The Northern Ireland Counselling Forum are delighted and extremely proud to announce that our founder, past Chair and current Honorary President, Mrs Brenda Tighe has been awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the King’s birthday honours list.
This accolade recognises Brenda’s commitment and service to counselling in N Ireland, Republic of Ireland and the professional bodies of BACP and IACP. It also highlights the importance and relevance of counselling in our own and the greater community.
Congratulations Brenda Tighe MBE!
Brenda was born in the 1940s in Belfast one of a set of twins. At school in Belfast Brenda enjoyed school, the social side of it anyway! Unsuccessful at 11+ level Brenda went on to work as a PA to the manager of an engineering firm in Belfast.
She met and married her soulmate Frank and moved to Comber where her two daughters Katherine and Nichola were born. During this time Brenda was highly involved in the community, raising money for various charities, meals on wheels, church fundraising amongst other activities. During this time as well as raising her two girls, Brenda cared for both her mother and mother-in-law – the caring gene was there from early days!
When the girls grew up Brenda decided it was time for serious school and went back to train as a counsellor subsequently working as a residential social worker in an addiction centre in the centre of Belfast which prompted her to establish a rehabilitation centre in west Belfast. With her usual determination she turned a rundown hostel into a purpose-built centre designed by Brenda herself. A well-used and successful venture which is still operational today but without Brenda’s excellent guidance.
In her mid-forties Brenda was BACP Healthcare representative for NI and at this point decided to further venture into counselling in the Republic of Ireland as she had supervisees working across the island. She travelled each month supervising counsellors in a Rape Crisis Centre. Brenda was one of the only counsellors who was an accredited member of both BACP and IACP encouraging both bodies to work together and was instrumental in ensuring that, to this day, there is mutual recognition of their qualifications. Brenda also served as an Executive member on the Board of IACP and on their Supervision Accreditation Committee.
As many here will know, following the attainment of her Masters (QUB), Brenda established, 21 years ago, the NI Counselling Forum an inclusive and overarching forum for counsellors and counselling students throughout the province offering collegiality, advice, training and a “home” and “mother” for individuals in what can be a lonely profession. Brenda has done this with care, grace, efficiency, and love.
In recognition of this and her contribution to counselling on this island and in her treatment model of treating men who suffer from addiction issues, Brenda was honoured with a Fellowship from BACP. To this day – and I will let you work out her age yourselves – Brenda is working every day, bringing you this, her last conference as Chair, working with supervisors, private practice and recently part time consultant with PIPs! I do not really think that Brenda is even contemplating retirement!
