Justice for Student Therapists
Justice for Student Therapists
The Issue
Our course has been discontinued by IICP College, a learning institution training counsellors in Dublin. As the last intake year for the Higher Diploma (HDip) programme, we were assured a guaranteed entry route to the Masters degree by completing the two-year HDip course.
Recently, our cohort were informed that we will have to complete 100 additional hours of clinical practice before starting the Masters next year. IICP College have extended the school year until December 2026 to facilitate this. However, the larger issue is that as a private college, IICP does not subsidise supervision. Supervision is a mandatory part of training which costs on average €60 per session - Students are to complete one hour of supervision per week over seven months, which will cost €1,800 out of pocket.
Each Year 1 HDip student has already paid €4,250 for one year of the unaccredited course (including a non-refundable deposit). Many of us work full-time or have kids, and chose the HDip because of its part-time hours. This new requirement has put a significant emotional and financial strain on us. IICP College has been largely unresponsive to our queries, so I am starting this petition on behalf of our cohort.
As mandated persons working with vulnerable populations, it is imperative that student therapists are trained ethically. Added external stressors are dangerous to both clients and counsellors as they reduce the likelihood of successful outcomes in therapy. As such, Year 1 HDip students are advocating for a price cut of year 2 fees to subsidise for supervision costs. We do not expect IICP College will cut our fees by the €1,800 mentioned above (although this would be ideal). However, a fee reduction of 25% (€1,000) would greatly benefit each student.
Please support this petition if you believe in our cause. Who knows, one of us might be your therapist next year.
*
Kindly signed by Year 1 HDip students, their friends, family, and other good Samaritans of Ireland and beyond.
*
If any staff members or students of IICP College would like to contact me, you can email me at dovilevetra@gmail.com. Or find me on Instagram: @d0vemills
The Issue
Our course has been discontinued by IICP College, a learning institution training counsellors in Dublin. As the last intake year for the Higher Diploma (HDip) programme, we were assured a guaranteed entry route to the Masters degree by completing the two-year HDip course.
Recently, our cohort were informed that we will have to complete 100 additional hours of clinical practice before starting the Masters next year. IICP College have extended the school year until December 2026 to facilitate this. However, the larger issue is that as a private college, IICP does not subsidise supervision. Supervision is a mandatory part of training which costs on average €60 per session - Students are to complete one hour of supervision per week over seven months, which will cost €1,800 out of pocket.
Each Year 1 HDip student has already paid €4,250 for one year of the unaccredited course (including a non-refundable deposit). Many of us work full-time or have kids, and chose the HDip because of its part-time hours. This new requirement has put a significant emotional and financial strain on us. IICP College has been largely unresponsive to our queries, so I am starting this petition on behalf of our cohort.
As mandated persons working with vulnerable populations, it is imperative that student therapists are trained ethically. Added external stressors are dangerous to both clients and counsellors as they reduce the likelihood of successful outcomes in therapy. As such, Year 1 HDip students are advocating for a price cut of year 2 fees to subsidise for supervision costs. We do not expect IICP College will cut our fees by the €1,800 mentioned above (although this would be ideal). However, a fee reduction of 25% (€1,000) would greatly benefit each student.
Please support this petition if you believe in our cause. Who knows, one of us might be your therapist next year.
*
Kindly signed by Year 1 HDip students, their friends, family, and other good Samaritans of Ireland and beyond.
*
If any staff members or students of IICP College would like to contact me, you can email me at dovilevetra@gmail.com. Or find me on Instagram: @d0vemills
Victory
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The Decision Makers
Petition created on 7 April 2025