 years (Protocol)'
    O'Toole C.;Furlong M.;Mcgilloway S.;Bjørndal A. (2017) 'Preschool and school-based mindfulness programmes for improving mental health and cognitive functioning in young people aged 3 to 18 years (Protocol)'. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017 (1) [DOI] [Details]
    2021 'The making of a wellbeing measurement: A (kind of) study protocol'
    Simovska, V & O'Toole, C (2021) 'The making of a wellbeing measurement: A (kind of) study protocol'. Outlines. Critical Practice Studies, [Details]
    2017 'Towards dynamic and interdisciplinary frameworks for school-based mental health promotion'
    O’Toole C. (2017) 'Towards dynamic and interdisciplinary frameworks for school-based mental health promotion'. Health Education (Bradford, West Yorkshire, England), 117 (5):452-468 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2013 'Ready, willing and able? Attitudes and concerns in relation to inclusion amongst a cohort of Irish pre-service teachers'
    O'Toole, C;Burke, N (2013) 'Ready, willing and able? Attitudes and concerns in relation to inclusion amongst a cohort of Irish pre-service teachers'. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 28 :239-253 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2009 'THREE CHRONOMETRIC INDICES OF RELATIONAL RESPONDING AS PREDICTORS OF PERFORMANCE ON A BRIEF INTELLIGENCE TEST: THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONAL FLEXIBILITY'
    O'Toole, C;Barnes-Holmes, D (2009) 'THREE CHRONOMETRIC INDICES OF RELATIONAL RESPONDING AS PREDICTORS OF PERFORMANCE ON A BRIEF INTELLIGENCE TEST: THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONAL FLEXIBILITY'. Psychological Record, 59 :119-132 [full-text] [Details]
    2009 'Relational flexibility and human intelligence: Extending the remit of skinner's verbal behavior'
    O'Toole C.;Barnes-Holmes D.;Murphy C.;O'Connor J.;Barnes-Holmes Y. (2009) 'Relational flexibility and human intelligence: Extending the remit of skinner's verbal behavior'. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 9 (1):1-17 [full-text] [Details]
    2009 'ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY GENERATED DURING THE IMPLICIT ASSOCIATION TEST: A STUDY USING EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS'
    O'Toole, C;Barnes-Holmes, D (2009) 'ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY GENERATED DURING THE IMPLICIT ASSOCIATION TEST: A STUDY USING EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS'. Psychological Record, 59 :207-219 [full-text] [Details]
    2007 'A derived transfer of functions and the implicit association test'
    O'Toole, C;Barnes-Holmes, D;Smyth, S (2007) 'A derived transfer of functions and the implicit association test'. JOURNAL OF THE EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR, 88 :263-283 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]

    Other Journals

      Year Publication
    2015 'A Whole New Spectrum of Queries, Concerns and Anxieties'
    O'Toole, C., and Byrne, D. (2015) 'A Whole New Spectrum of Queries, Concerns and Anxieties' Children's Research Digest, 2 (2) :9-14. [full-text] [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2022 'Childhood adversity and education: Integrating trauma-informed practice within school wellbeing and health promotion frameworks'
    O'Toole, C (2022) 'Childhood adversity and education: Integrating trauma-informed practice within school wellbeing and health promotion frameworks' In: Wellbeing and Schooling: Cross Cultural and Cross Disciplinary Perspectives. UK: Springer. [Details]
    2022 'Wellbeing and education: Connecting mind, body and world'
    O'Toole, C & Simovska, V. (2022) 'Wellbeing and education: Connecting mind, body and world' In: C. Fauchner, R.W. McLellan & V. Simovska (eds). Wellbeing and Schooling: Cross Cultural and Cross Disciplinary Perspectives. Uk: Springer. [Details]
    2020 'School Refusal: What is the problem represented to be? A critical analysis using Carol Bacchi’s questioning approach'
    O'Toole, C & Devenney, R (2020) 'School Refusal: What is the problem represented to be? A critical analysis using Carol Bacchi’s questioning approach' In: Social Theory and Education: Forging New Insights in Research. New York: Routledge. [Details]
    2009 'Teaching flexible, intelligent and creative behaviour'
    O’Toole, C., Murphy, C., Barnes-Holmes, D., & O’Connor, J. (2009) 'Teaching flexible, intelligent and creative behaviour' In: Derived relational responding: Applications for learners with autism and other developmental disabilities. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger. [Details]

    Published Reports

      Year Publication
    2021 State-of-the-art in school mental health promotion.
    O'Toole, C & Darlington, E. (2021) State-of-the-art in school mental health promotion. Schools for Health in Europe Network Foundation, Denmark. [Details]
    2020 Committed, Caring and Compassionate: Co. Kildare Workforce Wellbeing, Attitudes toward Trauma-informed Care, COVID concerns and Ongoing Training Needs.
    O'Toole C & Dobutowitsch D (2020) Committed, Caring and Compassionate: Co. Kildare Workforce Wellbeing, Attitudes toward Trauma-informed Care, COVID concerns and Ongoing Training Needs. Kildare CYPSC, Kildare. [full-text] [Details]
    2018 ‘Somewhere to Go; Someone to Talk to’ A Report on the Outcome of a Consultation with Young People in West Wicklow.
    O'Toole, C., Maher, M. & Showunmi, V. (2018) ‘Somewhere to Go; Someone to Talk to’ A Report on the Outcome of a Consultation with Young People in West Wicklow. Kildare Youth Services, Kildare. [full-text] [Details]
    2015 The Influence of Childcare Arrangements on Child Well Being from Infancy to Middle Childhood.
    Byrne, D. and O'Toole, C. (2015) The Influence of Childcare Arrangements on Child Well Being from Infancy to Middle Childhood. TUSLA in association with Maynooth University, TUSLA in association with Maynooth University. [full-text] [Details]
    2015 Having a disability makes me a better teacher!” Experiences of disability and systems of support in initial teacher education (final report).
    O'Toole, C. & Daly, M. (2015) Having a disability makes me a better teacher!” Experiences of disability and systems of support in initial teacher education (final report). Centre for Teaching and Learning, Maynooth. [Details]

    Editorial

      Year Publication
    2021 COVID-19 and education: positioning the pandemic; facing the future.
    Hall T.;Byrne D.;Bryan A.;Kitching K.;Chróinín D.N.;O’Toole C.;Addley J. (2021) COVID-19 and education: positioning the pandemic; facing the future. Editorial [DOI] [Details]

    Invited papers

      Year Publication
    2021 School-based mental health promotion: An overview of the current state-of-the-art. Schools for Health in Europe Network Foundation, National Co-ordinators Meeting.
    O'Toole, C & Darlington, E. (2021) School-based mental health promotion: An overview of the current state-of-the-art. Schools for Health in Europe Network Foundation, National Co-ordinators Meeting. Invited papers [Details]
    2021 The personal is political! Advancing educational responses to global challenges in mental health & wellbeing. [Invited Speaker Session]. American Educational Research Association, Annual Meeting.
    O'Toole, C (2021) The personal is political! Advancing educational responses to global challenges in mental health & wellbeing. [Invited Speaker Session]. American Educational Research Association, Annual Meeting. Invited papers [Details]

    Invited Seminars

      Year Publication
    2021 Trauma Informed Teaching & Learning in Higher Education: Passing Phase or Best Practice? Institute of Art Design & Technology (IADT).
    O'Toole, C (2021) Trauma Informed Teaching & Learning in Higher Education: Passing Phase or Best Practice? Institute of Art Design & Technology (IADT). Invited Seminars [Details]
    2021 Where to next for school wellbeing and mental health promotion. PSI Division of Educational Psychologists.
    O'Toole, C (2021) Where to next for school wellbeing and mental health promotion. PSI Division of Educational Psychologists. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2019 School and preschool mindfulness programmes: A systematic review of the effects on children's psychosocial and cognitive functioning. Research Meeting of the Schools for Health in Europe (SHE) Network Foundation, Reykjavik, Iceland.
    O’Toole, C. Furlong, M. McGilloway, S., & Bjørndal A. (2019) School and preschool mindfulness programmes: A systematic review of the effects on children's psychosocial and cognitive functioning. Research Meeting of the Schools for Health in Europe (SHE) Network Foundation, Reykjavik, Iceland. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2017 Mindfulness as a resource for personal and collective wellbeing in a pluralistic society: Research and Practice.
    O'Toole, C. McCormack, D. (2017) Mindfulness as a resource for personal and collective wellbeing in a pluralistic society: Research and Practice. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2016 Changing Childhoods. Public seminar, Department of Adult & Community Education.
    O'Toole, C (2016) Changing Childhoods. Public seminar, Department of Adult & Community Education. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2016 The changing face of childhood and parenthood: Connecting with what really matters in a complex and competitive world. Public talk as part Kildare Library Service, Let’s Talk About Parenting series, Maynooth Public Library.
    O'Toole, C. & McGovern, A. (2016) The changing face of childhood and parenthood: Connecting with what really matters in a complex and competitive world. Public talk as part Kildare Library Service, Let’s Talk About Parenting series, Maynooth Public Library. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2016 Keep it in Mind. Promoting Well-being and Resilience in Early Years, Kildare County Childcare Committee.
    O'Toole, C (2016) Keep it in Mind. Promoting Well-being and Resilience in Early Years, Kildare County Childcare Committee. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2014 Psychology as a Gateway: Developing students' skills for careers outside psychology', Psychological Society of Ireland, DATRiP Conference.
    O'Toole, C (2014) Psychology as a Gateway: Developing students' skills for careers outside psychology', Psychological Society of Ireland, DATRiP Conference. Invited Seminars [Details]

    Blog

      Year Publication
    2021 Why Schools need resources to support traumatised children.
    Catriona O'Toole (2021) Why Schools need resources to support traumatised children. Blog [Details]

    Conference Publications

      Year Publication
    2021 Culturally responses approaches to mental health in schools
    Catriona O'Toole (2021) Culturally responses approaches to mental health in schools American Educational Research Association Online conference, [Details]
    2021 Supporting schools to co-design and self-assess trauma-informed practices
    McKernan, R. & O'Toole, C. (2021) Supporting schools to co-design and self-assess trauma-informed practices Psychological Society of Ireland, Annual Conference [Details]
    2021 Wellbeing promotion in education: Forging new insights and practices
    Catriona O'Toole (2021) Wellbeing promotion in education: Forging new insights and practices Educational Studies Association of Ireland Online conference, [Details]
    2021 “New Light Through Old Windows: Seeing new possibilities in education for trauma-informed practice, by looking through a historical lens at Montessori's early ‘healing’ schools”
    Phillips, B. , O'Toole, C., & McGilloway, S. (2021) “New Light Through Old Windows: Seeing new possibilities in education for trauma-informed practice, by looking through a historical lens at Montessori's early ‘healing’ schools” Educational Studies Association of Ireland [Details]
    2020 Teachers' wellbeing matters: Exploring quality of life, secondary traumatic stress and levels of self-compassion amongst Teachers in Ireland
    Dobutowitsch, M & O'Toole, C (2020) Teachers' wellbeing matters: Exploring quality of life, secondary traumatic stress and levels of self-compassion amongst Teachers in Ireland Educational Studies Association of Ireland Online conference, [Details]
    2020 Toward a trauma-informed praxis in education
    O'Toole (2020) Toward a trauma-informed praxis in education Educational Studies Association of Ireland Online conference, [full-text] [Details]
    2019 Wellbeing and education: Mind/body attunement and situated ethical actions for a better world
    O'Toole, C (2019) Wellbeing and education: Mind/body attunement and situated ethical actions for a better world European Educational Research Association, Hamburg [Details]
    2018 Exploring Current Perceptions in School Refusal
    Devanney, R & O'Toole, C. (2018) Exploring Current Perceptions in School Refusal Psychological Society of Ireland, 48th Annual Conference, Athlone, November 7 – 10 [Details]
    2018 Reclaiming wellbeing as an educational goal: Embodied wellbeing and post-critical Bildung
    O'Toole, C & Simovska, V. (2018) Reclaiming wellbeing as an educational goal: Embodied wellbeing and post-critical Bildung the European Conference of Educational Research, Bolzano, Italy, September 4th, 2018 [Details]
    2018 Mindfulness, Contemplative Pedagogies and Trauma-informed Praxis in Education
    O'Toole, C (2018) Mindfulness, Contemplative Pedagogies and Trauma-informed Praxis in Education Mind and Life European Summer Research Institute (ESRI), August, Lake Chiemsee, Germany [Details]
    2017 A Reprieve but not a Fix for Childhood Stresses: A Participatory Study of School-based Mindfulness in an Irish Primary School
    O'Toole, C & O'Connor, C. (2017) A Reprieve but not a Fix for Childhood Stresses: A Participatory Study of School-based Mindfulness in an Irish Primary School Paper presented as part of the symposium: ‘Wellbeing and Schooling: Cross cultural and Cross disciplinary Perspectives European Conference of Educational Research, Copenhagen, [Details]
    2010 Relational Frames and Cognitive Abilities: A Systematic Investigation Using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure
    O'Toole, C. & Barnes-Holmes, D. (2010) Relational Frames and Cognitive Abilities: A Systematic Investigation Using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure Paper presented in the symposium: The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure: Current Research and Applications at the 36th Annual Convention for the Association of Behaviour Analysis in San Antonio, Texas. [Details]
    2008 Relational Flexibility and the WAIS-III: An investigation using the IRAP
    O'Toole, C & Barnes-Holmes, D (2008) Relational Flexibility and the WAIS-III: An investigation using the IRAP Paper presented in the symposium, Intelligence, educational and socially relevant research using the IRAP as a methodology, held during the 34th Annual Convention for the Association of Behavior Analysis, in Chicago, Illinois [Details]
    2016 Exploring the promise and perils of mindfulness practices with children
    O'Toole, C (2016) Exploring the promise and perils of mindfulness practices with children Annual Childhood Studies Conference, held in Turku, Finland, 6th-8th June [Details]
    2013
    Byrne, D & O'Toole, C (2013) 'Learning experiences in early years: an investigation using the Growing up in Ireland dataset [Details]
    2012 Using Growing Up in Ireland to Explore Family Employment and Childcare Dynamics in a Context of Child Well-Being
    Byrne, D & O'Toole, C (2012) Using Growing Up in Ireland to Explore Family Employment and Childcare Dynamics in a Context of Child Well-Being New Perspectives on Family Change in Ireland, NUIM, 12th December 2012 [Details]
    2011 Behavioural Interventions in Mainstream Schools: A Contextual Approach
    Dr Catriona O'Toole (2011) Behavioural Interventions in Mainstream Schools: A Contextual Approach Paper presented at the Division of Behaviour Analysis Annual Conference, Trinity College, Dublin. [Details]
    2016 Opening the Conversation about Children's Well-being: Tensions, Confluences and Possibilities in School-based Mental Health Promotion
    O'Toole C (2016) Opening the Conversation about Children's Well-being: Tensions, Confluences and Possibilities in School-based Mental Health Promotion 'Interventions to Promote Wellbeing: Schools and Community’ symposium, held at the European Conference of Educational Research, Dublin, 22nd-26th August Dublin, [Details]
    2015 Mindful schools? Exploring the potential of mindfulness programmes for enhancing resilience and wellbeing in children and adolescents
    Dr Catriona O'Toole (2015) Mindful schools? Exploring the potential of mindfulness programmes for enhancing resilience and wellbeing in children and adolescents Paper presented at the Educational Studies Association of Ireland, Carton House, Maynooth, 9-11th April, 2015 [Details]
    2015 School-based mindfulness programmes: Transforming children's lives or merely a passing fad?
    O'Toole, Furlong, M, McGilloway, S. & Bjørndal, A. (2015) School-based mindfulness programmes: Transforming children's lives or merely a passing fad? Paper presented at the symposium: Wellbeing and Mental Health Promotion in Schools, held at the European Conference of Educational Research (ECER), in Budapest, Sept 8th-12th [Details]
    2015 Fostering resilience through education: Creating opportunities for meaningful participation, belonging and cognitive engagement
    Dr Catriona O'Toole (2015) Fostering resilience through education: Creating opportunities for meaningful participation, belonging and cognitive engagement Presented at a Maynooth University Research Seminar entitled, Sustaining Resilient Families, Households and Communities, on May 28th [Details]
    2014 Associations between childcare type and children's cognitive development: Results from the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland
    Dr Catriona O'Toole (2014) Associations between childcare type and children's cognitive development: Results from the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland Paper presented at the Child Development in School and Community Conference, held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, June 27th-29th [Details]
    2014 Accessing Initial Teacher Education: An exploration of best practice in the support of student teachers with disabilities on school placement.
    Dr Catriona O'Toole (2014) Accessing Initial Teacher Education: An exploration of best practice in the support of student teachers with disabilities on school placement. Paper presented at Education Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference, held in Athlone, April, 10th-12th [Details]
    2014 Seeing Things Differently: Restorative Practice in Second Level Education
    O'Toole, C & Daly, M. (2014) Seeing Things Differently: Restorative Practice in Second Level Education Presented at the seminar, Enhancing a Positive School Culture through Restorative Practice, on 9th May , hosted by Maynooth University Edward M Kennedy Institute [Details]
    2014 Having a disability makes me a better teacher” Experiences of disability and systems of support in initial teacher education
    Maeve Daly, Dr Catriona O'Toole (2014) Having a disability makes me a better teacher” Experiences of disability and systems of support in initial teacher education Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, held in Kilkenny, 12-15th November [Details]
    2013 Childcare and Child Development at Age Three: A Cross Sectional Analysis of Growing up in Ireland Data
    Byrne, D & O'Toole, C (2013) Childcare and Child Development at Age Three: A Cross Sectional Analysis of Growing up in Ireland Data 43rd Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, 6-9th November 2013, Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Sligo [Details]
    2013 Student-teachers’ attitudes and concerns about inclusive education: The importance of the emotional climate of the placement school
    Dr Catriona O'Toole (2013) Student-teachers’ attitudes and concerns about inclusive education: The importance of the emotional climate of the placement school Education Studies Association of Ireland [Details]
    2013 The Impact of Childcare on Children’s Well-Being and Development: An Analysis using the Growing up in Ireland Dataset
    Byrne, D, & O'Toole, C (2013) The Impact of Childcare on Children’s Well-Being and Development: An Analysis using the Growing up in Ireland Dataset Early Childhood Ireland Conference ‘Today’s Children, Tomorrows World, Turning Points? 17th-19th October 2013, Aviva Stadium, Dublin [Details]
    2013 'Working out? Family Employment and Childcare Arrangements and their Influence on Child Well Being from Infancy to Middle Childhood
    Byrne, Delma, Dr Catriona O'Toole (2013) 'Working out? Family Employment and Childcare Arrangements and their Influence on Child Well Being from Infancy to Middle Childhood Growing up in Ireland Annual Conference, 27th November, Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin [Details]
    2011 A Three tier Model of Positive Behaviour Support: Partnerships to facilitate its adoption in Irish Schools
    Dr Catriona O'Toole (2011) A Three tier Model of Positive Behaviour Support: Partnerships to facilitate its adoption in Irish Schools Educational Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference, in Dublin [Details]
    2010 Exploring Social Validity in the context of Multi- Element Behavior Support (MEBS) Interventions
    O'Toole, C & Dench, C (2010) Exploring Social Validity in the context of Multi- Element Behavior Support (MEBS) Interventions Paper presented in the symposium Positive ABA interventions: Conceptual and Empirical Issues, at the 36th Annual Convention for the Association of Behaviour Analysis in San Antonio, Texas. [Details]
    2009 The Informed Consent Meeting: Making the Most of the Initial Meeting with Prospective Clients
    O'Toole, C., McPeake, K, & Connolly, J. (2009) The Informed Consent Meeting: Making the Most of the Initial Meeting with Prospective Clients Paper presented at the Psychological Society of Ireland Annual Conference held in Wexford [Details]
    2007 Are you smart enough to get it wrong? The importance of relational flexibility in human intelligence
    O'Toole, C & Barnes-Holmes D. (2007) Are you smart enough to get it wrong? The importance of relational flexibility in human intelligence Paper presented at the symposium: Applications of Relational Frame Theory: Alternative psychological measures, held during the British Psychological Society Annual Conference, in Dublin. [Details]

    Policy Contribution

      Year Publication
    2022 Trauma-informed education: A policy brief.
    O'Toole, C. Gilheany, S & Hough, J. (2022) Trauma-informed education: A policy brief. Policy Contribution [Details]

    Research Paper

      Year Publication
    2021 Proposed Kyrie Farm Research Programme: Briefing paper.
    Murphy, R., McGilloway, S., O'Toole, C. MacLachlan, M (2021) Proposed Kyrie Farm Research Programme: Briefing paper. Research Paper [Details]

    Newspaper Articles

      Year Publication
    2013 Concerns over practices in early years’ settings: Advice for parents.
    Dr Catriona O'Toole (2013) Concerns over practices in early years’ settings: Advice for parents. Newspaper Articles [Details]
    2013 'Poor investment in Early Years care will cost us dear'.
    Dr Catriona O'Toole (2013) 'Poor investment in Early Years care will cost us dear'. Newspaper Articles [Details]

    Newsletter

      Year Publication
    2020 Buddies for life”: helping primary school children develop and build emotional resilience, kindness and empathy. In-Touch (INTO) professional teacher journal.
    Quinn, P, McGilloway, S. & O'Toole, C. (2020) Buddies for life”: helping primary school children develop and build emotional resilience, kindness and empathy. In-Touch (INTO) professional teacher journal. Newsletter [Details]

    Online Multimedia

      Year Publication
    2021 State-of-the-art in school mental health promotion: Video animation.
    O'Toole, C & Darlington, E. (2021) State-of-the-art in school mental health promotion: Video animation. Online Multimedia [Details]

    Thesis

      Year Publication
    2010 Investigating the role of relational responding and relational flexibility in human cognition.
    Dr Catriona O'Toole (2010) Investigating the role of relational responding and relational flexibility in human cognition. Thesis [Details]

    Honours and Awards

      Year Title Awarding Body
    2018 Winner: Emerald Literati Outstanding Paper Award. Emerald Literati
    2006 John and Pat Hume Postgraduate Scholarship Maynooth University
    2012 Teaching and Learning Fellowship Maynooth University
    2005 Carmel Staunton Award, best final year project Maynooth University
    2006 Irish Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship Irish Research Council

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    Health and Wellbeing Education Network Co-Convener 01-SEP-16 /
    Registered Psychologist, Psychological Society of Ireland Registered psychologist 01-JAN-11 /
    PSI Division of Teachers and Researchers in Psychology Committee member 01-JAN-12 /
    Educational Studies Association of Ireland Committee member & Membership Secretary 01-JAN-12 /
    Association of Contemplative Mind in Higher Education Member 01-JAN-17 /

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    1997 Dublin Institute of Technology Cert Early Childhood Care and Education
    2008 Maynooth University: National University of Ireland Maynooth Professional Diploma Teaching and Learning
    2005 Maynooth University BA Psychology
    2011 Maynooth University PhD Psychology

    Reviews

      Journal Role
    Plos One Reviewer
    Educational Researcher Reviewer
    Health Education (Bradford, West Yorkshire, England) Reviewer
    Scandinavian Journal Of Public Health, Supplement Reviewer
    Journal Of Child And Adolescent Trauma Member of the Editorial Board
    Current Issues In Education Reviewer
    Learning And Individual Differences Reviewer
    Journal Of Mental Health Reviewer
    Health Education Journal Reviewer
    Phenomenology And The Cognitive Sciences Reviewer
    Irish Educational Studies Guest Editor
    Irish Educational Studies Editor

    Teaching Interests

    Catriona teaches across the Department's Initial Teacher Education programmes, as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in School Guidance and Counseling, and the M.Ed and Doctoral degree programmes.

    Her teaching is in areas of psychology of education, including child/adolescent development, learning, mental health and wellbeing, childhood adversity and trauma-informed practice.

    Catriona incorporates mindfulness and other contemplative practices into her classes, providing opportunities for students to intimately connect with their own experience, and to engage with the  perspectives and experiences of others.


    Recent Postgraduates

      Graduation Student Name University Degree Thesis
    2018 Anne Marie McGovern Maynooth University
    2018 Mira Dobutowitsch Maynooth University
    2021 Roisin Devenney Maynooth University
    2021 Sinead Matson Maynooth University