IACP Conference 19th and 20th October 2018

We here at IICP College are looking forward to attending the 2018 IACP Conference, which will take place in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire on October 19th and 20th.  The theme this year is ‘into the future’ and we are excited about that! Let me tell you why…

IICP College holds a central position on the cutting edge of what is relevant in our field of practice and training.  This is reflected in the quality of our programmes (from the QQI Level 6 Certificate and Level 8 BA (Hons) Degree, through to the level 9 Masters options and CPD courses), and in the quality of student support we offer to enable programme graduates to become the professional practitioners, researchers and teachers they want to be in the world. So, to read that IACP, our professional accreditation body, will focus on embracing the future of counselling and psychotherapy is of keen interest to us.

 

Opening Address, Minister of State, Jim Daly

Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. Venue of the IACP 2018 Conference

Through our pluralistic approach, we recognised the importance of dialogue and collaboration between the understanding of therapeutic developments, political will, and commitment to social equality as a means of enabling equity, not only in the therapeutic relationship but as agents of change within our society. So, we are delighted to hear that Jim Daly, the Minister of State at the department of Health, with special responsibility for Mental Health and Older people, will open the conference. Through his work to consider the productivity of CAMHS health.gov.ie/blog/press-release/minister-daly-confirms-appointment-of-10-new-anps-to-mental-health-services/. Minister Daly demonstrates an understanding of the importance of Mental Health services for our Children, Adolescents, and Young People. We are confident that his presence at the conference will deepen his knowledge and understanding of what we are currently doing to ensure counselling and psychotherapy practice meets the Mental Health needs of all in society. The diversity of topics planned for the conference will, no doubt, support this; from online counselling, to adult mental health and Child and Adolescent counselling, from practitioners as teachers, to Gender, Sexuality and Relationship diversity, and from Intersectional Feminism to the impact of CORU.

 

Guest Speaker, Ginny Hanrahan, CEO, CORU

The guest speaker Ginny Hanrahan, as CEO of CORU, is charged with the task of regulating the Health and Social Care Professions. Counselling and Psychotherapy is currently in the early stages of this process, so the input of Ms Hanrahan is most welcome. IICP College welcomes the move for statutory regulation of the professions and looks forward to the clarity the registration board will bring to our field. There is currently much debate and speculation about what level of qualification will be necessary for future counsellors and psychotherapists to register with CORU and we expect greater clarity at the conference and in the coming months. It is worth noting that, to-date, all of the seven professions that have been regulated by CORU have included Level 8 Awards  in the approved qualifications.

Each speaker evidences leadership in their respective fields and promise to offer us as attendees two days packed with cutting edge knowledge on our evolvement as a field of inquiry and practice.

We hope to see you there! For further details on the 2018 IACP conference ‘Into the Future’ visit iacp.ie/conference/.