Flanagan honoured for outstanding achievement in Counselling and Psychotherapy Field

AUDREY Flanagan from Tyrrellstown was recently honoured by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy with the prestigious Carl Berkeley Memorial Award for her positive contributions to the counselling and psychotherapy profession.

The national Carl Berkeley Memorial Award recognises a member of the IACP who has made exceptional contributions to the development of the counselling and psychotherapy field by creating or influencing projects or development work at the local and/or national level.

Praising Ms Flanagan’s commitment to providing access to mental health services in the community, IACP Cathaoirleach of the Board of Directors Séamus Sheedy said:

“Audrey Flannagan is a fantastic practitioner and her work expanding the client base and scope of services available at The Finglas Counselling Service in such a short time is remarkable.

“I congratulate Audrey on her remarkable achievements and impactful contributions to the counselling and psychotherapy profession especially her commitment to nurturing and guiding the next generation of therapists.”

Elizabeth O’Driscoll and Audrey Flanagan CBMA 2024

In 2018 Audrey began her student hours at The Finglas Counselling Service, at the time the organisation was offering therapy from one room in a family resource centre.

From the start, she had an affinity with the service as she was from the local area and had seen the challenges facing the population and the positive impact of community-based therapy.

Since assuming the director’s role Audrey has expanded the service and last year they moved into a welcoming, modern building providing three additional counselling rooms.

The Finglas Counselling service has been a vital mental health resource for many years and has allowed people to access support who would not have had the financial resources to do so otherwise.

Through Audrey’s dedication and leadership many student counsellors have had the opportunity to learn and grow under her guidance.

Commenting following the accepting the award, IACP member Audrey Flanagan said:

“Thank you to the IACP especially the Carl Berkeley Memorial Award committee for choosing me for this prestigious award. I am extremely grateful, honoured, and humbled.

“To see my name listed among the great names of past recipients is indeed overwhelming.

“I can only receive this award with one hand, it also belongs to the founding members and the many trainee therapists and volunteers without whom the service could not have lasted over 30 years.

“I stand firmly on the shoulders of giants.”

Ms Flanagan, an IACP member since 2017 received her BA (Hons) Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy from IICP College.

The Carl Berkeley Memorial Award was presented at the IACP’s 9th Annual Conference on Saturday April 20 in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo.