Rate My Professor Denis O'Hara

Dr Denis O'Hara is a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Counselling and Mental Health and the Program Lead for the Master of Counselling within the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work in the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Queensland. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of New England, Australia, and is a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society, as well as a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the Psychotherapist and Counsellors Federation of Australia. His career includes previous roles as Head of School of Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Australian College of Applied Psychology, Adjunct Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and teaching positions across various universities and colleges in Australia and overseas in faculties of education, psychology, and counselling.

Dr O'Hara's research focuses on hope studies, psychological trauma, ADHD, self-differentiation, and psychotherapy integration, with hope studies as his principal area. He has published several books, including Hope in Counselling and Psychotherapy (SAGE Publications, 2013), The Practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy (University of Queensland, 2025, an open textbook co-authored with Jim Schirmer, Michael Ellwood, and Kate Witteveen), and the edited volume Phoenix Rising from Contemporary Global Society (Brill, 2021). Key journal articles include 'Hope-focused Therapy: A Framework Outline' (Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia, 2025), 'Mentalisation, Self-Compassion, and the Psychosocial Impact of ADHD in Adult Women' (2025), and 'Rediscovering "Me": A Consensual Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of Australian Women with an Adult Diagnosis of ADHD' (International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 2025). He has contributed book chapters on topics such as depression and hope to SAGE handbooks and others. Dr O'Hara has led research projects including the Evaluation of National Counselling and Referral Service Counselling within Correctional Centres (2022-2023) for the Commonwealth Department of Social Services and Effectiveness of Focused Psychological Strategies when Provided by Counsellors or Psychotherapists (2021-2022) for the Australian Counselling Association, influencing counselling practice and education.