Cathal BarryA number of countries have expressed a keen interest in the work of Towards Healing
The Clinical Director of Towards Healing has said that the counselling referral service for survivors of abuse in Ireland is an example of best practice that should be a “blueprint” for the Church’s response to abuse globally.
Dr Melissa Darmody told The Irish Catholic that a number of countries have expressed a keen interest in the work of Towards Healing and have been “very impressed” by the services it provides.
She said Towards Healing’s ‘one-Church’ response was of particular interest to researchers from Australia, Germany and the US.
“In a lot of other countries there is diocese by diocese response and if you were harmed in one diocese you get a very different service or outreach than to another diocese.
“I think what other countries are very impressed with is that we have a systematic way of supporting people with the same quality,” Dr Darmody said, adding that “those other jurisdictions I think are hoping to pull that together for themselves”.
Meanwhile, new figures reveal the number of abuse survivors using Towards Healing’s services has fallen for the first time since it was founded four years ago.
The 2014 annual report of Towards Healing published this week records that 1,100 people received face-to-face counselling, a reduction of 9.1% on the 2013 figure.
The number of new clients contacting the service fell from 426 in 2013 to 348 last year.
There was also a reduction in the numbers re-engaging with the services which declined from 72 in 2013 to 58 in 2014.
Speaking at the launch of its report, Towards Healing’s Chairman James Nugent called the reductions “a significant milestone” in the organisation’s life.
Towards Healing is an independent and confidential counselling and support service, which was established by the Church in 2011 as a response to the crisis of institutional, clerical and religious abuse in Ireland.