Welcome to
The Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (ICPA)
The Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (ICPA) is a professional association committed to promoting excellence, integrity, and ethical practice in counselling and psychotherapy in Ireland. The Association supports both practitioners and the public by establishing clear professional standards, accreditation pathways, and ethical guidelines that underpin safe and effective therapeutic practice.
ICPA represents counsellors and psychotherapists at various stages of professional development, including Students, Pre-Accredited, Accredited members, and Supervisors. Through these defined membership categories, the Association ensures transparency around scope of practice, training requirements, and professional accountability. Only members who meet specific criteria are permitted to practise independently and charge fees, providing clarity and protection for service users.
A core function of ICPA is the maintenance of its Counsellor & Psychotherapist Accredited Directory, which enables members of the public to locate qualified professionals by location, specialism, and therapy type. This Directory serves as a trusted point of reference for individuals seeking therapeutic support.
In addition to accreditation and public resources, ICPA promotes ongoing professional development, supervision, and reflective practice among its members. By upholding high standards and advocating for ethical, client-centred care, the Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association contributes to the continued development and credibility of counselling and psychotherapy services throughout Ireland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my Information Private when I Contact a Therapist?
Yes. When you contact a therapist through the Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association’s Directory, your communication is sent directly to the therapist you choose. The Association does not have access to the content of your message and does not monitor or store your communications.
Any personal information you share is managed by the therapist in accordance with their own privacy policy, professional ethical obligations, and applicable data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Accredited and pre-accredited therapists listed on the Directory are required to uphold strict standards of confidentiality and data protection as part of their professional practice.
Therapists are ethically bound to protect your privacy and to use your information only for the purpose of responding to your enquiry or providing therapeutic services. They should be transparent about how your data is stored, used, and retained, and you have the right to request further information about their privacy practices at any time.
While confidentiality is a fundamental principle of counselling and psychotherapy, there may be limited legal or ethical exceptions, such as concerns about serious risk of harm. These limits should be clearly explained by the therapist before therapy begins, ensuring you can make an informed and confident decision when seeking support.
What is the Counsellor & Psychotherapist Directory?
The Counsellor & Psychotherapist Accredited Directory is an online resource developed by the Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association to support the public in finding safe, professional, and ethical counselling and psychotherapy services across Ireland. The Directory provides a centralised and reliable platform where individuals can search for practitioners who meet recognised professional and training standards.
Users can filter their search by location, areas of specialism, and type of therapy offered, making it easier to identify a practitioner who aligns with their specific needs, preferences, or circumstances. Each listing provides key information about the practitioner’s professional status, training background, and scope of practice, helping users make informed decisions when seeking therapeutic support.
The Directory includes Student members; however, students are strictly prohibited from practising independently or charging fees. This ensures transparency and protects the public from engaging services outside appropriate professional boundaries. Only Pre-Accredited, Accredited, and Supervisor members are permitted to practise independently and charge a fee for their services, in line with Association standards and ethical guidelines.
By maintaining clear membership categories and practice restrictions, the Directory promotes public confidence, professional accountability, and high standards of care within counselling and psychotherapy services in Ireland.
Are the Therapists on the Directory Qualified?
Yes. Therapists listed on the directory are required to hold recognised professional qualifications. Each therapist is responsible for ensuring their profile information is accurate and up to date. Students listed on the accredited register cannot work with clients or charge a fee. In addition, the Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (ICPA) maintains a public, verified Accredited Register that includes Pre-Accredited practitioners (those working toward full accreditation), fully Accredited practitioners, and Accredited Supervisors.
Membership and listing on the register also commit practitioners to adhere to the ICPA’s Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, which includes accountability to the association’s complaints and disciplinary procedures. Only Pre-Accredited, Accredited, and Supervisor members may engage in fee-charging therapeutic work, reflecting the association’s commitment to high professional standards, ongoing professional development, and public confidence in the quality and integrity of counselling and psychotherapy services in Ireland.
Blogs
