Our Team | HAPii - Guardian ad Litem, Play Therapy & Attachment Specialists Ireland

Our Team

Ireland's leading Guardian ad Litem, play therapy, art psychotherapy and attachment specialists — bringing doctoral-level expertise in child protection, trauma-informed care and independent assessments.

Meet the HAPii Guardians & Specialists with

Exceptional Expertise

  • Dr Lisa O'Reilly - Founder and Director of HAPii, Guardian ad Litem, Play Therapist and Attachment Researcher in Ireland

    Dr Lisa O'Reilly

    Founder & Director • Guardian ad Litem • Play Therapist • Attachment Researcher

    With over two decades of specialist experience in child protection, foster care, and therapeutic practice, Dr Lisa O'Reilly brings gold-standard expertise in play-based attachment interventions, therapeutic lifestory work, and psychoeducational training. Her doctoral research on the voice of the child informs every aspect of HAPii's relational, trauma-informed approach across Ireland.

  • Caroline Boyd - Guardian ad Litem and Independent Social Worker at HAPii Ireland, specialist in play-based Voice of the Child assessments

    Caroline Boyd

    Guardian ad Litem • Independent Social Worker • Systemic Family Therapist in Training

    A CORU-registered social worker with over 28 years of experience across child protection, fostering, adoption and residential care, Caroline brings particular expertise in play-based and creative Voice of the Child assessments. She is currently in her final year of systemic family psychotherapy training and is skilled in solution-focused court reports for public and private family law proceedings.

  • Dr Caroline Duignan - Guardian ad Litem, Child and Youth Researcher and National Trainer at HAPii Ireland

    Dr Caroline Duignan

    Guardian ad Litem • Child & Youth Researcher • National Trainer

    Dr Caroline Duignan holds a PhD in Child and Youth Research and over 28 years' experience in child protection, interagency collaboration, and national training development. She specialises in children's participation frameworks, complex case reviews, and bridging research with frontline therapeutic and protective practice across Ireland.

  • Kevin Hutton - Guardian ad Litem and Residential Care & Child Protection Specialist at HAPii Ireland

    Kevin Hutton

    Guardian ad Litem • Residential & Child Protection Specialist

    Registered social worker with extensive leadership experience in residential care, child protection, and multidisciplinary teams across Northern Ireland and Ireland. Kevin is known for his humanistic, trauma-informed approach and rigorous court advocacy, ensuring children's voices are central in complex care and justice pathways.

  • Charlotte Lyne - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, Play Therapist and Clinical Supervisor at HAPii Ireland

    Charlotte Lyne

    Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist • Play Therapist • Clinical Supervisor

    Charlotte brings nearly 20 years of therapeutic depth and educational insight to HAPii. Specialising in play-based interventions and clinical supervision, she supports children, adolescents and the adults who care for them through trauma-informed, attachment-focused relational practice, including children in foster care and children who have survived complex trauma across Ireland.

  • Fiona Murphy - Guardian ad Litem, Independent Social Worker, Applied Psychologist and Registered Intermediary at HAPii Ireland

    Fiona Murphy

    Guardian ad Litem • Independent Social Worker • Applied Psychologist • Registered Intermediary

    A CORU-registered social worker and applied psychologist with over 15 years of experience across child protection, family support and court-related work. Fiona practises as a Guardian ad Litem and Independent Social Worker, offering a comprehensive range of assessments including Voice of the Child, Pre-Birth, Kinship Care and Family Risk assessments.

  • Dr Katie O'Donoghue - Art Psychotherapist and Child and Family Specialist at HAPii Ireland

    Dr Katie O'Donoghue

    Child & Family Specialist • Art Psychotherapist

    Dr Katie O'Donoghue is a Child and Family Specialist and accredited Art Psychotherapist with a PhD in Health Psychology from University College London. She brings extensive experience in child protection, safeguarding, risk assessment and trauma-informed practice, working creatively and relationally with children and families to advocate for their safety, stability and wellbeing.

  • Steven Peet - Guardian ad Litem and Child and Family Social Worker at HAPii Ireland

    Steven Peet

    Guardian ad Litem • Child & Family Social Worker • Foster Carer

    With over 15 years in child and family social work and more than a decade as a foster carer, Steven brings a uniquely informed dual perspective to his Guardian ad Litem practice. He specialises in child protection, Voice of the Child assessments and independent court reports, and is available across Munster and Leinster.

  • Mel Shanley - Guardian ad Litem, Medical Social Worker and Trauma Specialist at HAPii Ireland

    Mel Shanley

    Guardian ad Litem • Medical Social Worker • Trauma Specialist

    A qualified social worker with experience across child protection, fostering, disability and medical social work, Mel brings advanced training in complex trauma, bereavement support and therapeutic interventions for children with additional needs — delivering holistic, rights-based advocacy and psychoeducational support across Ireland.

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