About Us
“A failure is not a mistake; it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying”
BF Skinner
The Finglas Counselling Service (FCS) was established in the 1990’s by a group of local women in response to the mental health needs of the local community. They trained as counsellors through funding provided by The Little Sisters of the Assumption and began to provide low-cost counselling to individuals and families who needed help. The Finglas Counselling Service was officially opened by President Mary Robinson in 1992 and has had many locations around Finglas before moving to St Helena’s Resource Centre a few years ago. In October 2023, the service opened a second location on Mellowes Road. This has a further three counselling rooms which means the service can now provide more availability at a time when the need for mental health services is ever increasing.
The service is a not for profit organisation relying on grants and funding to operate and a team of student and volunteer counsellors. Overseeing this are fully qualified counsellors and a board of management. Although the service has been through many changes over the years the values and principles on which the service was founded have remained the same. These are to provide counselling and psychotherapy at a cost that is accessible to everyone in the community without compromising on quality and professionalism.
Our Ethos
“What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger”
This famous quote is attributed to the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. This quote can remind us that the pain and suffering we have already overcome in our lives builds resilience and strength to help overcome future problems. Sometimes faced with a crisis we find it hard to believe in ourselves and our strengths, this is when we may need to ask for help.
Reaching out for help is not a weakness; it is a sign of strength and courage. Here at the Finglas Counselling Service we are ready, willing, and able to answer your brave call for help.
Our Aim
“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination”
Carl Rogers
Our vision is to create an affordable, professional, and accessible community-based counselling service. We hope to provide our service users with the skills and information they need to practice good mental health both physically and mentally.