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Information for Clients
The National Counselling Service is a community based service for adults
who were hurt by childhood abuse in Ireland. This leaflet tells you about
this national, free, confidential service, how to get in touch with the
service and what the service has to offer.
The National Counselling Service is for men and women who have suffered
childhood abuse. Many survivors feel they can now talk about their experiences,
as a result of the following Government decisions.
- to establish a Commission to Inquire into Childhood Abuse
- to provide a high quality, dedicated professional National Counselling
Service
Information about the
Service
If you decide to use our service, you will recieve an appointment as
soon as possible. At the first meeting you and the counsellor will decide
how the service can help you. If you have any concerns about using the
National Counselling Service we will facilitate you to access other services
to meet your needs. Your personal choice will be respected at all times.
The Service offers
- individual counselling
- couple counselling
- counselling for family members
- group therapy
- information about other services within the community.
What is Counselling?
Counselling is the process of creating a confidential space where people
can begin to heal with the help of their counsellor. It is concerned with
the whole person and gives the client time to talk about feelings, thoughts
and concerns. The counsellor provides a safe, confidential service which
is non-judgmental.
If you and your counsellor decide to work together, the sessions will
take place in the counselling premises most convenient to you, usually
once a week, for an hour. Towards the end of the counselling process,
you and your counsellor may wish to
discuss the following:
- joining a therapy group
- contacting another service within the community
- finishing counselling.
If you have to cancel an appointment, it would be helpful to have at
least 24 hours notice.
You need to make a commitment to both yourself and your counsellor that
you will come for the counselling sessions. It is important to remember
that counselling can be a difficult process. The service is here to help
you heal from painful experiences. It is helpful to keep in mind that
people who have gone through counselling feel they can now live more contented
lives with a new sense of confidence. Your counsellor is someone who will
remain compassionate and non-judgmental at all times and will support
you through your counselling.
Confidentiality
What does confidentiality mean?
All personal information is treated in the strictest confidence and remains
confidential to your own Counselling Service.
Are there any occasions when confidentiality is broken?
Yes, but usually when permission is given by the client. At the first
meeting with the counsellor, you will be given information on the service's
safety and child protection procedures and how they might effect you if
you attend the Service for counselling. There are only very rare occasions
when confidentiality might be broken without your consent for example
if the counsellor has reason to believe that harm may be done to yourself,
others or to the counsellor. Your counsellor will explain all this to
you at your first meeting.
Counsellors
All counsellors employed by the National Counselling Service are health
care profeesionals from clinical backgrounds such as medicine, nursing,
social work and psychology. All counsellors are accredited and are committed
to providing an excellent quality service. They have considerable experience
in dealing with a broad range of issues including:
- child abuse; sexual, physical, emotional and neglect
- subustance abuse
- depression
- anxiety
- panic attacks
- guilt and shame
- post traumatic stress disorder
- relationship difficulties
- suicidal feelings
- fear
- eating disorders
- mental health problems
The National Counselling Service is committed to providing easy access
facilities to clients presenting with disabilites
Why Choose Counselling?
The National Counselling Service aims to give people an opportunity to
break the silence, gradually and gently, surrounding their experiences
of growing up in "care", their feelings about "care"
and what happened to them. If this applies to you, you may want to talk
about how you have been afected by the abuse. Whether you were in "care"
fifty years ago or longer, or as recently as last week, you are all welcome
to use the service. The service aims to meet your needs in a holistic
and comprehensive manner, and will respect your choices at all times.
All difficulties and concerns will be dealt with sympathetically.
Complaints and
Suggestions
If you wish to make a complaint or have a suggestion about any aspect
of the Counselling Service, it is best to discuss this with your counsellor.
With regard to complaints, both you and your counsellor can work together
to resolve problems and difficulties. If you continue to be dissatisfied,
you should inform your counsellor that you wish to discuss the matter
with the Director of Counselling, and an appointment will be made for
you. Every attempt will be made to address your concerns and/or suggestions
as immediately as possible.
Ethics Governing the Work
of the National Counselling Service
The National Counselling Service adheres to professional Codes of Ethics
and Practice for Counsellors. Key ethical principles
underpinning the service are:
- Counselling is a non-exploitative activity. Its basic values are
integrity, impartiality and respect;
- Counsellors are responsible for setting and monitoring the boundaries
of the working relationship between counsellor and client;
- The Counsellor's work is monitored through regular supervision with
a professional person;
- Counsellors work within legal guidelines;
- Counsellors respect the client's social context, religion, class,
race, ethnicity and sexual orientation;
- Counsellors inform their clients, as appropriate, of their training
and qualifications;
- The client's identity is protected at all times. If information is
required for research purposes, it is with the consent of the client.
If you wish to avail of counselling in a county or health board area other
than your own, this can be arranged through your local Counselling Service.
Contact Information
NORTHERN AREA HEALTH
BOARD
EAST COAST AREA HEALTH BOARD
SOUTH WESTERN AREA HEALTH BOARD
MIDLAND HEALTH BOARD
WESTERN HEALTH BOARD
MID WESTERN HEALTH BOARD
SOUTHERN HEALTH BOARD
NORTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD
SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD
NORTH WESTERN HEALTH BOARD
NORTHERN AREA HEALTH BOARD
Ms. Isolde Blau,
Director of Counselling,
Adult Counselling Service
Laragh Counselling Service
140 St. Laurence's Rd.
Clontarf, Dublin 3.
FREEPHONE 1800 234 110
EAST COAST AREA HEALTH BOARD
Ms. Rachel Mooney,
Director of Counselling,
AVOCA Counselling Service
Baggot Street Community Hospital,
18 Upper Baggot Street,
Dublin 4.
FREEPHONE 1800 234 111
SOUTH WESTERN AREA HEALTH BOARD
Ms. Fiona McCarthy,
Director of Counselling,
Adult Counselling Service
66 Old Bawn Rd.
Tallaght
Dublin 24
FREEPHONE 1800 234 112
MIDLAND HEALTH BOARD
Mr. Jonathan Egan,
Director of Counselling,
Adult Counselling Service,
The Arches
21 Church Street
Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
FREEPHONE 1800 234 113
WESTERN HEALTH BOARD
Theresa Flacke.
Director of Counselling,
Adult Counselling Service,
Woodquay Centre Counselling Service,
7 Daly’s Lane,
Woodquay, Galway.
FREEPHONE 1800 234 114
MID WESTERN HEALTH BOARD
Ms. Noreen Harrington,
Director of Counselling,
Adult Counselling Service,
106 O’Connell Street
Limerick.
FREEPHONE 1800 234 115
SOUTHERN HEALTH BOARD
Dr. Philip Moore,
Director of Counselling,
Adult Counselling Service,
Penrose Wharf
Penrose Quay, Cork.
FREEPHONE 1800 234 116
NORTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD
Ms. Fiona Ward,
Director of Counselling,
Adult Counselling Service,
34 Brews Hill
Navan, Co. Meath.
Website: http://www.nehb.ie/nehb/services/riancounselling.htm
FREEPHONE 1800 234 117
SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD
Mr. Gerard O’Neill,
Director of Counselling,
Adult Counselling Service,
49-50 O’Connell Street,
Waterford.
FREEPHONE 1800 234 118
NORTH WESTERN HEALTH BOARD
Mr. Tom McGrath,
Director of Counselling,
Adult Counselling Service,
1 St. Eunan’s Court,
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
FREEPHONE 1800 234 119
Reports
The
National Counselling Service First Report - Executive Summary
The
National Counselling Service First Report
The
National Counselling Service Second Report
The
SENS report 2003
An independent evaluation of survivors experiences of the National
Counselling Service.
This study was carried out by the Health Services Research Centre at the
Royal College of Surgeons and aimed to assess the quality of services
provided by the NCS from the perspective of survivors of child abuse who
have used the service.
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