Sir, - The recent report on marriage breakdown, commissioned by the Government and carried out by Dr Colm O'Connor, provides insights into the problems faced by couples in marriage difficulty.
We in AIM Family Services would encourage people with relationship difficulties to seek remedial help before problems escalate. The benefit of talking through a problem in confidence with a counsellor is generally recognised. It helps to clarify difficulties and assists in taking a positive step towards resolution.
AIM is a voluntary organisation, offering non-directive counselling, legal information and a family mediation service to people experiencing marital, relationship and family problems. We provide the following services: information on family law; individual and couple counselling; family mediation service; a 24-hour telephone-answering service; a countrywide letter-answering service.
Our drop-in centre is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Monday to Friday and an appointment is not necessary. An appointment is necessary for family mediation and on-going counselling.
I would be delighted to talk to readers who feel they are ready for a new challenge, who would enjoy the learning and self-developmental process involved in becoming an AIM volunteer, and who could devote three hours most weeks in an area of their choosing.- Yours, etc.,
Margaret Roche, Chairwoman, AIM Family Services, 6 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2.