Meet the Specialist
I help people rediscover what matters as they age
Through mindfulness, community, and genuine self-discovery — because your second life stage deserves real support, not clichés
16
Years in wellness education
200+
Workshops delivered
3,000+
Adults 45+ reached
How It Started
From frustration to purpose
I started in 2008 as a health promotion officer with Cork County Health Service. Straightforward work — running programs, tracking outcomes, moving forward. But something wasn't adding up.
The older adults I was meeting in rural communities weren't getting the support they actually needed. We'd hand them generic wellness pamphlets and expect it to stick. Nobody was talking to them about what happens when you retire, when your kids move away, when your body changes and your social circle shrinks. Nobody was asking what matters now.
So I went back to study. Trinity College Dublin, Master's in Health Promotion, 2013. That's where I encountered the research on mindfulness and community-based aging — and it clicked. This wasn't about fixing people. It was about creating spaces where they could figure out who they were becoming.
In 2015, I launched the Second Spring initiative. Started in one community centre in Cork. By 2018, we'd expanded to 14 locations across Munster and Leinster. Over 2,000 people showed up. They weren't coming for a program. They were coming because they wanted to belong again — to understand themselves, to connect with others who got it.
That taught me everything. What older adults really need isn't more information. It's permission. Permission to ask hard questions. Permission to change. Permission to build a life in their 50s, 60s, and beyond that feels genuinely theirs.
What I Do
Four areas of deep focus
Each one grounded in evidence, lived experience, and what actually works in Irish communities
Mindfulness for Active Aging
I've delivered MBSR training and adapted mindfulness practices specifically for adults 45+. Not meditation apps. Real techniques for managing stress, sleep, chronic pain, and life transitions.
Social Reconnection
After major life changes — retirement, loss, relocation — rebuilding community matters. I've designed programs that help people find their people again, with real strategies that don't feel forced.
Self-Discovery Workshops
Who are you now? What do you actually want? I facilitate structured self-discovery programs that help people navigate identity shifts and build clarity about their next chapter.
Community Building
Real community doesn't happen by accident. I help organizations and groups create intentional spaces where 45+ adults feel genuinely welcomed, heard, and part of something meaningful.
Qualifications
Training and credentials
Master's in Health Promotion
Trinity College Dublin
Thesis focused on active aging interventions and community-based wellness models in rural Ireland
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Certification
University of Limerick
Completed specialist training in MBSR delivery with focus on gerontology and chronic disease management
Bachelor's in Health Science
University College Cork
Foundational studies in public health, gerontology, and health promotion principles
Philosophy
What guides my work
Respect lived experience
You've lived decades. You know things. The best wellness education honours what you already understand about yourself and builds from there — it doesn't start from scratch.
Context matters deeply
Irish community values are different from US wellness culture. Rural Ireland is different from Dublin. A single parent is different from a couple. Real support meets people where they actually are.
Evidence informs, doesn't dictate
Neuroscience on aging is powerful. Research on mindfulness is solid. But it's not the whole story. I combine research with community wisdom and what genuinely works in practice.
No shame, no fixing
You're not broken. You're not declining. You're changing. The framing matters. My work assumes you're capable of understanding yourself and shaping what comes next.
Featured Articles
Resources I've created
Educational content on mindfulness, community, and active aging — written for real people navigating real transitions
Starting a Mindfulness Practice: What Actually Works
Mindfulness for 45+
Not everyone can sit for 30 minutes in silence. This guide covers realistic ways to begin a practice that fits your life — whether that's 5 minutes in the morning or body scans before bed.
Rebuilding Social Connections After Major Life Changes
Community & Connection
Retirement, relocation, or loss can leave you socially adrift. I've outlined practical strategies for finding community again — and why it matters more than you might think.
Self-Discovery Workshops: Finding What Matters Now
Self-Discovery
A structured approach to understanding who you're becoming. Includes reflection prompts, group dynamics, and how to facilitate these conversations in your own community.
Building Community: How to Find Your People in Ireland
Community Building
Real community is built intentionally. This guide walks through where to look, how to start conversations, and what makes Irish communities unique and welcoming.
havenmox Limited
I'm part of havenmox Limited, where I translate on-the-ground insights from 16 years of community work into comprehensive educational resources. We're focused on creating accessible, authentic content for active aging — resources that respect the lived experience of people 45+ while grounding everything in evidence and Irish community values.
At havenmox, we believe wellness education should feel like a real conversation with someone who understands the landscape — not a generic template applied to everyone. That's what I bring to every piece of content we create.
Ready to explore these topics?
Browse the full library of resources on active aging, mindfulness, and community building — or get in touch if you'd like to discuss workshops for your organization