Great work guys, we have just passed 2000 signatures, and CORU has been contacted letting them know!
Can you take 2 min to share the petition? Lets keep contacting TDs, newspapers, radio, all media.
Here's the the email sent to CORU today.
Dear CORU,
I understand that CORU originally gathered over 400 public submissions regarding the regulation of counselling and psychotherapy. The fact that over 2,000 people signed our petition in under three weeks raises questions about whether the initial consultation was sufficiently far-reaching or representative of the profession’s views. It is unlikely that any of the original submissions supported the removal of widely accepted professional standards. We believe this consultation was not sufficient for CORU to make fully informed decisions on such crucial aspects of regulation.
At present, counselling and psychotherapy in Ireland are self-regulated, yet as a profession we have consistently held ourselves to high standards. Practitioners and training organisations already require personal therapy during training and ongoing clinical supervision in practice, and have done so for decades. These standards have long been recognised as essential to ensuring safe, ethical, and effective practice.
Many of the petition’s signatories are experts in the field of counselling and psychotherapy, highlighting widespread professional support for maintaining these standards.
We respectfully request that personal therapy during training and ongoing clinical supervision in practice remain mandatory requirements for counsellors and psychotherapists. These are vital to ensuring the protection of both the public and the integrity of our profession.
The petition can be viewed online here: https://www.change.org/TherapyStandardsIreland
A more detailed PDF has also been attached, addressing potential concerns CORU may have regarding the mandating of these requirements. This petition will also be shared with the Minister for Health, members of the Oireachtas, and the media.
Sincerely,
David Horan