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GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 1981
stronger position to think about the area in which
responsibility can be exercised, namely action that is
taken as a consequence of feeling.
So far a number of interviews between counsellor and
client may have taken place, or if the client is especially
receptive, this stage may be reached by the end of the first
interview. In either case, the scene is now set and the
means are available for an examination of options. The
counsellor helps the client to think about possible courses
of personal action in the immediate future, perhaps
including some that are not so obvious and even
unattractive initially. The recognition of patterns, and the
acceptance of "differences" in others, facilitates a more
realistic assessment of possible developments, and the
separation of feeling and responsible action begins to
inspire confidence in the client that the destructive course
of events can be altered.
It is a basic principle that the client must make the
decision and take responsibility for the consequences,
because every individual has a right to his or her God
given integrity. It is the counsellor's job to help the client
discover and affirm that integrity, whatever course of
action is chosen. The counsellor may not approve if the
client eventually decides to pursue a legal separation, with
or without Church annulment, but that decision must be
respected and the client helped, within the counsellor's
competence, to put it into effect.
Fven after the decision has been taken, the counsellor
may have a valuable supportive role to play, as already
mentioned by the solicitor above, when the unfolding
succession of events gives rise to conflicting feelings.
Marriage counsellors have no part to play in the legal
process as tlicy work solely at the level of personal
feeling, uiih the material brought into counselling by the
clients. It; fact, if counselling is to be effective, and
continue to be so, it is very important that it not only be
separated, but be seen to be separated, from remedies
available under the law. For that reason, marriage
counsellors are reluctant to get involved in legal
proceedings.
Marriage
counsellors
are
all
married
people
themselves, who were invited personally to participate in
selection
conferences
staffed
by
psychiatrists,
psychologists and experienced counsellors. Common ly
5 0 -oto 6 0% of those who attend such a conference a're
offered places, on the basis of personal openness and
absence of perceived threat in relationships with others,
on an initial training course of approximately nine
months.
Fxperiencc enriches theory in subsequent in-service
(raining, which is continuously monitored by a tutor
group. In this wa y, fresh ideas and new techniques are fed
into the system, influenced by practice. Also group
support arises from the fact that counsellors work in
centres, where clients are met in comfortable, relaxed
surroundings on neutral territory. In order to ensure that
time is available for each client, it is necessary to make an
appointment in advance, but no other rules exist. Simply,
if meeting a marriage counsellor is thought to be
beneficial. the telephone directory gives details of the
nearest centre and the method of making appointments.
Every interview is completely confidential.
From the same centres, pre marriage courses are
organised to help engaged couples to take a more realistic
view of their present relationship and to make responsible
decisions for the future. A counselling service is also
provided in awareness and control of fertility, supported
by a comprehensive education programme in the natural
methods of family planning. Each centre is always
interested to receive c omme n ts and suggestions on the
service it offers from the user's point of view.D
Catholic Marriage
Advisory Council
The Catholic Marriage Advisory Council works for the
well being of marriage and family life.
Centres organise courses to help couples prepare for
marriage.
Each Centre provides a confidential Counselling
Service for people with problems in relation to Marriage
or other personal relationships.
The C . M . A . C. also provides a confidential service for
people who wish to discuss the planning of their families
and to learn the natural methods of Family Planning.
Enquiries and appointments: Phone Catholic Marriage
Advisory Council of Ireland, Central Office, All Hallows
College, Drumcondra 9: Office Hours, 3 7 5 6 4 9.
List of Centres see below:
Dalymount 15, Dalymount 7, Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. 2 p.m.
and 8 p .m. - 9 . 30 p.m. — 3 0 1 0 2 8
Dunlaoghaire, 7 Eblana Avenue, Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. 4
p.m. and 8 p .m. - 9 . 30 p.m. — 8 0 1 6 82
35 Harcourt St. 2, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5.30 p.m. and 7 . 30
p .m. - 9 . 30 p.m. — 7 8 0 8 6 6.
Marino, 71 Griffith Avenue 3, Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
and 8 p.m.-lO p.m. — 3 3 8 6 3 1.
Templeogue 2 6 5, Templeogue Road, Mon. Fri. 9 . 30
a.m.-4 p.m. and 7 . 30 p .m. - 10 p.m. — 9 0 8 7 3 9
Athlone: Dr. Do bbs Memorial Home, Northgatc St.
Office Hours: ( 0 9 0 2) 2 1 7 4
Ballina: Parish Centre, Teeling St. — ( 0 9 6) 2 1 4 7 8
Ballinasloe: St. Joseph's College, Garbally Park, Mon. I
p.m-2 p.m. — ( 0 9 0 5) 2 5 0 4
Carlow: St. Catherine's Community Services Centre, St.
Joseph's Road, Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Mon.
8 . 3 0 - 10 p.m. — ( 0 5 0 3) 3 1 0 6 3
Castlebar: Social Service Centre — ( 0 9 4) 2 2 2 1 4
Cavan: Cana House, Farnham St., Mon. 8 10 p.m. —
( 0 4 9) 3 1 3 78
Charlestown: St. Nathy's College, Mon. 7-9 p.m. —
Ballaghaderreen 74.
Cloyne: Cobh (after 6 p.m. daily) — ( 0 2 1) 81 1727
Cork: 34 Paul St., Mon.-Fr. 8 - 10 p.m. — ( 0 2 1) 2 5 6 7 8.
Drogheda: Drogheda Community Services Centre, Fair
St., Mon.-Fr. 10 a .m. - 12 noon — ( 0 4 1) 3 6 0 84
Dundalk: St. Patrick's, Roden Place — ( 0 4 2) 3 1 7 31
Ennis: Social Service Centre, Office Hours — ( 0 6 5)
21 178
Galway: Oz anam House, Middle St., Mon.-Fri. 8 p.m.
9 . 3 0 p.m. — ( 0 9 1) 6 2 3 3 1 and Appointments Social
Service Centre, Mon.-Fri. (office hours) — ( 0 9 1)
6 3 5 8 1
Inishowen: Pastoral Centre, Derry Road,
Movilla
(anytime) — Movilla 6 0
Kerry: Cana House, Killarney, Fri. 8 p.m.-10 p.m. —
( 0 6 4) 11 7 48
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