One area of Brian’s interest, research and practice relates to children resisting contact with a previously loved parent in the context of high conflict divorce and separations in Ireland often referred to as contact resistance, maladaptive gatekeeping or Parental Alienation.
Brian has conducted the only published Irish study exploring Parental Alienation with ethical permissions from the Human Research Ethics Committee at University College Dublin. He has been published in international peer reviewed Journals regarding the theme of Parental Alienation. Furthermore, he has published the only Irish papers across the Social, Legal & Mental Health literature in Ireland regarding the phenomenon of Parental Alienation.
He is the founding editor of the European Journal of Parental Alienation Practice. See link here https://parentalalienation.eu/european-journal-of-parental-alienation-practice
Brian is co-director of the first European academically accredited post graduate program in Parental Alienation Studies. The first cohort commenced in September 2021 with learners from social, legal and mental health professions from Russia, China, Iceland, US, New Zealand, Canada, Malta, UK and Ireland for more information see here: https://parentalalienation.eu/post-graduate-award-in-parental-alienation-studies/
Additionally, he has delivered his research findings at national and international post graduate (Doctoral) research conferences. His expertise in the area of Parental Alienation means he is often requested to act as an expert witness in complex private family law proceedings (section 47’s) where parental alienation is considered to be a factor.
Brian is a Systemic Family Psychotherapist. He has 21 year’s experience of working collaboratively with adolescents, couples and families across the community, voluntary and statutory sectors as well as in private practice.
Brian earned his M.Sc. in Systemic Family Psychotherapy at the Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Mater University Hospital and University College Dublin.
Brian has spent a number of years teaching accredited undergraduate and post graduate degree programs in psychological theory and therapy. He has designed two Master programs both of which have been validated by Middlesex University in London.
Brian works with his client(s) in the context of their whole lives and takes into account a person’s relationships, internal dialogue, history, work and social settings. He aims to assist the adolescent, individual, couple or family to come to their own satisfactory understandings or actions that will allow them to manage whatever issue troubles them.
The consultations are client led, confidential, collaborative and non-judgemental. Brian aims to engage clients in a conversation that offers the individual, adolescent, couple or family alternative stories or descriptions to the ‘stuck’ or ‘pathological’ ones they currently find themselves in. To contact Brian, please click here.
Brian O’Sullivan Consultant Systemic Family Psychotherapist
M.Sc. (Syst. Psych)
