St. Dympna - is the Patron Saint of those who suffer from emotional distress, mental illness, or who seek help in recovering peace of soul and health of mind. Her name appears in the Roman Martyrology, together with St. Gerebern, her confessor, on May 15th.

She lived in the 7th Century and was the daughter of an Irish tribal chief. When his wife died he was distraught and in his distress dertermined to marry his daughter. Dympna refused and, professing her Christian faith, rejected his advances. Then, along with Gerebern, as well as the Court Jester and his wife, they fled to Gheel in the Low Countries. They were pursued by her father who had the priest killed and slew Dympna himself.

Very soon the site of her martyrdom became a place of pilgrimage for people seeking cures or relief from nervous disorders and emotional distress. In the 13th Century pilgrims who visited Gheel were housed by the villagers and this practice continued.In the 18th Century care of the mentally ill involved the local residents who gave board and lodge to the sick and integrated them into the community.

Today the shrine of St. Dympna is still a place of pilgrimage. The town is known for its pioneering care of those who suffer mentally and emotionally. Gheel is twinned with Tydavnet (house of Dympna) in Co.Monaghan where there is a holy well and shrine to St. Dympna.

Perhaps today, as much as ever, St. Dympna is a suitable patron for those who struggle inwardly, experience distress or the emotional pain often entailed in living and being a person. At the Dympna Centre we continue to work with the priests and people of the churches who seek peace of soul, freedom from distress and inner wellness.

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Those who offer their services to the Dympna Centre are independent practitioners in private practice.

Whatever our field of interest or expertise, we share some common ground:-

• a desire to be of service to priests and religious.
• appreciation of the religious world and the spiritual life.
• a willingness to let psychology and spirituality inform each other
  
• an interest in the whole person

Dympna Associates

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