Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for receipt of applications?
What do I need to do if I want to apply for the Diploma course?
What happens at the interview?
How long after the interview do you find out if you have been accepted or not?
Can you reapply if you are not successful in getting a place on first application?
What happens if you are offered a place on the course?
What exactly is the course content over the two years and one semester?
What else is involved in the course, other requirements?
What does it mean that the course is recognised by IACP?
What is the accreditation processes with IACP?
What facilities does the college have?
What do the fees cover exactly?
When do the fees need to be paid in full?
What is accepted as a prerequisite other than a foundation course?
Where can I do my client work?
When would I actually start client work?
The brochure says that I need to have 50 hours of personal therapy. What is the purpose of this requirement?
Can I choose my own Therapist?
What type of assessments do you do on the course?
How many are in each class?
What is the ‘final semester’ and what is involved?
If I want to go on to do a degree, is that possible or needed for accreditation with IACP?
What is the deadline for receipt of applications?
Interviews for the Diploma Programme commence in February of the calendar year and continue to be held into the summer months, depending on the numbers of applications received. Generally it is best to get your application in to the offices early in the year so your application can be processed and an interview can be arranged.
What do I need to do if I want to apply for the Diploma course?
You can download the Diploma Brochure and the Application Form from the IICP Website. It is important that you ensure you have the required prerequisites in order to be eligible to attend an interview. Prerequisites include foundation training in counselling and psychotherapy or equivalent. Once you are satisfied that you meet with the criteria, fill out the required application form and submit this along with your curriculum vitae and the name of two referees who can vouch for your suitability for entry onto the programme, to the offices at IICP. along with the required non refundable administration fee of €50.00
What happens at the interview?
The purpose of the interview is for our faculty staff to meet with you to establish your suitability for entry onto the Diploma Programme. When you arrive for the interview you will be greeted by a member of staff who will inform course faculty of your arrival. Generally there is a minimum of two members of faculty who will be present for the interview. The interview will last for 20 minutes at which we will chat to you about your personal and professional interest in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. You will also have a chance to clarify any questions you may have about the course. It is understandable that the word ‘interview’ can create anxiety for most people! However there is no need for you to feel anxious about meeting with faculty staff and we will do our very best to put you at your ease and to make the meeting as relaxed as possible.
How long after the interview do you find out if you have been accepted or not?
Generally it takes about three to four weeks to complete all of the administration from the interviews. You will be notified in writing after this period of time about the outcome of the interview. The outcome of the interview tends to fall into three categories:
- You have been successful in your application and will receive a ‘letter of offer’.
- You have been successful in your application, however due to the limited availability of places your name has been placed on a waiting list. This means that in the case where there is a cancellation by another applicant you will receive a letter of offer.
- You have been unsuccessful in your application and we suggest a number of options in the case that you wish to reapply at another stage.
We fully appreciate that all of the candidates who apply for the Diploma Programme are highly motivated and genuine applicants. However it is important to appreciate that generally the Diploma Programme is oversubscribed and with limited places available each year competition for places can be high. We understand that it can be disappointing if you have not been successful in your interview and we are happy to make ourselves available to answer all of your questions if you wish to chat to us about the outcome of your interview.
Can you reapply if you are not successful in getting a place on first application?
It has been our experience that often if a candidate has not been successful in their initial application that they may wish to reapply at a later stage having completed options suggested by course faculty. You are very welcome to reapply for the Diploma Programme at any stage and we will invite you to discuss this with course faculty who will be more than happy to handle any of your queries.
What happens if you are offered a place on the course?
If you have been successful in your application for the Diploma Programme you will receive a ‘letter of offer’ from the Programme Director. This letter will detail the steps you need to take in order to register for the Programme. The letter will come with instructions on what you need to do, so be careful to read the letter carefully and to respond with due regard for the noted deadlines stated in the letter for programme registration.
What exactly is the course content over the two years and one semester?
The course brochure gives details of the course content and the module themes taught over the duration of the course. Generally there are five core modules on the Diploma Programme; they are Counselling Theory, Counselling Skills, Personal Development, Clinical Case Work and Clinical Supervision. Each core module is taught through explicit and implicit components which will gradually build up your knowledge, skills, personal and professional competence over the duration of the course. The philosophy behind the diploma programme is integrative in nature. It seeks to facilitate an integrated training programme in Choice Theory/Reality Therapy (CT/RT), Person Centred Counselling (PCC), and Multicultural Counselling and Therapy (MCT). By developing an integrated approach it allows the student to develop a richer style for conceptual understanding and application. In keeping with the core philosophy if IICP, students are drawn from a multiplicity of backgrounds. The ethos of the programme reflects the Quality School model of Choice Theory/Reality Therapy (and Lead Management) which promotes the following goals:
- A warm, safe environment that is free from fear, criticism and coercion.
- Clear and direct communication that will enhance relationships and foster an environm
- Clear goals and plans to maximise the training experience.
- A contract of learning that clarifies roles and responsibilities for the students and tutors.
- Consistent feedback utilising self-evaluation, concurrent evaluation and co-verification.
- A need satisfying environment where choice and personal responsibility will enrich creativity, attitudes and the development of competent and confident A system for monitoring standards of good practice by promoting ethical awareness for both students and tutors
Counselling and psychotherapy have become established as processes through which an individual can explore psychological, sociological, interpersonal as well as intrapersonal issues. IICP recognises the importance of developing a therapeutic relationship between a counsellor and a client in order to empower the client to move towards wholeness and wellbeing. At the heart of the training provided in IICP lies the belief that people are experts in the story of their own lives. The counselling process can encourage the client to make effective change in relation to life’s direction and the ensuing process of decision making. IICP holds that it is not enough to simply teach the skills of counselling. Students are given the space to learn, practice and be supported as they develop for themselves a style and model of counselling which is both personal and effective.
What else is involved in the course, other requirements?
Personal Therapy and Supervision. A minimum of 100 hours of supervised clinical case work. Completion of the Basic Intensive Week in Choice Theory, Reality Therapy and Lead Management.
What does it mean that the course is recognised by IACP?
IICP have professional Recognition Status with IACP. Recognition Status was formally awarded to IICP in December 2006. The award of Recognition Status is granted to courses which meet with the criteria as outlined in the Courses Recognition Handbook. (Further information on the Recognition criteria and process is available at: www.iacp.ie). Courses which have Professional Recognition Status are listed on the IACP website and to date, there is a list of 14 programmes available nationwide. It is widely known within the therapeutic field of training and education, that Recognition Status with IACP is a challenging and lengthy process and involves stringent assessment procedures including the submission of the programme details in full, including quality control measures with a series of site visits. Courses are invited to apply for Recognition Status, however not all courses are awarded recognition. The process can take up to five years from initial enquiry to the formal award being granted. Recognition Status is granted for a period of six years and, at the end of the period of Recognition the college will need to be re-examined by the recognition committee. During this six- year period of Recognition, IICP are required to submit an annual report to the recognition committee. This annual report details information pertaining to course tutors, qualifications and teaching experience, changes in course structure and / or in course modules, student numbers, student results and retention rates, clinical placements and planning and development. Graduates of the programme are eligible to seek individual Accreditation with IACP following completion of 450 hours of supervised clinical work.
What is the accreditation processes with IACP?
Once you have graduated from the Diploma Programme you can begin to work towards becoming a fully accredited member of IACP. You will need to complete 450 hours of supervised client work with a ratio of one hour of one to one supervision to every 10 hours of client work. When you have completed the required hours you will need to fill out an application form for accreditation with IACP and send this along with additional requirements which include a supervisor’s report and evidence of your qualification in counselling and psychotherapy.
What facilities does the college have?
- Large training rooms
- Small meeting rooms
- Library and IT facilities
- Student common room
- Wheelchair access
- Onsite clinical placement (the Village Counselling Service)
- Access to a number of local amenities within the local Tallaght community
What do the fees cover exactly?
The annual course fees cover the full cost of your course and also include a number of specialist workshops and seminars over the duration of the course. The course fees do not cover the additional costs of personal therapy, one to one supervision and the Basic Intensive Week in Choice Theory, Reality Therapy and Lead Management.
When do the fees need to be paid in full?
A deposit of €1,000.00 is initially paid by the applicant following receipt of the letter of offer. The balance of course fees are due at registration, generally three weeks before course commencement. In the case where a student has difficulty paying course fees in full, arrangements for paying in three instalments can be made with an additional administrative fee of €100 added to the overall amount for instalment arrangements.
What is accepted as a prerequisite other than a foundation course?
Equivalency for foundation training can include evidence of training and/or experience in the humanities including philosophy, psychology, sociology, pastoral studies etc. Other prerequisites can include evidence of personal development work, personal therapy and proven experience of working within the caring professions.
Where can I do my client work?
Most of the students at IICP will do their clinical placement with the Village Counselling Service. The majority of the clinical placement hours (100 hours minimum) must be completed within a suitable generic therapeutic setting, where the student has appropriate access to engage in one to one therapeutic work, with a range presenting issues.
When would I actually start client work?
Generally students start clinical placements in the second year of the course. Students consult with course faculty in assessing their readiness and competencies to commence clinical case work. Course faculty negotiate on behalf of course students in accessing a suitable placement where they can gain appropriate experience of one to one therapeutic work with a range of presenting clients.
The brochure says that I need to have 50 hours of personal therapy. What is the purpose of this requirement?
The purpose of attending with a personal therapist over the duration of the training programme is to support your personal and professional growth over the two years and one semester of the course. Students are not required to disclose what personal processes occur during therapy; however they are required to provide evidence from their chosen personal therapist that they have attended for the required number of hours, concurrent with the course. Students have commented that having a personal therapist during their training period has been a real source of transformative growth and a resource for personal issues that they have chosen to address in their personal lives. Having personal therapy also gives the student an empathic appreciation for what it is like to be the ‘client’ and can impact on their own professional growth as a counsellor-in-training.
Can I choose my own Therapist?
Yes, students are welcome to chose a personal therapist based on their own needs. The therapist will need to be accredited with IACP and it is helpful if the therapist has a similar philosophical orientation as the training programme, however this is not essential.
What type of assessments do you do on the course?
Fair and consistent assessment of students at each stage of the programme is essential in order to evaluate the extent of learning and the level of skills and competence attained. IICP utilise a continuous assessment model for the programme of training and education in counselling and psychotherapy. This model is considered to be the most appropriate method of assessment as it gives credence to the concept of the ‘reflective practitioner’, transferable skills and self-direction and personal autonomy throughout each stage of learning. Students are given clear and accurate information about the method of assessment used in evaluating evidence for the attainment of knowledge, skills and competence in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. Students learn that all modules will have an assessment principle, which includes various appropriate mediums such as, written assignments, learning journals, projects, essays, portfolio development, video recordings and practical work.
How many are in each class?
There are a maximum number of 30 students in each class over the duration of the course. Students in the core class are sub-divided for various modules including advanced Microskills Training.
What is the ‘final semester’ and what is involved?
The final semester commences following successful completion of the two years of the course. The final semester is specified period of time (generally from June to December or March) during which the student completes additional course requirements which include clinical placement hours, supervision and personal therapy. Generally there are two cut off points in which students will submit evidence of closing documents which include supervision reports, letter of evidence of personal therapy, clinical placement log etc.
If I want to go on to do a degree, is that possible or needed for accreditation with IACP?
IACP do not currently require applicants for accreditation to have completed core training in counselling and psychotherapy to degree level. What is required is that an applicant completes a suitable core training programme with the required hours of training in theory, skills and personal development. Further details can be obtained from the IACP website at www.iacp.ie
