IICP College provides a centre of academic and professional excellence in counselling and psychotherapy education. It is an engaging, dynamic and supportive college in which to study. IICP prides itself on its ethos of student support, ensuring that learners are guided and supported through the programme. The professional programmes, from certificate to masters, reflect the core ethos. Each stage of the programme offers training based on models of psychotherapy that promote respect, personal responsibility, understanding and flexibility. Carl Rogers’ model of Person Centred Counselling (in which respect for the client is paramount) and Dr William Glasser’s empowerment model of Choice Theory are integrated with Multicultural Counselling, which recognises the diversity that exists between social and economic groups as well as between ethnic groups.
Such diversity is reflected in the cohort of students who attend and graduate from the programme. Both the personal and professional development of students are held within a pluralistic framework. In other words, through their personal and professional journeys students are encouraged to become competent counsellors who facilitate a client’s therapeutic process according to what fits for the client as opposed to offering a one-size-fits-all approach.
Our Certificate Programme is the perfect entry point for those considering a career in counselling and psychotherapy, as there is an excellent mix of theory, skills and personal development. Faculty are all therapy practitioners, so they put the training into a real-world context.
IICP has dual validation: professional recognition from IACP, the largest professional counselling and psychotherapy body in Ireland; and academic validation from QQI. IICP are also proud to be a member of HECA (Higher Education Colleges Association). HECA is the recognised voice of independent higher level education in Ireland. HECA’s main focus is on representing the independent third level sector by ensuring the highest standards of quality amongst its members.
With assigned programme leaders and assistant programme leaders for each year, learners are supported and guided through each stage of the programme. Everything we teach is linked to practice. For Skills Modules, we ensure that there are 5-6 lecturers or teaching assistants in the class to offer ongoing feedback on clinical skills. IICP has strong clinical placement links in an on-site counselling agency, Village Counselling Service. This ensures learners do not have to find their own placement and enables them to commence their clinical work in a safe, supportive environment. We also have links with agencies around the country, where learners can do their placement closer to home.
Following on from our BSc, our students can progress to our Masters in Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy which is headed up by our visiting professor, John McLeod, PhD, FBACP. Likewise, there is the progression route of a Masters in Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, for those who wish to specialise in this area.