From left: Rúaidhrí O’Connor (CEO) (ICP); Belinda Moller (Chair) (ICP Board of Directors) (IGAS); Lisa Molloy (CEO) (IACP); Jacky Grainger (ICP Board Director) (IAHIP); Dr. John O’Connor (ICP Board Director) (IFPP); Jade Lawless (Cathaoirleach) (IACP Board) outside Leinster House on 26/11/2025.
Dublin, 26 November 2025 – The Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP) has been invited to appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health to discuss critical issues regarding the standards for education and training of psychotherapists in Ireland.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 26 November at 9.30am in Committee Room 2, H2000, Leinster House. ICP will be represented by CEO Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Board member Dr. John O’Connor.
At the session, ICP will deliver an opening statement outlining its concerns with the current draft standards proposed by CORU and will highlight the urgent need for stronger safeguards to protect clients and ensure professional integrity. The statement will emphasise ICP’s key recommendations and concerns:
- Personal Therapy is an essential requirement for trainees and students throughout all clinical practice during training.
- Alignment with the existing Irish and European training standards for psychotherapists.
- Mandatory clinical supervision throughout training and early practice
- A minimum four-year duration for Level 9 psychotherapy qualifications
- A minimum of 500 clinical practice hours
- Inadequate consultation with the profession
- Recognition of Psychotherapy as a distinct profession in its own right.
ICP will call on the Minister for Health to pause and revisit the standards – through the appointment of a joint Working Group comprising ICP, IACP, CORU, academic institutions and service users – to co-develop standards that reflect both public protection and the unique nature of psychotherapy.
The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) and CORU have also been invited to attend. Following opening statements, Committee Members will engage in questions and discussion with the representatives.
ICP CEO Rúaidhrí O’Connor said:
“This is a vital opportunity to ensure that Ireland’s regulatory framework for psychotherapy meets the highest standards of safety and professionalism. We look forward to engaging constructively with the Committee and to advocating for reforms that will protect clients and align Ireland with European best practice.”
Notes for Editors:
For media inquiries, please contact Rúaidhrí O’Connor (CEO), Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP).
Oireachtas TV Link – Committee on Health (26/11/2025)
Topic: Standards for Education and Training of Psychotherapists