Let's Get Talking is a professional counselling and psychotherapy service, providing counselling and psychotherapy support to the local community based on need and not on means.
The service is run on a non-set fee policy and is based on the client’s ability to pay. It provides immediate access to psychological therapies and is dedicated to providing accessible, professional, and high quality counselling services.
Fianna Fáil councillor Aengus O'Rourke, said: “I am delighted to be involved in bringing this wonderful service to Athlone and particularly delighted that we are locating in Connaught Street.
“The Let's Get Talking concept is simple but very effective; it is a community-based counselling service for people in crisis. So many people struggle to deal with difficult, often personal, circumstances in their lives today. This service provides these people, regardless of their means, with a professional and thorough counselling service."
Since the service opened two years ago in Galway, it has developed a panel of more than 30 counsellors and therapists with a wide range of experience and expertise. While they provide a general counselling service, they also contract people with particular areas of speciality. These cover areas such as sexual trauma, addiction, bereavement, anxiety and depression, relationships, and family therapy.
“The Galway centre now delivers over 160 counselling/psychotherapy sessions per week and a further centre has opened in Letterkenny, Co Donegal," Cllr O'Rourke said. "The majority of Let's Get Talking clients are referred by other agencies - GPs, CIPC, psychiatrists, psychologists. Self-referrals and referrals through family and friends are also very common.
"As this initiative is a not-for-profit based service with charitable status, organisers are relying on the generosity of the public, local businesses, tradesmen and volunteers to set up the offices on Connaught Street. The project is currently in need of building materials, tradesmen, and elbow grease."
Cllr O'Rourke expressed his gratitude to Pat McDonnell Paints, MJ Flood, Dermot Griffin Office Supplies, AIT, the Dooley family on Magazine Road, and Liam Murray Construction for their invaluable help so far.
To get this worthwhile initiative off the ground, Cllr O'Rourke is calling on anyone who feels they can help in any way to get in touch by emailing [email protected] or calling (086 ) 3867484.
