ON THE COUCH:Martina Gibbons is chief executive of the Out and About Anxiety Resource network
Family/personal:
Partner Denis and I have three children - Amy, Triona and James.
Which living person do you most admire and why?
At the moment it has to be the president-elect of the United States, Barack Obama.
What do you regard as the top three problems facing Ireland's health system?
Our ageing population, the system's bureaucratic structures and the need to maintain front-line service in the face of budget constraints.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Indulging my children.
What is your most unhealthy habit?
Skipping breakfast.
How do you relax?
Walking and socialising.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
George Clooney.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A barbecue on a warm sunny day with friends and no time constraints.
What trait do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty and honesty.
What talent would you most like to have?
To be able to play cello or piano.
Do you use alternative/ complementary medicines or therapies?
I use complementary therapies such as reflexology and acupuncture.
What is your earliest memory?
Childhood Christmas.
What is your most treasured possession?
A parlour oil table lamp I inherited from my mother.
What other career might you have chosen?
Law.
What books or films have inspired you?
The film The Constant Gardener and John McGahern's That they May Face the Rising Sun.
• In conversation with Fiona Tyrrell
• Martina Gibbons is also a cognitive therapist based in Ballymun as well as chief executive of the Out and About Anxiety Resource network