Hi, I'm Dr Joe O'Brien.

I’m a Psychologist that specialises in health behaviours and the overlap between our physical and mental health. Most people come to me believing they've failed, or that they simply aren't able to manage their thoughts, emotions or behaviours.

More often than not, they haven't failed, they've just never had the right support.

Throughout my career, I've worked with people trying to improve their health, whether that's changing their relationship with food, living with a long-term health condition, or building a better life. One thing I've learned is that lasting change is rarely about a lack of knowledge or willpower. More often, it's the psychological side of change that has been overlooked.

We often know what we should do. The difficult part is understanding why it's so hard to do it consistently, and nobody really tells us that. That's where psychology can help.

Why I Started Head First Health

I started Head First Health because I believe we need to stop separating mental and physical health.

It’s really common I hear my clients say they’ve been told to lose weight, or improve their sleep, or lower their stress, but these are all outcomes. None of these outcomes tell us how to achieve that outcome. Knowing the outcome you want doesn’t really help someone make a change.

The name Head First reflects a simple reality - that meaningful and lasting change often starts by understanding what's happening in our minds. Our thoughts, habits, emotions and environment all influence the choices we make every day. When we understand what drives those patterns with curiosity rather than self-criticism, change becomes more achievable because we can target the problem, the thing that’s preventing change.

My aim is to help you understand yourself with compassion, identify what's getting in the way of moving from intention into action, and develop practical strategies that fit your life. This isn't about trying harder; it's about understanding yourself better so you can target the right thing.

As a Health Psychologist, I don't see mental and physical health as separate. They influence one another every day, and the best outcomes come from treating the whole person rather than focusing on one aspect of health in isolation.

My Approach

I believe this work should feel collaborative, practical and grounded in evidence.

Rather than simply giving advice, we'll work together to understand the factors that have shaped your experiences and identify realistic ways to move towards the life you want to live.

Whether you're navigating emotional eating, adjusting to a health condition, taking GLP-1 medication, recovering after bariatric surgery, or trying to build a healthier life, my goal is always the same: to help you understand what’s stopping you, and to address the route cause.

Education & Experience

I hold a Doctorate in Health Psychology from Liverpool John Moores University, specialising in the psychology of behaviour change.

I am a Chartered Psychologist, registered with both the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in the UK.

My research has focused on emotional and binge eating, weight management and the psychological factors that influence behaviour change. Alongside my clinical work, I have worked across healthcare, digital health and pharmacy, helping to develop evidence-based interventions that improve health outcomes for individuals and for organisations. I’ve also trained hundreds of health professionals to integrate psychology into their practice.

If You're Thinking About Reaching Out

Starting this work can feel like a big step, especially if you've been struggling for a long time or have tried other approaches without success.

You don't need to have everything figured out before getting in touch.

If you're looking for compassionate, evidence-based support to improve your relationship with food, manage a health condition, or create lasting change in your health and wellbeing, I'd be delighted to hear from you.