Hannah Farrell, Psychology

To mark our 75th Anniversary, we are shining a light on some NCI alumni to showcase the amazing talent the College has produced throughout the years.

Alumni Spotlight: Hannah Farrell

BA (Honours) in Psychology (2019)

Psychotherapist with the National Counselling Service

About Hannah

Hannah Farrell studied the BA (Honours) in Psychology full-time at National College of Ireland from 2015 to 2019. Although it was a three-year degree, she took a year out in 2017 to focus on her health before returning to complete her final year.

One thing that stood out to Hannah during her studies was the student support services available at the College. Before returning to complete her final year after taking a break due to her health, she met with Catherine Elliott from learning support who worked together with Hannah to plan her studies, assignments and prepare for exams. During this process, Hannah was met with kindness and compassion from Catherine, and she was able to rebuild her self-belief. She was also well supported by Karen Mooney, who is now Head of Student Support Services, during that time.

Being an incredibly shy person during her first two years at NCI, she found herself being even more timid when she returned following her period of being unwell when she rejoined with new classmates and missing friends who had already graduated. During this time, the student support team helped her transition back to education and had a huge influence on her experience returning to complete her degree.

Developing Confidence and Community

Hannah’s time at NCI helped her grow in many ways. The smaller class sizes and strong sense of community throughout the College enabled her able to come out of her shell.

"I knew that if I walked into the canteen, I would know somebody I could sit and chat with, which made NCI feel like a home away from home."

Having previously struggled academically, something which gave her a distorted view of her capabilities, Hannah found herself flourishing during her time at NCI. She particularly benefitted from the smaller classrooms, which facilitated a warm and open learning environment.

"The size and community feel of NCI were particularly important when I returned to college after my year out."

During her degree studies, Hannah was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, which causes inflammation of the brain. As a result, she experienced difficulties with speech, memory and energy. Returning to college meant navigating those challenges alongside completing her degree, but the support she received not only made that possible but helped her rebuild her confidence in a safe and supportive community.

Hannah discusses her experience with encephalitis in this Irish Independent article.

Building a Career in Psychotherapy

After graduating from her PSI accredited psychology degree, Hannah gained experience working in administration at SilverCloud, a digital mental health platform, while working towards a Master’s in Psychotherapy at the weekends which she completed in 2025.

She is currently working as a qualified psychotherapist with the National Counselling service, part of the HSE, a journey which started with her undergraduate studies at NCI.

"It’s surreal to step into my dream job every day. I love my work, which is a real gift to be able to say."

Hannah is incredibly proud of the years of hard work that led her to where she is today. Moving from education to building her career, she is now able to focus on enjoying her work along with looking after her health.

Advice for Today’s Students

Given her own experience, Hannah recommends that students who feel they are struggling with coursework, assignment or exams should turn to the Student Support Services. If you’re struggling to make friends, settle in or find your feet, there are supports available to students to help you overcome these challenges and more.

"You never know how much of a difference that support might make."

Keep in mind that you don’t have to be experiencing a major problem to ask for help. It’s valuable for students to know that there is someone you can turn to during those difficult times.

Reflecting on NCI at 75

Hannah describes NCI as like a home away from home for her. It’s where her career began, but it’s also where her life changed forever when she became sick. It’s a place that holds some difficult memories for her, but also some of the most meaningful and transformative ones.

"When I look back now, I can see how much NCI shaped the person I am today. It gave me the confidence to believe in my abilities, the support to get through one of the most difficult periods of my life, and ultimately the foundation for the career I had always dreamed of."

Reflecting on her own experience, Hannah comments that she will always be incredibly grateful to the people at NCI who believed in her when she struggled to believe in herself. Seventy-five years on, that sense of community and the impact that people can have on each other is what makes NCI so special.

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