School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies

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Dr. Rachel Hoare

Dr. Rachel Hoare

Assistant Professor, French

Biography

I am a full-time academic in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures in Trinity College, Dublin (since 1996), and a faculty member in the Children's Therapy Centre, Mullingar, Ireland, since 2016. I have a book in press with Routledge: Hoare, R. (2025) Psychological Support for Refugee Adolescents: An Expressive Arts Approach to Wellbeing and Trauma Recovery.

My original areas of specialism are in sociolinguistics, language and identity and second language acquisition. However my interest in psychology and psychotherapy was piqued by my work as a College tutor and disability liaison officer and led me to complete a degree in psychology and a clinical Masters in psychotherapy. Since qualifying in 2016 I have also been working on behalf of Tusla, the Irish Child and Family Agency, as a part-time expressive arts child and adolescent psychotherapist with unaccompanied asylum-seeking adolescents. I have recently set up the Centre for Forced Migration Studies in Trinity College, Dublin, set up and run the weekly English conversation classes for refugees with Bronagh Catibusic through the University of Sanctuary and been involved in many other Sanctuary activities which welcome refugees and those seeking international protection into Trinity College.

I deliver modules to undergraduate and post-graduate students on 'the human experience of forced migration' and 'identity at the margins: reconstructing identities and re-imagining futures of those who have experienced forced migration'. I also deliver courses on language and identity which explore the ways in which young people with dual identity in France carry out their lives at the intersection of two cultures and how well they adapt to their intercultural experiences. I have delivered numerous trainings on how to work therapeutically with refugees to the UNHCR in Dublin, the European Migration Network, government agencies, NGOs, charities, schools, youth organisations, social workers, foster careers and other support staff. I have delivered public lectures on this topic, notably as part of the Long Room Hub 'Behind the Headlines' series. I have written in the print media about the ways in which expressive arts therapies can help to heal the trauma of refugees and have delivered keynotes and other conference papers on this and related topics related to my research on supporting refugee youth.

I was previously Academic Director of the Trinity College Inclusive Curriculum project which has been working to embed principles of diversity, equality and inclusion across all teaching and learning at Trinity College Dublin. Based in the Office of the Associate Vice Provost for Equality, Diversity and Equality, Trinity-INC works collaboratively across the College community - with staff and students, academic and support spaces - to achieve its mandate.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

  • Giving voice to the experiences of children of immigrants in Ireland: An exploratory study of language, identity and emotional well-being. in, editor(s)Vera Regan , New Approaches to Multilingualism and Identity in Transnational Contexts, Oxford, Peter Lang, 2015, pp129 - 165, [Rachel Hoare]Book Chapter, 2015
  • Rachel Hoare, L'identité linguistique des jeunes en Bretagne, Brittany, Brud Emgleo, 2000, 1 - 80ppBook, 2000
  • The relationship between language and attitudes in Brittany: The attitudes and perceptions of young Bretons in, editor(s)Steven McGill , Language and Marginality, Exeter, Elm Bank Publications, 2000, pp27 - 46, [Rachel Hoare]Book Chapter, 2000
  • Rachel Hoare, Neurobehavioural Disorder associated with prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE), Play Therapy Matters Irish Association for Play Therapy and Psychotherapy, 1, (15), 2015, p13 - 20Journal Article, 2015, TARA - Full Text
  • Rachel Hoare, Ireland to the Lebanon and back: a case study of the use of Child-Centred Play Therapy and parental psychoeducation to reduce the separation anxiety of a pre-school child during his father's military deployment, The Irish Social Worker, Spring, 2016, p3-28Journal Article, 2016
  • Rachel Hoare, Linguistic competence and regional identity in Brittany: attitudes and perceptions of identity, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 21, (4), 2000, p324 - 347Journal Article, 2000
  • Rachel Hoare, An Integrative Approach to Language and Attitudes in Brittany, Journal of Sociolinguistics, 5, (1), 2001, p73 - 84Journal Article, 2001
  • Rachel Hoare, Attitudes and motivations of undergraduate learners of French: an integrative approach, Revue Parole, 20, 2001, p235 - 262Journal Article, 2001
  • Rachel Hoare, Language attitudes and perceptions of identity in Brittany, Teanga, 20, 2004, p163 - 192Journal Article, 2004
  • Rachel Hoare, Developing the proficient language learner: motivation, strategies, and the learning experience of Irish learners of French in a university setting, Teanga, 22, 2007, p28 - 52Journal Article, 2007
  • Rachel Hoare, I can only be properly myself when I'm with her': Early adolescent intra-ethnic immigrant group friendships as a safe place for identity exploration, negotiation and validation, Childhood, 2019, p1 - 19Journal Article, 2019, DOI , URL
  • Rachel Hoare, Combining the BASIC Ph model of coping and resiliency with creative approaches to football to provide therapeutic care for separated male adolescents seeking asylum in Ireland. , Inside Out Irish Journal of Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy, 91, 2020Journal Article, 2020
  • Rachel Hoare, From global phenomenon to framework for living: using the beautiful game creatively to provide therapeutic care for unaccompanied male adolescents seeking asylum in Ireland., International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care , 2020Journal Article, 2020
  • Imelda Coyne(ed.), Children should be seen and heard, Children's Research Digest 2019, Trinity College, Dublin , December 2019, 2020Proceedings of a Conference, 2020
  • Adolescences disrupted in displacement: the protective effect of friends as proxy family for unaccompanied adolescent refugees settling in Ireland in, editor(s)Ingrassia, Massimo , Adolescences, Intechopen Ltd, 2022, pp25 , [Rachel Hoare]Book Chapter, 2022
  • Rachel Hoare, Friends as family: Using composite psychotherapy case material to explore the importance of friendships for unaccompanied adolescent refugees coping with the challenges of resettlement in Ireland, Journal of Refugee Studies, 2022Journal Article, 2022
  • Rachel Hoare, Using composite case material to develop trauma-informed psychoeducation for social care workers looking after unaccompanied minors in residential care in Ireland, Health and Social Care in the Community, 2022Journal Article, 2022
  • Dr Rachel Hoare, I was lost in my life and they helped me find my way again': Befriendee and befriender experiences of the Spirasi Befriending Programme for survivors of torture in Ireland, Journal of Rehabilitation of Torture Survivors, 2023Journal Article, 2023
  • Unclear minds and coping through music in, editor(s)Campbell, Dominic Kelleher, Bea , Creative Brain Week Knowledge Making, Dublin, Creative Aging International, 2023, pp33 - 39, [Rachel Hoare]Book Chapter, 2023
  • Rachel Hoare, Friendship is crucial for refugee children - here's how to talk to your child about being welcoming, 2024, -Miscellaneous, 2024
  • Pathways to healing: expressive arts practice with adolescent refugees in, editor(s)McGowan, E; Quinn, S; Jalovcic, D , Interprofessional Approach to Refugee Health: A practical guide for interdisciplinary health and social care teams, Cambridge, Open Book Publishers, 2025, [Rachel Hoare]Book Chapter, 2025
  • Rachel Hoare, Bridging culture through song: musical exchange in torture survivor befriending, Journal of Creative Arts, 2, (2), 2025, p19 - 42Journal Article, 2025
  • Rachel Hoare, Psychological Support for Refugee Adolescents, First, UK, Routledge, 2025, 1 - 237ppBook, 2025
  • Rachel Hoare, Creating Space for Multiple Belongings: Expressive Arts Approaches to Multicultural Identity in Post-Referendum Ireland, Irish Journal of Sociology, 2026Journal Article, 2026
  • Robbie Gilligan and Rachel Hoare, Gender Disparities and Disability: Identifying barriers for inclusion specific to girls with disabilities in Togo, Togo, 2019Report, URL

Research Expertise

My doctoral training in French sociolinguistics examined how language shapes identity and belonging, an early interest that now underpins my research into the lived experiences and social and emotional wellbeing of adolescent refugees, focusing on unaccompanied minors and those who support them. Drawing on forced migration studies, developmental and trauma psychology, and arts-based inquiry and practice, I examine how displacement and trauma affect their wellbeing and how healing and recovery can be nurtured.

My clinical practice as an expressive arts psychotherapist with unaccompanied minors informs this research. My recent monograph, Psychological Support for Refugee Adolescents (Routledge, 2026), bridges academic, clinical, and humanitarian practice communities . I have published peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and NGO reports that shape the training I deliver to social workers, educators, lawyers and residential care staff.

In 2022, I founded the Centre for Forced Migration Studies (CFMS) at Trinity College, extending this work by forging relationships across GBHI, Global Health, Peace Studies, Education and Linguistics, leading to joint PhD supervision. Internationally, CFMS partnerships with Boston College and UC San Diego led to a co-hosted conference in Dublin. This research has clinical, humanitarian and educational impact: Research Ireland New Foundations-funded research into refugee befriending at Spirasi resulted in a new survivor-support role.

I have delivered keynotes at the Global South Arts and Health Week (Qatar, 2024) and the 27th Wole Soyinka (Nobel Laureate) Lecture in 2025, attended by Soyinka himself. As PI, I secured a Research Ireland New Foundations grant, a Trinity Research Doctorate Award for Refugee Thrive (funding four interdisciplinary researchers) and a Trinity Long Room Hub RIS award, and submitted an Erasmus+ application (March 2026, outcome pending). These grants and awards reflect a trajectory of scholarship, practice impact and institutional leadership achieved despite four periods of maternity leave, recognised through nominations for the Trinity Research Excellence Award in 2024 and 2026.

  • Title
    Using inclusive research practices to understand, affirm and improve the befriending experiences and integration opportunities of refugees, international protection applicants and asylum seekers
    Summary
    Funding Agency
    Irish Research Council
    Date From
    1st November 2021
    Date To
    31st August 2022
  • Title
    Launch of the Centre for Forced Migration Studies
    Summary
    Funding Agency
    Trinity Long Room Hub Research Incentive Scheme
  • Title
    Heritage, identity and psychological well-being: the voices of migrant children
    Summary
    This one day conference brought together students scholars and practitioners across the disciplines of psychology, sociology, education, social work and childhood research, to explore the voices of migrant children.
    Funding Agency
    Research Incentive Scheme, Trinity Long Room Hub
    Date From
    September 2016
    Date To
    November 2016
  • Title
    'Everyone has a song': an exploration of the role of song sharing in deepening the befriending experiences and improving the integration opportunities of Survivors of Torture in Ireland
    Summary
    Befriending programmes which match people with limited support networks with
    volunteers who offer emotional and practical support, friendship and integration
    opportunities, provide an important resource for survivors of torture (Chambon, et al.
    2001). Spirasi, the (Irish) National Centre for the Rehabilitation of Survivors of
    Torture, offers a befriending programme as part of their holistic approach to
    rehabilitation. Although there is growing evidence of the positive impact of the
    expressive arts in psychotherapy with torture survivors (Dutton, 2017), there is very
    little empirical research which evaluates its use in other aspects of the rehabilitation
    process such as befriending.
    Funding Agency
    Arts and Social Sciences Benefactions Fund

Other social sciences, Psychology and cognitive sciences, Sociology and related studies, Clinical and health psychology,

Recognition

  • Teaching Hero Award 2021 2021
  • Trinity Research Doctorate Award for Group-based Research Projects (4 fully funded PhD scholarships) 2025
  • Civic Engagement Award, Trinity College, Dublin. 2020
  • Provost's Teaching Award, Trinity College, Dublin 2024
  • Global Network of Psychologists for Human Rights Present
  • Accredited member of Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy Present