A counsellor says she鈥檚 been 鈥渉umbled鈥� after her service won a national award.

Our member Edith Fleck runs Serenity Counselling, in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, which scooped Counselling service of the year in the Prestige awards.

The judges of the award, which is for Northern Ireland, told her they were impressed with her 鈥減ersonal touch鈥� and 鈥渃ommunity feel鈥�.

They told her: 鈥淚t鈥檚 extra special to know you are making a positive difference.鈥�

Edith, who is a former nurse manager, has been a counsellor for 22 years after being inspired to retrain following experiencing childhood and adolescent trauma, extensive losses, and serious illness.

She said: 鈥淚 realised there were an awful lot of people going through some really difficult times. Some of them just couldn鈥檛 get any help or support.

鈥淲hat I鈥檝e been through gave me the desire to help other people through this journey.

Edith Fleck

Edith Fleck, of Serenity Counselling

鈥淚 hold a firm belief that it鈥檚 not 鈥榦ne size fits all鈥� when clients enter counselling. I鈥檓 very aware of the importance of creating a safe, non-judgmental space for clients so they can explore their difficulties and find coping mechanisms.鈥�

The mum-of-three said she hoped awards like this help raise the profile of counselling and show the impact it can have on people鈥檚 lives.

鈥淚 really hope people get a deeper understanding of how counselling can help them.鈥�

She added: 鈥淚鈥檓 really thankful to those who nominated me. It feels very special to know that they decided to take that step and put me up for this award. 鈥淏ut that鈥檚 not why I do this. I became a counsellor to make sure people could get the support they need.鈥�

Edith expressed 鈥淭his achievement wouldn鈥檛 have been possible without the ongoing support of my husband, close friends and clinical consultancy; also the outstanding tutors who helped me enormously during arduous extensive training鈥�.

Edith鈥檚 now been invited to a ceremony in London to receive her award.