Gillford D'Souza, Chairman of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and director of Awakenings Counselling and Psychotherapy Services.
Personal/family:Married to Patricia.
What figure from the world of medicine or health do you most admire?
Carl Rogers, the father of person-centred counselling, and Irvin Yalom, renowned author, psychotherapist, lecturer and emeritus professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, US.
What other career might you have chosen?
Religious life.
If you could grant three wishes for the health service, what would they be?
A cohesive togetherness approach from the stakeholders, policymakers, administrators and deliverers of the health service. See to it that reasonableness and common sense prevail, and promote conscience in power, ego and self- interest agendas.
What is your greatest fear?
That we are building a consumerist society where we don't know how much is enough.
Have you ever been a patient and were you a good one?
Yes - in my own personal counselling/psychotherapy sessions I have learned about who I am, how I function and what means most to me as a person.
When or where are you happiest?
I've been happiest in the many moments of my life when I'm in my own sense of peace with myself. This gives me great energy and vitality.
How do you cope with stress?
Talking to my close friends or my colleagues, exercise and meditation.
What is the trait you most admire in yourself?
My resilience, strength and caring nature.
What is the trait you most dislike in yourself?
My inner critic who puts me down.
Do you use alternative or complementary medicine or therapies?Yes I do. They attend to my emotional, mental and relationship health as well as my physical health.
Who or what makes you laugh?
My wife, Mr Bean, my colleagues, humour and very often myself.
What is your motto?
"To thine own self be true" and also "live in each moment".
What is your favourite TV or radio programme?
Match of the Day or The Premiership.
What books would you bring to a desert island?
The gift of therapy by Irvin Yalom and a copybook to start writing.
In conversation with Fiona Tyrrell