Research plays a crucial role in advancing the field of counselling and psychotherapy, ensuring that practices remain evidence-based and effective.
The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) is committed to fostering a strong research culture, supporting studies that enhance professional knowledge and improve client outcomes. Through surveys, conferences, and dedicated research initiatives, IACP provides valuable insights that shape the future of the profession and uphold the highest standards of care.
A Research Committee was established in September 2019. The Committee is comprised of IACP members and non-members with an active interest/background in research, and it aims to aid the development of strategic thinking about research policy and activity as well as to encourage and embed a research culture within IACP and the profession. Learn more about IACP Research Committees
In the Research Corner of the Members Area of the IACP website you will find a host of resources to help with your ongoing counselling / psychotherapy research journey including:
- Access to EBSCO Research Database and Psychology eBook Collection
- Research Issues & Policies Documents 1 & 2 – including links to Open Access Journals
- Path to Publication
- Research Glimpses
- Ethical Research in Counselling Professions
- Setting up a Research Study
1) Research Journal Club
A new initiative for IACP members - in line with the Research Strategy of promoting a research culture across the organisation – is the hosting of a Research Journal Club online at which research papers with topics pertinent to counselling / psychotherapy are discussed. Facilitated by members of the Research Committee, and at times including guests who have carried out research in the area, the Research Journal Club is a quarterly, free to attend event and CPD points are awarded.
2) Research Conference
An annual online Research Conference for all members with a renowned guest researcher as the keynote speaker and IACP researcher speakers. Breakout rooms for networking and discussion and wider discussion with panel at the end. Facilitated by members of the IACP Research Committee this is a hugely attended highly stimulating event. Free to attend and CPD points are awarded.
To acknowledge and encourage research in counselling and psychotherapy the IACP offers three annual awards – a Research Bursary, a Research Excellence Award and an Undergraduate Research Excellence Award.
The Research Bursary is open to members who are carrying out Doctoral research. The bursary is to help to cover the expenses involved in Doctoral research completion. The Research Excellence Award is an acknowledgment for an outstanding piece of published research that contributes to the field of counselling/psychotherapy. The Undergraduate Research Excellence award is for an outstanding dissertation. The awards are adjudicated on by the Research Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. Presentations are made at IACP’s Annual Conference.