Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Our degree programmes are validated by QQI and meet the criteria for accreditation by IACP.

Not for our entry-level courses. We welcome learner from all walks of life who have an interest in personal development and growth.

We have main campuses in Dublin, Athlone and Galway, with some blended learning options available.

Most of our professional programmes are designed with a part-time structure to accommodate working adults.

Our programmes are delivered in Athlone, Dublin and Galway. The courses run in person, online or blended (a mix of both). We also offer distance learning courses that you can start at any time, such as Mindfulness and Mindful-Living and the Certificate in Bereavement and Loss.

Our 60-hour online Introduction to Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy is a good place to begin. It’s part-time and gives you a feel for both returning to education and to the field before you take on a longer course. The Personal Development also suits anyone who wants to focus on their own personal growth, while the Counselling Skills and Introduction to Theories modules ack as a taster for participants to explore counselling and psychotherapy skills and theories.

Applications for all courses are via an application form available on each course page. Some course have an interview stage as part of the admissions process which is outlined on each course page. We also hold information evenings, online on Zoom – check our social media pages for upcoming Information Evenings. To enquire about applying for a course, email info@icppd.com or call +353 (0)90 647 0484 – we would love to hear from you.

At ICPPD we see each person as one unified whole, with body, mind, spirit and emotions all connected. It also means seeing them within their environment, culture, history and spiritual life. Many approaches focus only on symptoms or behaviours. We focus on the meaning, context and journey of the whole person.

This means that we develop the practitioner as a whole person, not just their skills. ICPPD training encourages deep inner work, ethical integrity and compassionate presence, and it attends to the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical sides of both therapist and client. We see therapy as an evolving journey that practitioner and client take together, with curiosity, compassion and openness.

Yes. The BA (Hons) in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy is part time and built for adult learners. In Athlone and Galway, classes run every second weekend (Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am–5pm). In Dublin, classes run one weekday per week (10am–5pm). Most of our learners combine study with jobs, family and other commitments. Expect regular independent study: reading, reflective journals, creative portfolios and written assignments. It is possible to fit study around your everyday life. Many learners use commuting time to listen to audio-books or podcasts.

The programme is open to mature learners, and you can qualify in several ways. Your professional experience, a portfolio of life experience and personal development, an introductory counselling course, or a Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) can all count. For some courses, there is an interview stage. If you’re returning to education, our free academic writing workshops at the start of the year cover referencing, critical thinking and library use.

All course materials, assignments and discussion forums are on Moodle, our online learning platform. You can reach the e-library and e-journals at any time, so you can study when it suits you, whether that’s evenings, early mornings or lunch breaks. You’ll be shown how to use these tools at induction.

Yes, plan for some extra costs. These include personal therapy (at least 80 sessions over four years), external supervision, a QQI certification fee in the final year, and the Year 4 Integration Retreat Day. Payment plans are available. Contact accounts@icppd.com to arrange one.