Team

Máire Ní Dhomhnaill

Director / Counsellor

M.I.A.C.P, B.Ed H.Ec’s, Gestalt Therapist, Dip. in Psychology of Counselling (N.U.I.G.)

Máire joined TheFamily Centre on a part time basis in 2002. Since January 2007 she worked fulltime as part of the counselling team and from July 1st 2017 she is appointed asDirector of the Service.

Prior to working inthis area Máire has 20 years experience working in the disability services.Máire is a fullyaccredited member of The Irish Association for Counselling and PsychotherapyA graduate of StAngela’s college in Sligo, Máire completed a diploma in the Psychology ofCounselling in NUIG as well as a post graduate course in Gestalt Therapy in Galway.

Ós rud é gurb í anGhaeilge mo theanga dhúchais beidh fáilte romhat as gaeilge no bearla!

Michael Burke

B.A.,A.F.P’s.S.I., Chartered Counselling Psychologist; Sr Clinical Psychologist

Clinical Director

Michael joined the Family Centre Staff in 1997.He is a Clinical / Counselling Psychologist with over 30 years of clinical experience in a variety of settings both in Ireland and Australia.Michael is the Clinical Director and is particularly responsible for the provision and development of this Counselling service in the centre.

Cathal Kearney

Counsellor

M. Ed.(Counselling), M.I.A.C.P., Dip. Coun., Dip Healthcare Management, F.E.H.A.I,Accredited Counselling Supervisor with IACP

M. Ed.(Counselling), M.I.A.C.P., Dip. Coun., Dip Healthcare Management, F.E.H.A.I,Accredited Counselling Supervisor with IACP. Cathal has worked as part of the family centre counselling team since 2001 and as Director ofServices between June 2008 and June 2017.

He also provides counselling supervision to some of the counselling team.He holds a Summacum Lauda Masters Degree in Counselling from Seton Hall University in NewJersey. He also holds a number of Counselling Diplomas. He is a fully accredited member of the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

He teaches counselling in the Newman Institute Ireland in Ballina.Over many years Cathal has provided educational programmes to parents and their children in school settings throughout the West of Ireland.Prior to his commencing work as Director of the Centre in 2008 he worked as a Manager in theHealth Services Executive since 1982.

Paula Sheridan

Counsellor/Psychotherapist

B.A in Counselling/Psychotherapist, (ICHAS)

Paula joined the counselling team in the Family Centre in 2013. She works with individuals and couples and is also a group facilitator.
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Paula holds a B.A Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies from the Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences (ICHAS). She is an accredited member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. (B.A.C.P.)

Katie O’Malley

Systemic Family Therapist / Psychotherapist

Dip. Systemic Family Therapy, Reg. FTAI, Reg. ICP, Reg. EAP.

Katie joined theFamily Centre Counselling Team in 2012 and works for four days a week at the Centre. She has previously worked in Dublin and New Zealand where she gained experience working with individuals, couples, children and families around abroad range of issues in the fields of social care and family therapy.

She qualified from the Mater Hospital, Dublin as a Systemic Family Therapist.Katie is a registered member of of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP), the FamilyTherapy Association of Ireland (FTAI) and the European Association forPsychotherapy (EAP).

Fiona Thomas

Counsellor

M.I.A.C.P, B.Ed H.Ec’s, Gestalt Therapist, Dip. in Psychology ofCounselling (N.U.I.G.)

Fiona joined theFamily Centre staff in 2001 and currently works on a part time basis as part of the counselling team.

Fiona uses her skills and experience specifically in theMayo Suicide Bereavement Liaison service since July 2017.

Fiona studiedSocial Work in Trinity College and worked for several years as a social worker in Dublin before returning to the West.She completed her Counselling training with the Tivoli Institute, Dublin in 2001.

Lisa Marren

Project Worker

Lisa joined the Family Centre in 2020 and works part time for the Flourish project. Prior to working with the Flourish Project, Lisa worked in Scotland within the NHS on a social prescribing project. Lisa is passionate about promoting good health and well being across all ages. Lisa works alongside Maura Horkan and together they support individuals who are feeling socially isolated to become more involved in groups and activities in the local community and to support people to develop connections with themselves as well as with others. Lisa has recently started an outreach service for Flourish in Claremorris, this will include other Mayo towns over the coming months.

Teresa Burns

Counsellor /Psychotherapist.

Teresa holds a B.A.(Hons.) Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies from the Irish Collegeof Humanistic and Applied Sciences.

She is working in the Family Centre since2013. She is an accredited member of the Association of ProfessionalCounsellors and Psychotherapists Ireland.

Patsy O’Sullivan

Ma., MHSc

Counsellor / Psychotherapist

Patsy is a qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist working part time in The Family Centre, and also works in a private practice. She has a Masters in Psychotherapy and a Masters in Health Sciences. Patsy is experienced in supporting people to access their personal strengths and also their creative potential so as to allow them to move positively through periods of challenge and change in their lives.

Maura Horkan

Dip Counselling & Psychotherapy, N.D.B.S, Dance the Rainbow Teacher Training Diploma.

Project Worker

Maura joined the family centre in 2012 and works part time for the Flourish project. Maura is a psychotherapist who has facilitated many groups and individuals in personal growth, wellbeing and Self Care over the last 20 years in the community.

She has a particular interest in the mind - body connection and helping people to connect with themselves and others more fully.

A lot of her group programmes are designed to facilitate people to live in the present moment, to bring more nourishment and balance to their lives in simple and natural ways.As project worker for the Flourish project, she supports individuals who may feel socially isolated to become more involved in activities and groups in the local community, to enhance their health and wellbeing and build up their social & self confidence and self care skills.

Maureen McGeeGarvey

Counsellor & Psychotherapist

Maureen, is a qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist, working towards her accreditation with the Irish Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy. She joined the Family Centre team this year, and her holistic integrative approach is central to her work with clients.

Meet the Team