Patrea O’Donoghue, M Psych, MAPS
Patrea’s Passion for Positive Psychology
When Patrea first heard Martin Seligman speak live, in early 2006, she felt like she’d found her work’s home. What he had to say about Positive Psychology connected with Patrea so strongly that she knew she had to find out more. Since then, she has applied her keen sense of learning toward all things Positive Psychology: reading books and journal articles, attending workshops, webinars, and each of the World Congresses on Positive Psychology (2009, 2011, and 2013).
Patrea has felt Positive Psychology has enriched her life and would love others to have that same experience. Positive Psychology melds well with the areas of work in which Patrea specialises: coaching psychology, sport and exercise psychology, general psychology, and mindfulness. Each of these is about changing for the better and taps into Seligman’s well-being theory (for more on Seligman’s theory: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletter.aspx?id=1533 ).
A snapshot of the personal life of Patrea
In her leisure time, Patrea walks her talk in prioritising time for her physical and mental well-being. She regularly enjoys a mindful stretch in a yoga class, Pilates, doing a gym workout, cycle classes with the dancing German PT, or doing some laps in the pool. When she can, Patrea enjoys the great outdoors by catching some waves bodysurfing, scuba diving, kayaking, and the very occasional snowboarding (there ain’t much snow where Patrea is from – make that no snow!). Patrea loves to travel and capture the memories of those trips by taking photographs of interesting scenes, architecture, and people. Patrea is an avid believer in lifelong learning, and was someone who actually liked school! And, most importantly, Patrea treasures the time spent with family and friends.
Qualifications
- Registered Psychologist for over 30 years
- Registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA)
- Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist
- Master of Psychology degree (University of Southern Queensland)
- Diploma in Psychology (University of Queensland)
- Bachelor of Arts (University of Queensland)
- Professional Development Certificate in Executive Coaching (Institute of Coaching and Consulting Psychology)
- Certified Optimize Coach (Coach Class II – Dec 2020)
- APMG International’s Change Management™ Practitioner Course earned on 26 May, 2017
- Positive Psychology by The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Coursera. Certificate earned on April 4, 2015
- Regularly attends conferences, workshops, and webinars on Positive Psychology in order to keep up to date with the latest research by the world leaders in the field. Patrea has attended the first three World Congresses on Positive Psychology. In addition to attending these and other conferences (including Happiness & Its Causes, Mind & Its Potential), Patrea reads broadly in the field of Positive Psychology and other areas for enhanced personal effectiveness.
- Global Success Academy – Certified Coach
Memberships
- Australian Psychological Society (APS)
- APS College of Sport and Exercise Psychologists
- Interest Group of Coaching Psychology (Queensland Convenor and National Committee Treasurer)
- International Positive Psychology Association
- Effectiveness Training Institute of Australia
Experience
- Multi-cultural experience having worked in: Australia, NZ, UK, Italy, Switzerland, US, and Brazil
- Types of work including: organisational change management, corporate coaching, performance enhancement, personal development coaching, and counselling.
Patrea’s strengths lie in the following areas
- Personal effectiveness coaching: such as optimistic thinking, strengths identification, goal clarification and fulfilment
- Counselling through difficult times: such as managing anxiety, depression, grief and self-esteem issues
- Lifestyle issues: managing what you do with your time, prioritising health and exercise, healthy weight management
- Stress management: handling stress from relationship, family, social, health, and work issues
- Managing change: such as personal life transitions, career changes or organisational changes
- Performance enhancement: psychological skills training such as motivation, focus, and self-confidence
- Communication skills for better relationships at home or in the workplace: such as listening skills, assertiveness skills, and skills for having those tough and uncomfortable conversations
- Mindfulness skills for healthier brain functioning resulting in better concentration, clearer thinking, less reactivity and greater resilience and sense of calmness
