Student Support

Why Choose IICP?

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 dedicated academic staff supporting each year group, learners are guided throughout every stage of the programme. Our teaching is closely connected to real-world practice. In Skills Modules, we ensure that multiple members of the teaching team are present to provide continuous feedback and support as learners develop their 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. Likewise, there is the progression route of a Masters in Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, for those who wish to specialise in this area.

Useful IICP Student Resources

Library Services:

A range of library resources is available to learners. See student handbook for collection details. There are over 1,200 books available in the library. Additionally, learners have access to thousands of online journals, via EBSCO’s Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Collection.  Each learner can log into our online database, with their unique username and password, and can access these resources from any location with WiFi.  Furthermore, each lecturer will post a range of reading material in the Moodle section related to any given module. Learners are not encouraged to purchase vast quantities of texts, and instead are provided with access to relevant, up-to-date reading material and research.

Orientation:

Each programme commences with an induction and orientation day. This covers all aspects of the programme content, delivery, assessment and requirements. Induction provides the learner with an opportunity to become familiar with the environment, peers and faculty members. Induction is also important for establishing a class contract.  Throughout the academic year, a range of additional tutorials are provided for learners on topics such as ‘Academic Writing’, ‘Research Skills’, ‘Preparing for Clinical Placement’ and ‘Skills Practice’. These additional tutorials generally take place during student care time, and are open to all learners on the programme. Student care is provided formally from 5pm-6pm each teaching day and informally outside of these hours, by appointment. On-going evaluation and feedback. Self-directed learning opportunities. Placements for clinical practice. Group supervision. Peer study groups. Learners can contact their module lecturers for further guidance through e-mail, where appropriate. Each learner has the option of arranging further learning supports during the pastoral care time at the end of each training day. This period is an important factor in learner support and care. Module lecturers make themselves available for casual or appointed meetings with learners. Generally, this period of the day is very helpful to learners for answering questions or concerns they have about the programme. This pastoral care time also gives lecturers an opportunity to get to know the learners on a one-to-one basis and to become more familiar with their individual needs. Formal one-to-one meetings, which aim to explore progress and provide feedback, are also built into the programme.  

Student Care:

The Student Support Officer provides non-academic support if you need advice or are experiencing difficulties during your programme. The Student Support Officer also holds regular online clinics where you can book a one-to-one appointment. 
 
Please do not hesitate to contact the Student Support Officer if you are: 

• Experiencing personal difficulties or an emergency situation that is affecting your studies 
• Looking for information about the non-academic supports available 
• Seeking information about the 5.6a-Reasonable-Accommodation-Policy.
• Seeking information about College procedures and policies, such as deferral 
• Seeking to give feedback on College or programme-related matters 
• In need of guidance or direction on supports and pathways available 

Learner Representation:

Each class elect a class liaison. Class liaisons play a vital role in the college. They are instrumental in keeping class members and the faculty in contact with one another and in keeping the College’s community alive. Class liaisons are elected to represent the learners’ views and to communicate these views in a manner that best reflects the ethos and philosophy of the Institute. There is a class representative appointed to the Academic Committee of the College, so that learners’ voices are heard and so that feedback can enhance the on-going development of the programmes.

Graduation:

This Data Protection Privacy Notice explains how IICP College collects and uses  personal data  of its graduands/graduates and those who attend our graduation ceremonies. Graduation Privacy Notice

Student Payment

This page is for IICP students to make payments online via debit/credit card using our Enrol Platform. Logging in is really simple, please see the instructions below.

1. To log into your Online student platform, simply need to follow this link: https://mit.enrol.ie/iicp/
2. You then enter your student number as the Username.
3. You will then need to click the Forgot your password link (highlighted in Yellow below).
4. You will get an email that allows you to change your password to something you will remember. Your log in details thereafter will be username, and the password that you set for yourself.