National therapy award for Séamus Sheedy
Tullamore’s Séamus Sheedy was honoured by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy with the 2026 Carl Berkeley Memorial Award in recognition of his lifelong and transformative contributions to the organisation and the wider field of therapy in Ireland.
The annual awards ceremony was held at the IACP’s 11th Annual Conference on April 18 at the Johnstown Estate, Meath.
The national Carl Berkeley Memorial Award recognises an accredited member of the IACP who has made exceptional contributions to the development of the counselling and psychotherapy profession by creating or influencing projects or development work at the local and/or national level.
IACP Chief Executive Officer Lisa Molloy said: “It has been a great privilege to work alongside Séamus for many years during his service as Cathaoirleach and on the Board of Directors. His positivity and generous spirit of volunteerism has left an impressive and impactful imprint across our organisation. has been a highly active IACP member during his 26 years of membership.. All who meet Séamus are struck by his personable nature and warmth.”
A highly respected and influential ambassador for the IACP at regional, national, and international levels, Séamus Sheedy chaired the IACP Board of Directors from 2022 to 2024 and he also served as Cathaoirleach from 2012 to 2014.
Séamus served as President of the European Association of Counselling. He is currently an Associate Lecturer in Addiction studies and Counselling at Athlone Institute of Technology.
Commenting following receiving the award, Mr Sheedy said: “I am truly honoured and humbled to accept this award on behalf of all IACP members who have generously given their time over the years, and with whom I have had the privilege of working in many different roles.
"I sincerely thank the Midlands Regional Committee for nominating me.
“The first word that comes to mind is ‘unbelievable’ - that I would receive the Carl Berkeley Memorial Award, having been involved in organising it on more than ten occasions. I feel elated, ecstatic, overjoyed, thrilled, and truly honoured.”
Reflecting on the spirit of the award, he quoted from The Door by Miroslav Holub: “Go and open the door.”
He spoke about the courage to step into the unknown, to broaden perspectives, and to look beyond familiar boundaries.
Séamus credited many extraordinary individuals throughout his journey who encouraged him to “open the door,” including Carl Berkeley, his lecturer at Trinity College in 1999, who inspired him by saying, “You can make it happen” when Séamus questioned the lack of training opportunities outside Dublin.
Another of Séamus’s most meaningful contributions has been his involvement in establishing Accessible Counselling Tullamore, a community-based counselling centre dedicated to providing affordable and accessible mental health services.
This initiative was the vision of the late James O’Connor and Lisa, who also spearheaded the “Tullamore Goes Green” campaign each May to reduce stigma around mental health and encourage open conversation.