Counselling Services Return To Centre

Marie Lyons, Sky Blue Counselling

With the start of the New Year, you may be considering visiting a counsellor or therapist. If so, Marie Lyons is able to help. Marie is an experienced counsellor who holds a first-class degree in Counselling and Addiction Studies from the Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences in Limerick, and a Diploma in Counselling and Addiction Studies from UCD. She is also an accredited member of the Addiction Counsellors of Ireland, having a background in addiction counselling, working with charities, and in nursing. Marie specialises in working with people who present with addictions, anxiety, low self-esteem, anger management, and relationship difficulties. She can also help with bereavement, relapse prevention, harm reduction, stress, and emotional or physical abuse. Her approach to counselling is personcentred, a style of therapy which aims to help everyone develop their full potential.

Marie emphasises that she approaches each session with: “empathy, genuineness, positive regard, and respect for each client in a non-judgemental manner. I enjoy assisting people to find their true path…to get them to a place where they can cope with their own feelings, thoughts and behaviours.” She also uses other forms of therapy depending on the needs of her client, including reality therapy, solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and dialectical behavioural therapy. Like most counsellors, she also has personal experience of therapy, and draws on this to put clients at ease. “Having been through therapy myself, I understand how difficult and challenging it is to come for the first time. Each person is unique and I promise to walk this journey with you; you are not alone,” states Marie. While some people do prefer online counselling since Covid, Marie prefers to work in person. “It allows us to see the real person,” she notes. “It allows us to be more present and congruent.”

Following a cancer diagnosis, Marie took some time off work in 2024. She is now in recovery and looking forward to seeing clients again. “I missed my passion for the therapeutic work I was engaged in,” she explains. “I was sick for quite a while and missing what I loved best was, for me, one of the hardest things. Talking to someone helped. I’m just human, and we all need to speak to someone when we’re feeling a bit down.” Her convalescence also gave Marie a chance to listen to music, read, and take daily walks. Marie sees clients who are over 16 years of age, and is available for appointments from 10 am – 5 pm in Unit 143 in the Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre in Creagh. The office is at the back of the Enterprise Centre, which gives privacy for Marie’s clients. If you would like to make an initial appointment, you can phone 087 782 6020 or email [email protected] 

​She also accepts GP referrals.