Dr. Derina Johnson is the subject lead of our research modules, and a dissertation supervisor for our 4th year MA students. Derina’s academic background began with a BS (Hons) in Psychology from University College Dublin before she trained in play therapy and psychotherapy with CTC. After working as play therapist and psychotherapist mainly in inner city and other disadvantaged areas of Dublin, she spent three years on the Thailand-Myanmar border working with refugee and migrant communities to develop child protection, psychosocial and mental health programmes for children and youth. This work laid the foundation for her PhD which she obtained from Trinity College Dublin in 2018. Derina continues to work in Trinity College Dublin, leading a project aiming to enhance inclusivity within Trinity for students from communities often underrepresented or who can face barriers within higher education. She also lectures in Trinity on refugee studies, and leads the advanced psychology module on the Master’s in Early Childhood Education in Marino Institute of Education.