Transition Times: Tina Dunne is a colour psychologist. She knows how people should dress themselves and their surroundings to get the best from their abilities and moods.

She also knows how too much of one colour in a person's life can indicate a problem that needs to be fixed.

Dunne's brand of home help is proving a bit of a hit on the Transition Year programme. She's given her two-hour colour workshop in five Dublin schools since September and has lined up repeat sessions and new customers already.

Believe it or not, most participants in the programme to date have been male.

"Colour therapy can be used to enhance our skills in a very specific way, whether we are hoping to perform well on the sports field, a debate or social situation," says Dunne.

"The students latch on to this idea - both the male and female students are very receptive. I've had guys ask me what colours they should dress in if they are trying to build muscle or win a rugby match. I can answer them straight - red."

Not much help if your team colours are blue. However, Dunne's ideas can be used in many areas of life without too much risk to the user. Students who favour a particular colour too much, however, should watch out. An over-abundance of one shade in your life can indicate a problem.

Here is a breakdown of some of the good and bad characteristics associated with different shades, according to colour therapists.

Red: Strength, dynamism, determination/ anger, violence, self-pity

Yellow: Joy, communication, confidence/ impatience, bitterness

Green: Decision-making, relationships/ envy, resentment

Blue: Honesty, calm, communication/ superstition, grudge

Purple: Creativity, mysticism/ ruthlessness, social climbing

Orange: Flamboyance, sociability, courage/ exhibitionism, self-indulgence, pride