Dr. Emma Frawley

Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Biography

Emma Frawley is an Occupational Therapist and Assistant Professor in the Discipline of Occupational Therapy at the School of Medicine. Her research focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based psychosocial and cognitive interventions in mental health, with particular interests in early intervention in psychosis, digital mental health solutions, public and patient involvement (PPI), implementation science, and the measurement of social and occupational outcomes.

Emma has extensive clinical and academic experience in Ireland and the United States. In 2022, she completed her PhD in Psychology through the Health Research Board-funded Collaborative Doctoral Award Programme, YOULEAD, at the University of Galway. She is passionate about embedding PPI principles throughout the research process, ensuring the meaningful involvement of service users, families, and communities in the development and delivery of mental health research and initiatives.

Emma is committed to advancing mental health research and advocacy, with a particular emphasis on reducing stigma and empowering individuals and communities. In 2025, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of Mental Health Ireland, where she supports the organisation's mission to promote mental health as a valued and integral part of overall wellbeing. In the same year, she joined the Editorial Board of the Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy as an Associate Editor, contributing to the development and dissemination of research within the profession.

Emma is welcoming applications from prospective MSc and PhD students.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Frawley, E. and Cowman, M. and Cella, M. and Cohen, D. and Ryan, E. and Hallahan, B. and Bowie, C. and McDonald, C. and Fowler, D. and Wykes, T. and Donohoe, G., Cognitive Remediation and Social Recovery in Early Psychosis (CReSt-R): protocol for a pilot randomised controlled study, Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 8, (1), 2022Journal Article, 2022, DOI , URL
Frawley, E. and Cowman, M. and Lepage, M. and Donohoe, G., Social and occupational recovery in early psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions, Psychological Medicine, 2021Journal Article, 2021, DOI , URL
Megan Cowman, Emmet Godfrey, Talissa Walsh, Emma Frawley, David Fowler, Mario Alvarez-Jimenez, Karen O'Connor, Til Wykes, Max Birchwood, Gary Donohoe, Measures of Social and Occupational Function in Early Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2023Journal Article, 2023, DOI
Emma Frawley, Caroline Heary, Clio Berry, Matteo Cella, David Fowler, Til Wykes, Gary Donohoe, Participant perspectives on cognitive remediation and social recovery in early psychosis (CReSt-R): An acceptability study, Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 2023Journal Article, 2023
Katie M Douglas, Bridgette Thwaites, Emma Frawley, Åsa Hammar, Tailoring cognitive interventions to individuals' cognitive profiles: commentary on `Prevalence of cognitive impairments and strengths in the early course of psychosis and depression' by Stainton et al, Psychological Medicine, 53, (13), 2023Journal Article, 2023
Frawley, E., Cowman, M., Lepage, M., & Donohoe, G, Cognitive Remediation and Social Recovery in Early Psychosis- the CReSt-R Protocol, 24th Annual Cognitive Remediation in Psychiatry Conference, Columbia University, NYC, Online, June 2022, 2022Oral Presentation, 2022
YOULEAD, SpunOut & Fregoli Theatre, Seen & Heard, 2021, -Miscellaneous, 2021
Cowman, M., Hodgekins, J., Griffiths, S. L., Frawley, E., O'Connor, K., Fowler, D., Donohoe, G., Cognitive and clinical profiles in first-episode psychosis and their relationship with functional outcomes., The British Journal of Psychiatry, 228, (3), 2026, p236 - 243, p236-243Journal Article, 2026
Maeve Dwan-O,Reilly, Sophie Harrington, Conor Gavin, Emmet Godfrey, Megan Cowman, Christina Gleeson, Anna O'Mahony Sinnott, James McCormack, Emma Frawley, Tom Burke, Karen O'Connor, Max Birchwood, Caroline Heary, Mario Alvarez-Jimenez, Gary Donohoe, Moderated Online Social Therapy (MOST) In Help-Seeking Young People A Pilot Randomised Controlled Study, Moderated Online Social Therapy (MOST) In Help-Seeking Young People: A"Pilot Randomised Controlled Study, 27, 2025, pe73269Journal Article, 2025

Research Expertise

Keywords

Public and Patient Involvement in Health Research, Mental health services, Cognition, Occupational therapy, Clinical Trials and Interventions, Implementation science and evaluation, Psychiatry (incl. psychotherapy), Digital health,

Member of International Association for Youth Mental Health (IAYMH). Present
Member Mental Health Occupational Therapy Intervention and Outcome research Network (MOTION) Present
Member of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) Present
Member Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS) Present
Member International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA). Prsesent
Member Mental Health Occupational Therapy Intervention and Outcome research Network (MOTION) Prsesent
CORU Registered Occupational Therapist CORU (Regulating body for Health and Social Care Professionals. Registration number OT025310. Present
Member Mental Health Occupational Therapy Intervention and Outcome research Network (MOTION) Present

Member of Board of Directors, Mental Health Ireland. 2025
Member Editorial Board, Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy 2025
Chair of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland Accreditation Committee. 2019
Co-Lead Work Package 3, Health Research Board-funded CO-PRIME (CO-producing and Promoting Research & Innovation in Mental hEalth) Collaborative Research Network 2026