Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies

Blended Learning Programme

Begin your journey into counselling and psychotherapy training. 

This introductory certificate course provides a strong foundation for those interested in counselling and the helping professions. Students explore key psychological theories, counselling skills and personal development within a supportive learning environment. The course encourages reflective practice and self-awareness while introducing the core principles that underpin effective therapeutic relationships. 

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Programme Type: QQI special purpose award
Next Intake(s): May 2026

NFQ: Level 6
ECTS: 20 credits

Academic Validation: QQI

Professional Accreditation: N/A

Overview

Introduction

This course is the perfect entry point for those considering a career in counselling and psychotherapy because it contains an excellent mix of theory, skills and personal development. All IICP College, teaching staff are therapy practitioners, which means they put their teaching into a real-world context. This course is delivered using blended learning, including both on-campus and online inputs.

Aims

On completion, learners should be able to:

  • Demonstrate broad elementary knowledge of two main therapy approaches: Person-Centred Therapy and Choice Theory/Reality Therapy
  • Describe the evolution of counselling and psychotherapy from historical to contemporary perspectives
  • Discuss mental illness and its treatment, including modern therapeutic approaches
  • Identify the scope and limitations of counselling and psychotherapy
  • Appreciate basic ethical considerations for working with others
  • Describe the essential components of a therapeutic relationship
  • Engage in simulated practice of basic counselling practice
  • Apply core counselling and psychotherapeutic skills in simulated practice
  • Participate in reflective exercises in one-to-one and group settings
  • Consider the role of the self in the therapeutic relationship
  • Recognise the limitations of one’s own knowledge, skills and competencies
  • Communicate effectively in academic and practice settings
Who Should Apply

The certificate is ideal for anyone interested in learning more about counselling and psychotherapy or exploring whether a future career in this field might be right for them. It is particularly relevant for those already working in helping professions who wish to deepen their understanding and skills, as well as those seeking to develop their awareness of what is involved in training as a counsellor or psychotherapist.

Entry Requirements
  • Applicants must have a qualification recognised at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), such as the Leaving Certificate.
  • Those with substantial life experience can also apply under our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and experience policy.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English will need to submit an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate at Level 5.5 or equivalent. (View more information) 
Minimum Technological Requirements

For the blended learning programme, you will need to have:

  • Adequate broadband for uploading and downloading
  • A desktop computer or laptop capable of using Zoom
  • A webcam and microphone
  • A web browser
  • Word processing package
  • Perfect entry point for those with an interest in counselling and psychotherapy
  • Excellent mix of theory, skills and personal development
  • Competitively priced course fees with payment plans available
  • QQI validated, ensuring high-quality content and delivery
  • A high level of student support, with learners continually supported throughout their studies
Overview

The course consists of introductory modules: Counselling Theory, Counselling Skills and Personal Development. It is highly interactive, delivered through a variety of teaching approaches, including lectures, group discussion, experiential work, individual exercises and self-directed learning.

Blended Learning Delivery

The course is delivered via blended learning. The onsite components will be delivered in our Tallaght campus.

Our blended learning classes are run as tutorials, which involve students and their lecturer logging in to our online learning platform and using Zoom simultaneously.

Zoom provides an integrative online environment for students and lecturers to interact and engage in learning. It facilitates discussion polls, slide sharing, videos, resource sharing and much more. To foster more intimate learning environments, breakout rooms are also used, enabling safe, experiential triadic learning.

All our sessions are accessible on computers and mobile devices, and our dedicated IT department supports faculty and students throughout their online learning journey. To promote flexibility and best practice, all sessions are recorded and made accessible exclusively to students enrolled in the class for review at their convenience.

Student Benefits and Support

Because the course is conferred at Level 6 on the NFQ, it demonstrates the rigour expected for a quality programme of learning. A dynamic mix of theory, skills, group work, practice and personal development ensures learners grow academically, professionally, personally and interpersonally within frameworks that reflect current best practice.

Assessment

Each module carries its own assessment, which is based on a continuous assessment strategy.

Validation and Accreditation

This certificate is a special purpose award validated by QQI at Level 6 on the NFQ and has 20 ECTS credits.

Important Dates
DateTime/DetailsLocation
Thursday, 7 May 20266.30 p.m.–9.30 p.m. Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Studies & Reflexive PracticeOnline
Saturday, 9 May 20269.00 a.m.–12.30 p.m. Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Studies & Reflexive Practice

13.30 p.m.–17.00 p.m. Introduction to Counselling Skills		Onsite
Thursday, 21 May 20266.30 p.m.–09.30 p.m. Introduction to Counselling SkillsOnline
Saturday, 23 May 20269.00 a.m.–12.30 p.m. Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Studies & Reflexive Practice

13.30 p.m.–17.00 Introduction to Counselling Skills		Onsite
Thursday, 11 June 20269.00 a.m.–12.30 p.m. Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Studies & Reflexive PracticeOnline
Saturday, 13 June 20269.00 a.m.–12.30 p.m. Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Studies & Reflexive Practice

13.30 p.m.–17.00 p.m. Introduction to Counselling Skills		Onsite
Thursday, 25 June 20266.00 p.m.–9.30 p.m. Introduction to Counselling SkillsOnline
Saturday, 27 June 20269.00 a.m.–12.30 p.m. Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Studies & Reflexive Practice

13.30 p.m.–17.00 p.m. Introduction to Counselling Skills		Onsite
Thursday, 9 July 20266.30 p.m.–09.30 p.m. Introduction to Counselling SkillsOnline
Saturday, 11 July 20269.00 a.m.–12.30 p.m. Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Studies & Reflexive Practice

13.30 p.m.–17.00 p.m. Introduction to Counselling Skills		Onsite
Programme Lecturer

Denise Kenny

Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Studies & Reflexive Practice

This module provides students with a broad introduction to counselling and psychotherapy, with particular emphasis on five main approaches. It also enhances learning through a discipline-based approach that supports learners in engaging with, contributing to and benefiting from the course. It does this by focusing on generic skills and competencies required of higher education students, including information literacy and digital capacity, within a discipline-based environment.

Introduction to Counselling Skills

This module introduces students to a range of core counselling skills and helps them begin to develop them. It grounds skills within the theoretical and conceptual frameworks presented in the course. In particular, it explores the value of empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard as core conditions of integrative counselling and psychotherapy. It introduces students to key considerations when establishing a counselling/therapeutic relationship, such as:

  • Opening and closing a session
  • Asking questions to enhance a client’s self-awareness and reflection on their feelings, behaviours and experiences
  • 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, such as:
    • Empathy
    • Listening
    • Reflecting
    • Reframing
    • Summarising
    • Clarifying
    • Challenging/contesting
    • Having awareness of key listening blocks
    • Attending to body language, minimal encouragers, intonation, words and cultural considerations

Learners who complete these modules on the certificate are exempt from them if they return to study the BSc (Hons) in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Please note that learners completing the Autumn certificate will study these modules alongside BSc students who are not exempt from them. Learners sometimes request to progress to the BSc with this group; however, progression to the September intake of the BSc is only possible if a place is available, which is rare. If you complete the certificate from September to January and wish to progress, you may need to wait until a subsequent BSc intake the following September.

IICP College understands that while partaking in further education is an incredibly rewarding experience, it can also be a financial challenge for some learners. To minimise the financial impact, we strive to keep course fees as competitive as possible. We also offer payment plan options to help learners pay the balance of their fees over the duration of their course.

Payment Options

(1) Pay in full before the course starts.

DepositBalance of FeesTotal
€390 (on application)€910 (before the course starts)€1,300 (includes €50 QQI fee)

(2) Learners can opt to sign up for flexible payment plan options. (Please note that this incurs an administration fee.)

Please contact IICP College to find out more.

Please note that bookings operate on a first-paid, first-secured basis. To avoid disappointment, early booking and prompt payment are recommended.

All programmes are run subject to sufficient demand and the formation of a viable class cohort, as determined at IICP College’s sole discretion. If a programme does not proceed, a full refund of any fees paid will be issued. Fees are not refundable in any other circumstances. Receipts will be issued to you or your organisation upon receipt of payment. Please note that all fees must be paid before course commencement, unless you have enrolled in an approved payment plan.

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 possible, the fees most recently paid will be refunded. Current PEL arrangements consist of a 2% levy on course fees. IICP College does not pass the cost of this on to learners.

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