Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (ICPA): Promoting Excellence, Integrity & Ethical Practice

The Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (ICPA) is a professional association committed to promoting excellence, integrity, and ethical practice in counselling and psychotherapy in Ireland. By setting clear professional standards and supporting ongoing development, ICPA helps protect the public and strengthens confidence in therapeutic services nationwide.

What ICPA does

ICPA supports both practitioners and the public through:

• Professional standards and ethical guidelines that underpin safe and effective practice

• Accreditation pathways that clarify training requirements and professional accountability

• A trusted Counsellor & Psychotherapist Accredited Directory to help the public find qualified professionals

Membership categories (and why they matter)

ICPA represents counsellors and psychotherapists at different stages of professional development, including:

• Students

• Pre-Accredited members

• Accredited members

• Supervisors

These categories promote transparency around scope of practice and professional requirements. Importantly, only members who meet specific criteria are permitted to practise independently and charge fees, helping to ensure clarity and protection for service users.

The Counsellor & Psychotherapist Accredited Directory

A core function of ICPA is maintaining its Accredited Directory, which enables members of the public to locate qualified professionals by:

• Location

• Specialism

• Therapy type

Each listing provides key information to support informed decision-making when seeking counselling or psychotherapy.

Privacy and confidentiality when contacting a therapist

When you contact a therapist through the ICPA Directory, your communication is sent directly to the therapist you choose. The Association does not access, monitor, or store the content of your message.

Therapists listed on the Directory are expected to uphold confidentiality and manage personal information in line with:

• Their professional ethical obligations

• Applicable data protection legislation, including

GDPR

Therapists should also explain any limits to confidentiality (for example, in situations involving serious risk of harm) before therapy begins.

Ongoing professional development and reflective practice

ICPA promotes supervision, continuing professional development, and reflective practice among its members. By advocating for ethical, client-centred care and maintaining clear standards, ICPA contributes to the continued development and credibility of counselling and psychotherapy services throughout Ireland.

Contact ICPA

• Email: info@icpa.ie

• Web: www.icpa.ie

• Phone: 01 912 5428