ABSTRACT
Siobhan O’Connor was first and foremost a doctor—a psychiatrist—and in this way followed in a family tradition, and, of course, it was this foundation as a psychiatrist through which she developed her deep interest and extensive expertise in psychoanalysis. As the first ever dual trainee in psychotherapy and general psychiatry in Northern Ireland, Siobhan began to develop a key role in providing introductory training in psychoanalysis for psychiatry trainees and other multi-professional staff. Northern Ireland Association for the Study of Psychoanalysis represents the embodiment of a very important part of Siobhan’s legacy. In London, Siobhan became immersed in further work on locked wards, including a focus on female patients, before leading a home treatment team. Siobhan was always highly professional and devoted to bettering the care of the patients. In terms of individual therapeutic approaches, this was very much orientated towards enabling her patients to arrive at a level of awareness of their minds and their functioning.
