Research

Positive health coaching (PHC) is a form of positive psychology coaching that adopts the dialogical approach, balancing asking with telling, falling somewhere between facilitative and directive conversational interventions. PHC is an intervention designed to support people to set health and well-being-related goals and then work towards them. Positive health coaches promote self-awareness and a positive orientation toward greater health and well-being that we call meliotropism. Although goals and health outcomes can be part of PHC, the emphasis is on the process and the journey toward greater health and well-being. Positive health coaches co-design strategies with clients and patients that can involve evidence-based pathways and guidelines.

Positive health coaches treat clients with respect, empowering them and encouraging them to take more responsibility for their own health and well-being. Digitalisation of positive health interventions, such as PHC, facilitates more equitable, scalable, and sustainable services. PHC can be delivered to clients on digital platforms by human coaches, purposeful artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbots, or a hybrid format, involving human coaches and supporting chatbots. These digital approaches allow the delivery of impactful PHC at scale, helping to provide a more equitable service to communities in need.

Digital PHC involves the integration of PHC with digital technology. Our ongoing areas of research interest in this area include: the following coach-led digital health platforms:

Digital Health Group: Dr Pádraic J. Dunne is the principal investigator and lead of this research group that is interested in: (1) the development of coach-led digital health platforms for communities, healthcare professionals and citizens with chronic disease diagnoses; (2) the development of purposeful AI to augment human PHC; (3) co-designed digital technologies that support positive health; and (4) online meditation-based programmes. The group’s mission is to co-design sustainable, science-informed, digital, and human-centred strategies for better living. There are currently five PhD scholars working in the digital health groups on various projects.

Jennifer Donnelly (PhD scholar supported by philanthropic funding, and co-supervised with Dr Niall Conlan, Clinical Immunology, St James Hospital Dublin): Jennifer is investigating the role of a meditation-based intervention that we call attention-based training (ABT) to improve quality of life and mitigate perceived stress for people diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). CSU is a chronic debilitating itching disease that significantly impacts quality of life and can be associated with psychosocial problems. These issues were published in a recent systematic review written by Jennifer. An online ABT programme that is currently being tested among Irish and Scottish individuals diagnosed with CSU.

Croía Loughnane (PhD scholar funded by a Research Ireland Enterprise Award in conjunction with our technology partner and Irish company, Florie): Croía works on the Connect5 Athy project investigating the capacity of a human health coach-led digital health platform Florie to support participants to make small changes for better health. Connect5 Athy began in May 2023 with 50 participants who reside in the Athy area. A testimonial on the positive impact of the project on a participant diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes can be found here. Croía has recently published a systematic review of the benefits of human and AI-based health coaching.

Justin Laiti (PhD scholar funded by a Fulbright Scholarship): Co-supervised with Dr Elaine Byrne, Justin is conducting a project that involves co-designing a digital health and well-being solution for Irish secondary school students, including those attending the Rush Youth Reach School. This project has led to the development of Wellby – a digital health support for secondary school students. This project will be extended through a collaboration with Dr Sarahjane Belton at the DCU School of Health & Human Performance.

Dr Mary Collins: Mary is a chartered psychologist and senior coach practitioner (EMCC) who leads the 'Reflection' module on the MSc in Positive Health Coaching as well as leading the coaching supervision groups for the MSc scholars. Mary’s research interests are in the area of emotional intelligence and leadership and she is currently involved in a study with NHS dentists which formed the basis of her recent book Emotional Intelligence in Dentistry. This work centres on supporting dentists through coaching psychology on five core areas of emotional intelligence.

Deirdre Sheehan: In 2025, Deirdre began a self-funded, part-time PhD project with our group, that will involve an historical examination of the breath as the master architect of health. Deirdre will investigate the physical, emotional, mental, and social dimensions of breathing. Drawing on ancient wisdom, cultural practices, and contemporary scientific evidence, Deirdre aims to develop a unifying theory that recognises the breath as a cornerstone of health and well-being. Co-supervised with Dr Elaine Byrne, this research will involve literature reviews and interviews with both academic and non-academic proponents of breathing science.

Denise McKernan: Denise is a PhD candidate funded by the RCSI Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, co-supervised with Professor Mark White. The aim of this research is to examine the perceptions of nurses, midwives, and clinical leaders of the value of the DAISY Award as meaningful recognition (MR) and its perceived effect on workforce issues including work engagement and hope in one hospital region in Ireland. This project will involve a systematic, evidence-based approach to nursing research with the attainment of skills in both quantitative and qualitative research design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, as well as scoping review and literature review. Professor Ashley P. Duggan is an important collaborator from the Communication Department, Boston College in the United States. Professor Duggan joined our research group as a scholar in residence on a Fulbright Scholarship in 2023. Together, we are exploring the development of purposeful AI chatbots designed to support transformative conversations for better health and well-being. These chatbots are informed by Prof. Duggan’s groundbreaking work in communication and relational dynamics, and grounded in positive health sciences theory and research. PhD scholar Croia Loughnane plays a key role in advancing this interdisciplinary work. Andrew Dunne is a chartered physiotherapist, alumnus of RCSI, retried professional rugby player and owner of the Positive Health Medical Exercise Clinic. Andrew is a very important collaborator who supports the placement of trainee positive health coaches and helps our group test positive health science and health coaching theory in real clinical settings.

The Motherhood Programme: Previous member of the Digital Health Group, Dr Róisín O’Donovan – now based at University College Cork – developed the Motherhood Programme with funding from Pfizer Ireland. The Motherhood Programme offers practical educational support to people who are pregnant, new parents, and their families and friends. It shares information and resources about well-being during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Positive Health Coaching – Radical Listening and Dialogic Coaching: Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh is the principal investigator interested in research that examines the effect/experience on clients/patients when professionals adopt a 'radical listening' approach and the effect/experience on clients/patients when they are coached dialogically.

We all want to live a good life, but we take a different pathway to do it. At the Centre for Positive Health Sciences, our research explores what pathways individuals, teams and communities take to live a good life.

For some, it may be a life of service; for others, it may be a joy-seeking life. Regardless of the pathway, many of us end up living a worthwhile life. Our research at the centre examines the decisions people make and the factors (e.g. our environment) that play a role in living a good life. This helps us select evidence-based solutions for individuals, teams and communities to help them live good lives.

Ongoing and areas of research interest include:

Positive Activity Lab

Led by Professor Jolanta Burke, our lab investigates effective strategies for maximising health and well-being. Simply participating in health and well-being practices isn’t enough. The tools we use, and how we apply them are crucial for living a good life. The impact of most positive psychology interventions (aimed to improve well-being) and positive health interventions (focused on enhancing health and well-being) show small to moderate short-term effects, our lab is dedicated to discovering novel ways to amplify these impacts and ensure long-lasting improvements in health and well-being.

• Forest4Youth: The Forest4Youth Project is an innovative, large-scale research project that brings the forest into mental healthcare for young people. Over the next four years, we will create a wide range of nature-based tools that adolescents, their families, mental health professionals, and foresters can use to improve young people’s health and well-being. It is the first of its kind, bringing together foresters, mental health professionals, adolescents in psychiatric care and their families. RCSI joins CNP Saint-Martin and other partner organisations across five countries: Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Germany. The team has been awarded €5.5m funding by Interreg Europe (co-funded by the EU) for the project. The RCSI project team includes: Associate Professor Jolanta Burke (principal investigator), Dr Elaine Byrne (PPI researcher), Branislav Kaleta and Kate Brassington (PhD researchers), Associate Professor Mary Clarke (clinical psychology researcher), Associate Professor Holli-Anne Passmore (well-being researcher), and Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh (research consultant).
• PsyTales: This project brings together practitioners and researchers from five EU countries to develop 33 tales based on the science of positive psychology and lifestyle medicine, a pedagogical booklet for teachers interested in introducing tales in their classrooms, report on the analysis of EU well-being practice in schools, a white paper and many more. The RCSI Positive Activity Lab has been awarded €250,000 funding for this amazing project. The RCSI project team includes: Associate Professor Jolanta Burke (principal investigator) and researchers Branislav Kaleta and Angel Harper. 
• Valuing Nature in Community: This project explores the impact of high and low-quality nature on health and well-being and how positive psychology interventions can be amplified through engagement with nature. We measure impact using a range of psychological and physiological assessments, such as HRV and EEG. The RCSI Positive Activity Lab has been awarded €250,000 funding by Science Foundation Ireland. The RCSI project team includes: Associate Professor Jolanta Burke (principal investigator), research assistants Branislav Kaleta, Stephen Campbell and Angel Harper) who explore the impact of spending time in high and low-quality nature on health and well-being.
• Developing Prudence in School: This project explores ways in which a character strength of prudence can be developed among adolescents to reduce their engagement in cyberbullying and traditional bullying at schools. It was funded €3,000 by The Teaching Council. The project team includes Joan Finley (principal investigator from the University of Limerick) and Associate Professor Jolanta Burke (principal investigator).
• Systems Well-being via Solution-focused Coaching: Aine Garvey (PhD scholar) explores how systems impact the health and well-being of the HSE employees and designing strategies for managing the workplace system to maximise employees well-being. This research is supervised by Associate Professor Jolanta Burke and Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh. Funded by the RCSI STaR Programme.
• Psychological Safety in the Workplace: Lucy Airs (PhD scholar) explores how a psychological safety intervention can amplify the impact of a workplace well-being programme. This research is supervised by Associate Professor Jolanta Burke and Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh. Funded by the RCSI STaR Programme.
• Mindful Kitchen: Annette Sweeney (PhD scholar) explores 'The Mindful Kitchen' approach to enhancing long-term well-being of chefs by creating an applied culinary arts educational framework, relevant to the contemporary needs of chefs through constructivist grounded theory research. The research is approached through developing a framework for evaluation the complex intervention and producing, testing and refining a theory on the approach. This research is supervised by Associate Professor Jolanta Burke and Trudy Meehan. Funded by the RCSI STaR Programme.
• Forest-based Therapy: Kate Brassington (PhD scholar) explores co-designing, co-creating, and assessing the medium and long-term impacts of forest-based therapy for adolescents in psychiatric care in north-west Europe. This research is supervised by Associate Professor Jolanta Burke and Mary Clarke. Funded by EU Interreg.
• Star and Skygazing: Branislav Kaleta (PhD scholar) evaluates the impact of star and skygazing interventions conducted virtually and in person on individuals’ well-being. This research is supervised by Associate Professor Jolanta Burke and Holli-Anne Passmore. Funded by EU Interreg.
• Authenticity Intervention: Sara Hirschorn (PhD scholar) explores the role of the nervous system, early trauma and the impact of a somatic intervention for authenticity and well-being. This research is supervised by Associate Professor Jolanta Burke and Siobhan McCarthy.

Developing self-worth

• From self-stigma to thriving – Dr Elaine Byrne explores how to promote mental health and well-being among individuals on the margins of society by designing interventions with and for them that help them move and grow from self-stigma to a position of thriving. Self-stigma – negative self-judgements or core beliefs – can result in feelings of shame, worthlessness and self-blame, and impacts social interaction, mental health and health service utilisation. Overall it can inhibit flourishing and thriving. Self-stigma occurs at the individual level, but also influences interpersonal relationships, community participation and engagement and, ability to access rights and health services. Visit the Beyond Stigma website for information.

Flourishing workplaces

• Workplace well-being – Dr Mary Collins research interests are leadership and workplace well-being, diversity, equality and inclusion around gender and age, and emotional resilience.

There has been a notable rise in research studies investigating how activities like painting, choirs, dance and poetry impact health and well-being.

Within our health, social and community care systems we have an increasing number of artists collaborating with health professionals, psychologists, researchers, and policymakers to better understand the connections between the arts, health, and well-being. Dr Trudy Meehan and Dr Elaine Byrne (co-PIs), with colleagues, are establishing the centre within the arts and health field and advancing our research in the growing field of arts and positive health.

Ongoing and areas of research interest include:

Establishing collaborations and partnerships

• This is what love feels like – Dr Trudy Meehan will lead an arts based research project and public workshop that explores how we experience connection. It aims to explore the lived experience of love and safety and develop an educational resource to orient people to ‘good’ relationships and build up their ability to recognise what safety, respect and what love feels like so they can find it and recognise it in their lives. Collaborating with the WHO and the Global Brain Health Institute for Creative Brain Week (with Professor Ciaran O’ Boyle) the workshop and research will be part of the offerings at the WHO sponsored Creative Brain Week 2024.
• Well-being arts – Dr Trudy Meehan and Dr Jolanta Burke are collaborating with national and international experts in the area of arts and positive health in editing a handbook on well-being arts that aims to be the seminal book on this topic.

Creative engagement and creative outputs

• Creative writing and illustration to support children experiencing complex loss – Dr Trudy Meehan is writing a picture book developed to support children bereaved by suicide. This project is supported by a seed grant from The Irish Hospice Foundation and Creative Ireland. It is also supported by the Public Patient Involvement seed fund to consult with those bereaved by suicide about the community and creative supports they might need.
• The role of creative engagement in reducing self-stigma in youth living with HIV – Dr Elaine Byrne is working with the Wakakosha project run by Zvandira in Zimbabwe and supported by Beyond Stigma and Speak Up Sing Out in Ireland. Within this project we are exploring the value of creative engagement (e.g. singing, song-writing, dance, creative writing, visual art) in building and enhancing self-worth amongst young people living with HIV.
• Listening with your heart ears: art practice in the university – Dr Trudy Meehan leads this group in examining the pedagogical and well-being value of art engagement for healthcare professionals while they are studying. We aim to develop pedagogical activities to support deep and attentive listening to improve diagnostic skills, support rapport building, aid communication, and foster compassion (to reduce empathic distress fatigue) and enhance patient experiences and outcomes.
• Creativity and flourishing – Louise Foott (PhD Scholar) – funded by the RCSI STaR Programme – Dr Elaine Byrne and Dr Trudy Meehan adopt an arts-based qualitative research investigation of secondary school student experience and meaning making within positive health and well-being.
• Group singing and connections – Dr Elaine Byrne and Dr Marina I. Cans are working with VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art, Carlow, Ireland to explore how the community choir fits into the centre’s strategy of engagement and how the choir impacts participants’ well-being and sense of connection. This study is supported by the RCSI engagement seed funding