Síle O’Rourke
Head of Curriculum Development & Senior Emotional Literacy Coach
EmotiSpeak Ireland Ltd
14 Years of Emotional Development Expertise
Síle O’Rourke brings evidence-based emotional psychology directly into the lives of people across Ireland. With an MSc in Clinical Psychology from University College Dublin and specialist training from the Irish Institute of Behavioural Studies, she’s spent the last 14 years helping individuals move beyond basic emotional labels like “stressed” or “upset” into a richer, more nuanced vocabulary for their inner lives. She’s trained over 2,400 people in distinguishing between complex emotions — like frustration versus disappointment — and in practising structured daily emotional check-ins that actually stick.
Her breakthrough came in 2018 when she developed the foundational framework that became EmotiSpeak’s core programme. What drives her work isn’t theory alone. It’s watching someone finally articulate what they’ve been feeling for months. It’s seeing teams communicate their needs more clearly. It’s witnessing how emotional literacy becomes the foundation for better mental health and stronger relationships.
Síle regularly speaks at Irish education and workplace conferences. Her research on emotional vocabulary expansion has been published in the Journal of Applied Emotional Development. But what matters most to her is making emotional awareness accessible — removing the clinical jargon and building something practical that works in real life.
What Síle Teaches
Expanding Emotional Vocabulary
Moving beyond basic emotions. We work through dozens of emotional states — from mild irritation to profound disappointment, from contentment to joy — building a vocabulary that actually reflects what you’re experiencing inside.
Distinguishing Similar Emotions
Frustration and disappointment feel similar but they’re not the same. She teaches you the subtle differences between emotions that get lumped together — the root cause, the body sensations, the thinking patterns behind each one.
Daily Emotional Check-Ins
Awareness isn’t one-off. It’s a habit. Síle’s framework for structured emotional check-ins throughout your day — simple, practical routines you can actually sustain without needing another app or journal.
Communicating Your Needs Clearly
Better emotional vocabulary becomes better communication. When you can articulate exactly what you’re feeling, you’re able to tell people what you actually need. That changes relationships — at home, at work, everywhere.
Key Milestones
Clinical Psychology Training (2012-2015)
Completed MSc in Clinical Psychology at University College Dublin. Placement at St. James’s Hospital where she first observed how many individuals struggled to articulate emotions beyond basic terms. This observation sparked her doctoral interest in emotional vocabulary development.
Specialist Training in Emotional Intelligence (2016-2017)
Completed specialist training in emotional intelligence coaching at the Irish Institute of Behavioural Studies. Developed her signature methodology combining cognitive behavioural techniques with practical daily check-in practices. Started working with schools, corporate teams, and community groups across Ireland.
Framework Development & Publication (2018-2020)
Created the foundational framework for distinguishing between similar emotions (frustration versus disappointment), which became the core of EmotiSpeak’s most popular programme. Published research on emotional vocabulary expansion in the Journal of Applied Emotional Development. Trained 2,400+ individuals across Ireland.
Head of Curriculum Development (2021-Present)
Appointed Head of Curriculum Development at EmotiSpeak Ireland Ltd. Oversees all course design, instructor training, and programme development. Regular speaker at Irish education and workplace conferences. Continues delivering courses and consulting with organisations on emotional literacy integration.
Qualifications & Recognition
MSc Clinical Psychology
University College Dublin (2015)
Specialist Emotional Intelligence Coach
Irish Institute of Behavioural Studies (2017)
Published Researcher
Journal of Applied Emotional Development
2,400+ Individuals Trained
Across Ireland in emotional literacy and awareness
Areas of Focus
Emotional Awareness Courses in Ireland
Síle designs and delivers emotional awareness courses specifically for Irish audiences — whether that’s school groups, corporate teams, or community organisations. She understands the cultural context and speaks in a way that resonates. Her courses aren’t theoretical exercises. They’re practical, grounded, and designed to create real change in how people experience and communicate their emotions.
Each course builds emotional vocabulary systematically. You’ll learn to recognise subtle differences between emotions you previously lumped together. You’ll develop the language to express what’s actually happening inside. And most importantly, you’ll practise these skills in structured settings so they become habits you can use every day.
Feelings Vocabulary Development & Emotional Literacy
The heart of Síle’s work is expanding how you talk about emotions. Most people operate with a vocabulary of maybe 10-15 emotional words. That’s limiting. When you can distinguish between frustration and disappointment, between contentment and joy, between mild concern and genuine anxiety — you understand yourself better. You communicate more clearly. You make better decisions about your wellbeing.
Her approach to emotional literacy goes beyond naming feelings. It’s about understanding the triggers, the physical sensations, the thinking patterns, and the underlying needs behind each emotion. Once you’ve got that awareness, you’re equipped to communicate your needs more clearly to others. That’s when emotional literacy becomes transformative — not just for your internal experience, but for your relationships and your ability to advocate for yourself.
Síle’s Key Articles
Building Your Emotional Vocabulary: From Basic to Nuanced
Learn how to expand the emotional words you use daily, moving beyond generic terms into a richer vocabulary that reflects your actual inner experience.
Read ArticleDaily Emotional Check-Ins: A Practical Framework
Discover Síle’s structured approach to emotional check-ins throughout your day — simple, sustainable practices that build awareness without adding stress.
Read ArticleDistinguishing Between Similar Emotions: Frustration vs Disappointment
Explore the subtle but important differences between emotions that feel similar, and why understanding these distinctions matters for your wellbeing.
Read ArticleUsing Emotional Literacy to Communicate Your Needs
Learn how better emotional vocabulary translates into clearer communication and how understanding your emotions helps you articulate what you actually need from others.
Read ArticleReady to Develop Your Emotional Awareness?
Explore EmotiSpeak’s emotional awareness courses in Ireland, or get in touch to discuss how emotional literacy training can benefit your team or organisation.