About Us

Hi, I’m Susan Quain. Like many of you, I started my career in the classroom. I spent over a decade teaching in a large special school, working across both primary and secondary levels. During that time, I also took on the role of Designated Liaison Person for Child Protection, supporting students and staff in navigating complex safeguarding concerns.

While I loved teaching, I was always drawn to psychology—especially the why behind student behaviour, learning, and emotional wellbeing. I completed my psychology degree while teaching full-time and later took the leap into a full-time psychology role, working with children, young people, and families facing significant mental health challenges.

During this transition, time and time again, I found myself thinking:
"I wish I knew this when I was teaching."

The strategies, the understanding, the confidence to respond—not just react—to student needs. I know that educators already have the skills, experience, and compassion to support students struggling with mental health difficulties. They just need the right information and guidance.

That’s why I created Psyclass.

Through in-person training and online courses, I bridge the gap between psychology and education, giving teachers and school staff practical, evidence-based strategies to help students with anxiety, school avoidance, and emotional wellbeing—without feeling overwhelmed or out of their depth. Everything I teach is designed for real classrooms, real challenges, and real students. No jargon, no unnecessary theory—just the key psychological insights that I wish I had when I was teaching.

If you’re an educator looking for practical, psychology-backed tools to support your students with confidence, I’d love to help.

PsyClass founder

Susan Quain

Susan Quain is an educator, psychologist, and researcher with over a decade of experience in special education and child and adolescent mental health. She specializes in supporting schools to navigate complex issues such as anxiety, school avoidance, and student wellbeing.She began her career as a special education teacher, gaining firsthand experience of the challenges educators face in the classroom. This led her to train as a psychologist, working with young people experiencing mental health difficulties and those who have engaged in harmful sexual behavior. Drawing on her work in child and family psychology services, she brings practical strategies that are grounded in both research and real-world application.Susan’s research focuses on preventative interventions for peer-on-peer harmful sexual behavior. She has contributed to national toolkits and professional training programs, helping educators create safer and more informed learning environments. She regularly presents at international conferences and continues to advance best practices in this field.Her mission is to bridge the gap between psychology and education, equipping schools with the tools they need to support student wellbeing.Explore Psyclass training programs or book a consultation to bring expert-led psychological training to your school.

Qualifications
B.Ed. Primary Education - 2009
BSc Psychology (Accredited by the PSI) - 2015
MSc Psychology - 2024
Preventative Interventions for young people with Intellectual Disabilities who engage in inappropriate or Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB).
Graduate Member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)
PhD in Clinical Psychology (in progress)
Work Experience
Education 
Special Class Teacher, Primary and Secondary Level. (2009-2021)

School Designated Liaison Person (DLP, Child Protection). (2014-2019)

Psychology 
Clinical Psychologist in Training: National service for young people with moderate/severe mental health difficulties. 2024-present
Assistant Psychologist. National service for children and young people who engage in Harmful Sexual Behaviour and their families. (2022-present)

Assistant Psychologist. Primary Care Child and Family Psychology Service. (2021-2022)

Lecturer and Module Leader Module leader for Summer Module ‘Theory and Practice of Psychological Testing’ as part of the MA in Guidance Counselling & Lifespan Development’. (2024)

Part-time Tutor in Psychology. Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. (2022-Present)
Publications
Quain, Susan. A mixed methods study measuring the outcomes of a sexual health program designed to reduce incidents of harmful sexual behaviour in a special school setting. Diss. University of Limerick, 2024.
TUSLA. (2021). "Clare School Avoidance Toolkit’.
Contributing author (Susan Quain,
HSE Clinical Psychology Department)

View PDF

Quain S., Ryan P. (2022). NOTA News, Issue 91
"Inappropriate and harmful sexual behaviours among pupils in Irish special schools: An exploration of special school staff experiences of managing HSB".
Conference Presentations
National Organisation for the treatment of Abusers (NOTA) 2024, Birmingham  
O’Loghlen, L., Swift, A., Quain, S. (2024, May 2-5). NIAPP: Tailored Treatment for Diverse Clients. [90-minute workshop]. NOTA 2024 International Conference, Birmingham, UK.  
National Organisation for the treatment of Abusers (NOTA) 2023, Leeds  
Quain, S., Ryan P (2023, May 3-5). A Mixed Methods Study measuring the outcomes of a sexual health program designed to reduce incidents of Harmful Sexual Behaviour in a special school setting.
National Organisation for the treatment of Abusers (NOTA) 2022, Leeds 
“Inappropriate and harmful sexual behaviours among pupils in special schools: An exploration of staff experiences.”
PSI ECG 2022, Galway 
“The use of psychological interventions in the treatment of harmful sexual behaviour in young people with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review.”
10+
Years of Experience Teaching
5+
Years as an Assistant Psychologist
7+
Years Experience in Educational & Psychological Research
100%
'Supporting Students with Anxiety' Workshop Satisfaction Rate

Testimonials

Susan provided a very informative, interesting and helpful presentation to our annual Parents Association AGM. The feedback from the parents attending was excellent, with many saying that the topic was a very important one and they would welcome further talks and training on this issue from Susan.
Niamh Maughan
Chair of the Parents Association of Bishop Shanahan & Bishop Galvin National Schools.
A very practical and effective webinar for me as a Secondary school year head with tools to deal with immediate cases of anxiety. It equipped me with techniques for short term episodes and with material and worksheets to build a program to incorporate into SPHE. The purpose of this was to help build self-awareness in students to help challenge their anxiety in the long term.
Gráinne O'Meara
2nd Year Head/4th Year AENPiper's Hill College, Naas
Our staff (teachers and SNAs) availed of the online workshop on 'Anxiety in the Classroom' with Susan. The feedback was hugely positive in the informative and engaging way it was facilitated, and the practical strategies provided. Susan has a unique insight into school, and the challenges in supporting children experiencing high levels of anxiety in a classroom setting. She has created a valuable resource for all staff working in schools, which I highly recommend.
Kathryn Corbett
Principal, Bishop Galvin NS
Rinneamar ceardlann ar-líne le PsyClass maidir le himní agus conas tacú le páistí atá ag fulaingt leis agus iad ar scoil.  Bhaineamar an-tairbhe as an gcomhairle, as an saineolas agus as na hacmhainní a chuireadh i láthair agus táimid cinnte go mbeimid in ann an méid a d'fhoghlaim muid a chur i bhfeidhm chun leasa ár bpáistí.
Cian Ó Cuanacháin
Priomhoide, Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir
www.gaelscoilim.ie