Overview
The programme is delivered on a part-time basis. There are a number of options available:
- 214 Wednesday BSc (Hons) in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy – Autumn 2024 Intake
- 214 Thursday BSc (Hons) in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy – Autumn 2024 Intake
- 214 Saturday BSc (Hons) in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy – Autumn 2024 Intake
- 214B1 BSc (Hons) in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy – Autumn 2024 Intake
There is a 85% attendance requirement.
Blended Delivery
The programme is blended learning. It rotates between online and onsite teaching inputs. Onsite classes are delivered in our Tallaght Campus, and our online classes are run as tutorials that involve students and their lecturer logging into our online portal Zoom™ simultaneously.
Zoom™ provides and integrative online environment for students and Lecturers to interact and engage in the learning. This platform facilitates discussion polls, sharing of slides, videos resources and much, much more.
To foster more intimate learning environments the use of breakout rooms is also implemented, allowing for the safe and experiential triadic learning practice that we have found so successful.
All of our sessions are accessible through computer and mobile devices and we have a structured and robust technology department to support all faculty and students through their online learning journey. To encourage flexibility, and ss best practice, we also record all our sessions, these are made accessible only to the students in that class to review content whenever is convenient to them!
Student Benefits & Support
With a high level of student support, learners can enhance their existing therapeutic skills, knowledge and competencies. Learners are afforded the space, time and support to further develop an integrative model of practice for work with clients.
Assessment
Learners are assessed through a continuous assessment strategy, which includes a variety of mediums such as individual and group projects, skills training assessments, case studies and process recordings, written assignments, essays and a dissertation.
Validation & Accreditation of Award
Credits
The BSc (Hons) Degree is 240 ECTS credits in its entirety. The number of credits achieved by learners under RPL varies, depending on their individual needs following an academic RPL audit.
Programme Lecturers
We have a large faculty team, including:
Protection for Enrolled Learners
This programme is covered by arrangements under section 65 (4) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby, in the event of IICP College ceasing to provide the programme for any reason, enrolled learners may transfer to a similar programme at another provider, or, in the event that this is not practicable, the fees most recently paid will be refunded. Current PEL arrangements consist of a 2% levy on course fees. IICP do not pass the cost of this on to learners.
Programme Structure
Please find below the programme content for the entire four-year BA (Hons). RPL is always assessed on a case-by-case basis. Depending on previous training and qualifications, and following the outcome of an academic RPL audit, learners may be exempt from relevant modules and/or stages of the programme.
Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Studies & Reflexive Practice
- This module gives students a broad introduction to the field of counselling and psychotherapy with particular emphasis on five main approaches. It also enhances student learning through a discipline-based approach to supporting learners to engage with, contribute to and benefit from the programme. It does this through focusing on generic skills and competencies required of higher education students, including information literacy and digital capacity, but it does so in a discipline-based environment.
Introduction to Counselling Skills
- This module introduces students to a range of core counselling skills and facilitates them to begin to develop these skills. It grounds skills within the theoretical and conceptual frameworks presented in the programme. In particular, it explores the value of empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard as core conditions of Integrative counselling and psychotherapy. This module introduces students to key considerations when establishing a counselling/therapeutic relationship:
• Opening and closing a session;
• Asking questions to enhance the client’s self-awareness and reflection on their feelings, behaviours and experiences.Students are provided with opportunities to develop a working knowledge of personal and interpersonal skills through experiential learning activities, such as role play, and interpersonal activities, such as triads, discussion and feedback. Core counselling/psychotherapeutic skills, explored include:• Empathy.
• Listening.
• Reflecting.
• Reframing.
• Summarising.
• Clarifying.
• Challenging / contesting.
• Awareness of key listening blocks.
• Attending to body language , minimal encouragers, intonation, words and cultural considerations.
Inclusive & Ethical Practice
- In this subject students are introduced to different theoretical perspectives on ethics, social justice and inclusivity, in particular legal and professional frameworks. Students are introduced to Professional Codes of Ethics as the framework of written texts defined by professional regulatory bodies charged with the task of monitoring and maintaining professional ethical standards. However, this module presents ethics as including and also going beyond compliance with professional codes of ethics. Students are encouraged to understand the underpinnings of ethical choices and their context within a client’s distinct biographical background and culture. This module provides a space where students learn to conceptualise, reflect upon and articulate ethical questions, dilemmas, values, conflicts and related legal issues, in order that they can account for their ethical positions and decisions.
Evidence Informed Practice for Counselling & Psychotherapy
- The module will introduce the student to evidence-informed practice in counselling and psychotherapy. Evidence-informed practice is understood as the integration of current scientific evidence with clinical expertise and client preferences in order to deliver effective, efficient counselling and psychotherapeutic practice. Throughout the programme, through incremental learning, the students will build their knowledge of and critical reflexive engagement with the research evidence which underpins clinical decision-making in areas related to their clinical practice.
Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Studies 1
- The aim of this module is to enable learners to develop in-depth knowledge and application of Application of three core theoretical models in Integrative counselling/ psychotherapy (Person Centred, Reality Therapy/Choice Theory; Multicultural Counselling and Psychotherapy). This is to facilitate learners to begin to develop a personal integrative framework for case conceptualisation and clinical application. In addition, building upon the introductory module, this module aims to further develop the digital and research competencies of learners as applied to the science of counselling and psychotherapy.
Advanced Skills of Counselling & Psychotherapy 1
- This module aims to build on student learning, most notably in introduction to skills and Evidence Informed Practice, in order to develop their professional competencies as ethical, skilled, effective, reflexive, evidence-based practitioners. Following on from An Introduction to Skills, in this module students both develop their skills-based competence and widen their professional lenses to include a relational perspective. Students are closely guided by lecturers and teaching assistants in their performance of microskills, so that they can (i) convey more effectively the core conditions of empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard, (ii) develop the necessary conditions for the formation of a therapeutic relationship (iii) attend to ethical considerations in counselling/psychotherapy, including, centrally, confidentiality and limitations of the confidential relationship. Complementing this focus on individual skills, student are given opportunities to gain theoretical and practice-based knowledge that allows them to view their skills in a relational context.
Counselling & Psychotherapeutic Studies 2
- This module aims to develop learners as ethical, theoretically grounded and evidence-informed clinical practitioners. It provides opportunities for learners to develop and enhance their theoretical knowledge in counselling theories, and the knowledge and skills to use research evidence in practice. Evidence-informed practice is presented in the context of the professional responsibility for clinical decision-making, and learners are provided with opportunities to develop their awareness of diversity, and showcase inclusive and equitable practice. Overall the module aims to enhance awareness of the contribution of ethics, theory and research to clinical practice, and the skills to apply this knowledge in practice.
Advanced Skills of Counselling & Psychotherapy 2
- This module aims to increase learners’ competence and confidence in using a range of intervention skills within the therapeutic environment, and in engaging appropriately in counselling and supervisory relationships. Building on the Advanced Skills in the previous year, this module is designed to enable learners to develop further competence in the use of counselling and psychotherapeutic skills. This module will enable learners to increase their repertoire of skills and interventions, and their ability to engage appropriately and effectively with others in professional relationships.
Universal Issues 1 – Addiction Theory & Intervention>/span>
- The aim of this module is to provide participants with a basis on which to develop their therapeutic understanding of the theoretical and clinical considerations of substance use. The objectives of the module include increasing knowledge of Substance Use issues to include pharmacology, aetiology and interventions appropriate to this clinical cohort.
Universal Issues 2 – Bereavement, Loss & Grief
- This module aims to deepen the learner’s knowledge of bereavement, loss and grief as dimensions of the human experience and how they may affect the counselling process from both intrapersonal and interpersonal standpoints.
Professional Skills
- The aim of this module is to provide learners with opportunities to develop professional skills required for clinical and research practice as a counsellor / psychotherapist. This module will include a focus on the following key areas of Counselling and Psychotherapy professional practice.
• Research Skills: Developing key skills required to locate and evaluate scholarly sources related to counselling practice, and to use these to inform practice
• Practice skills: Developing competence in utilising counselling tools and techniques systematically, critically and effectively,
• Ethical skills: Developing ability to identify and manage ethical issues in clinical practice
• Communication skills: Developing ability to communicate practice
• Personal skills: Developing ability to reflect on and critique one’s own practice, and use this to enhance learning.
• Interpersonal skills: Developing ability to ask for and receive feedback, and use this to enhance learning.
Personal Psychotherapeutic Experience
- The module aims to equip students with the ability to recognise, articulate and reflect on their practice, including their communication and relational processes, their teamwork and their learning styles. These are transferable skills that can be applied in a range of work settings. Reflexive Practice is the ethical and professional requirement that the counsellor/ therapist explores ways in which their self – their experiences, beliefs, values and commitments – impacts on and influences their professional practice. The self is seen as a resource that shapes practice in ways that can be both constraining and creative, both closing down and opening up possibilities for practice. This module aims to develop students understanding of the application of reflexivity to their professional work and to filter this reflexivity through the lenses of the theories that they are studying. This module integrates theories of reflective practice with personal experience of the reflective cycle. It aims to introduce students to reflexive practice in counselling / psychotherapy, and to provide opportunities for students to examine using their reflections to initiate change.
Research Methods & Statistics in the Human Sciences
- The purpose of this module is to provide a practical introduction to key research designs, methodologies and methods used in counselling and psychotherapy research. Learners will gain a theoretical understanding of descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental and experimental designs, statistical concepts and tests, as well as experience using statistical packages. The learner will gain a theoretical understanding of a variety of qualitative approaches, including narrative, and case study research. They will also consider the possibilities and limitations of these forms of analysis and critically evaluate how analysis can impact on practice. This module provides the learner with an opportunity to develop the ability to design a research study, and the research skills to gather and analyse quantitative and qualitative data in a counselling context. This training will provide them with the knowledge and insight to analyse and interpret a data set and to propose their own research project addressing an original therapeutic question.
Core Issues 1 – Sexuality
- Building upon Core Issues 1 & 2 in 2nd year, this module aims to enable and support learners to gain specific knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for working with sexuality in counselling and psychotherapy. This module introduces learners to the core therapeutic area of sexuality. It presents learners with the theories, practices and research of integrative modalities, and develops skills of analysis and theoretical critique. It provides opportunities for the development of clinical skills and competence in working with sexuality, as well as skills in the application of regulatory and ethical guidelines.
Core Issues 2 – Relationship Counselling
- The module aims to introduce learners to an integrative approach to working with couples. An ability to work with couples is important for counselling practice. This module is intended to introduce learners to different theoretical perspectives on couples work. It provides opportunities for the development of clinical skills and competence for working with couples, as well as skills in the application of relevant regulatory and ethical guidelines. It contributes to the development of learners’ research mindedness and comfortableness in developing research-informed practice.
Clinical Practice & Supervision
- This module aims to enable and support learners to commence therapeutic work in suitable generic and specialised clinical placements. This module develops learners’ competence as independent practitioners, through enhancing their ability to analyse critically their own work, to apply a range of theoretical perspectives, and to utilise research evidence and clinical tools to inform their decision-making. Learners present their cases, theoretical formulations, clinical processes and analysis of effectiveness to their disciplinary community and receive and act on feedback. This module provides opportunities for the development of clinical skills and competence for working with a range of presenting issues, as well as skills in the application of relevant regulatory and ethical guidelines. It contributes to the development of learners’ research mindedness and comfortableness in developing research-informed practice.
Pluralistic Counselling & Psychotherapy
- Pluralism is, in the general sense, the acknowledgment of diversity. Pluralism holds that there is no single universal explanatory system for our world, no objective reality or truth on which to base and judge our actions, and instead claims that there are multiple conflicting but valid descriptions of the world. A pluralistic framework for counselling and psychotherapy recognises that psychological distress may have multiple causes and it is improbable that one specific therapeutic approach will be effective in all circumstances. At its core, therefore, it is a philosophical and ethical commitment to valuing multiple perspectives. This module aims to facilitate the learner’s development of:
- A structure which provides a new approach to conceptualising counselling and psychotherapy in the context of fundamental debates within social science;
- Knowledge of, and ability to apply the pluralistic framework to guide practice in a coherent and meaningful way; and
- An awareness of cultural diversity in clients and therapists and the importance of embracing the range of beliefs which endure regarding healing and change.
Practice Development
- The purpose of this module is to provide a practical introduction to some of the methods, strategies and technical research skills used in counselling and psychotherapy research. This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of mental health, including theories, debates and approaches from different theoretical perspectives; and practice issues such as diagnosis, intervention and theories of change. Students are provided with the opportunity to develop the required knowledge, skills and competence to work effectively and ethically with clients who have a mental health diagnosis. This module introduces students to working in multi-disciplinary health care settings, in particular in the area of mental health. The module provides students with the opportunity to gain understanding of the roles and scope of practice of Counselling and other helping professions when working with clients presenting with mental health issues. Consequently the module assists students in their development of a sense of individual and collective professional identity; and contributes to their ability to develop professional relationships across disciplines.
Suicide Postvention
- The purpose of this module is to help the learner understand the complex nature of suicide bereavement and the psychological havoc that is created in the lives of suicide survivors. It will also introduce the learners to a range of individual and group interventions to help facilitate the healing process. While many undergraduate counselling and psychotherapy trainings include some input on bereavement, grief and loss, there is a need, when working with suicide survivors, for a deeper appreciation of the complicated psychological distress and emotional problems that emerge in the wake of suicide. This distress is not confined to the families, friends and loved ones of the deceased but also impacts profoundly on therapists, health care professionals, first responders and communities, in some cases resulting in early exits from their chosen profession. This module will help learners to understand and to examine the nature of suicide bereavement and will equip them to support suicide survivors, their families and communities in their healing journey.
Dissertation
- This module aims to equip students with graduate attributes showcasing their competence as evidence-informed, research-minded practitioners in the area of counselling and psychotherapy. This module provides learners with the opportunity to research a particular topic, and to communicate ideas effectively using written and oral means in accordance with academic conventions. Following completion of this module, learners will be equipped with a complete undergraduate dissertation, demonstrating increased knowledge and understanding of their chosen area.
Group Therapy
- This module aims to assist the learner in gaining a deeper background of understanding regarding the objectives, strategies, skills and climate formation in group therapy. The module focuses in particular on the evolution of group process, stages of group development, key tasks of group leadership at the various stages of a group, and the creation and implementation of group techniques to facilitate awareness, change and perspective-transformation.
Advanced Theoretical Considerations
- This module aims to enable learners to advance their level of professional practice through evaluation and review of progressive integration of theory and skills. Learners will further evaluate their core theoretical models and skills base and be introduced to other psychotherapy models. This module moves learners towards the integration of the clinical elements of the programme where they are required to articulate and practice out of a comprehensive, internalised, personal and professional identity. Learners engage critically with the theoretical models provided, reflect critically on their own positioning, engage reflexively with the impact of their personal histories and disposition, and identify their own practice framework. This module requires a rigorous, thoughtful and informed engagement with theory and research in a clinical context, demonstrated though the production of a case study that satisfies both academic and professional ethical and practice requirements.
Improving Clinical Outcomes
- Feedback informed therapy is a ‘pantheoretical approach for evaluating and improving the quality and effectiveness of behavioural health services'[1] This module is designed to support learners in developing clinical and case management skills to improve the quality and outcome of therapy, under supervision, and via the use of client feedback, personal reflexivity, and the best available scientific evidence. This module adds to the learner’s toolkit of strategies for use in developing a personalised, theoretical and research informed clinical practice, thereby moving them towards the required professional competencies for independent practice. Learners develop their ability to locate, understand, critically appraise, and reflexively apply research evidence at the forefront of the discipline, while at the same time identifying and working with the limits of their scope of practice under supervision.
Working with Children, Adolescents and their Families
- This module aims to equip learners with the theoretical and skills base to engage with a range of complex clinical presentations. In particular learners are introduced to working in a therapeutic context with children and adolescents, and with their families. There is a focus on working with child and adolescents presenting with mental health issues. The course has been designed to increase understanding and knowledge of child specific aspects in therapeutic practice. The module is integrative in design allowing for both non-directive and directive approaches in the use of creative therapeutic processes, as well as the application of the Sequentially Planned Integrative Model of Child Counselling (SPICC). The course content is based upon the theory and practice of Person Centred Counselling, Gestalt Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as they apply to work with children and adolescents. Participants also gain an introduction to the principles of assessment, the use of age appropriate psychometric tools, abnormal psychology in children and adolescents, grief work for children and child protection issues.
Advanced Practice Issues: Mental Health, Multi-Disciplinary Working and Health Information Technology:
- This module also develops skills in the developing area of Healthcare Information Technology and the application of regulatory and ethical guidelines in face to face and online environments. This module aims to support learners in gaining knowledge, skills and competencies related to mental health, multi-disciplinary working and health technology. This module develops learners’ knowledge of, and skills and competence in working with, mental health. It develops their critical engagement with the theories and practices relating to mental health, and provides opportunities for them to develop their knowledge of the nomenclature and classification systems used by different professions, most notably psychiatry. As is required in this work area, students learn and apply in practice the ability to work appropriately and effectively across disciplinary boundaries, balancing regulatory requirements for privacy and confidentiality with client welfare and effective service delivery requirements.
