Reinventing themselves: people who change careers

It’s a big leap from the world of law to the world of complementary medicine, but it’s a leap that Dolores Andrew Gavin is delighted to have made.

Dolores, who began working as a legal secretary after leaving school at the age of 17, subsequently qualified as a legal executive and worked in that area all her life, until her youngest son Iarla was born two years ago.

His birth coincided with the economic downturn and while she returned to work on a freelance basis afterwards, “I could see the work drying up”.

Bright, enthusiastic and energetic, she needed to work for her sanity and self esteem and began exploring other options. “I’ve always been busy,” says Dolores, who began working p

art-time when she was 15 years of age. From the city centre, between Augustine Street and the Docks, she recalls in her youth, working in such well-known businesses as Powells Music Shop and Grifffins Bakery.

While employed as a legal secretary, Dolores also became involved in Junior Chamber, holding every position in that organisation. After Iarla’s birth, she spent time at home, caring for him and his older brother Conall, now seven, and occasionally freelancing in the legal world.

But she was also exploring employment opportunities. “I went online and looked at the possibility of becoming a ‘virtual assistant’,” she says, explaining that the internet made it possible for her to act as a personal assistant to a businessperson in America. Online work would allow her to be based at home and to have flexible hours.

A good social network helped her find her real path, though.“I was part of a group of mothers in Conall’s class who used to meet for coffee one morning a week and we set up a group called Network Together which meets in the Community Rooms over Joyce’s supermarket once a month.”

During one of those meetings, Dolores did a ‘SWOT Analysis’ of herself for the group. This involves a person or organisation assessing themselves, using the “strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats” technique.

“Out of that, I realised that I didn’t want to be a distant PA,” she laughs.

Dolores had an older sister who practised reiki and always had an interest in complementary health therapies In fact, she had decided to train in reiki when she discovered Quantum Touch, thanks to the internet.

Quantum Touch is a technique that uses life-force energy to promote healing in the body, according to its founder Richard Gordon. Its followers, who include medical doctors, claim it is an effective method for reducing back pain, realigning the body, restoring balance, reducing aches, healing injuries and more.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.