Email to Minister Harris

COVID-19 IACP members info

Email from IACP CEO to Minster Harris - 18/03/2020

Dear Minister,

I am writing to you on behalf of the board and members of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP). As you are aware the IACP is the largest professional body in Ireland representing over 4,500 members throughout the country.

Our members are providing invaluable mental health supports in the form of counselling and psychotherapy services. As per my email to you on Monday we are offering our support to work with you and the HSE to ensure that those who are isolated and in psychological distress get access to the essential mental health supports that they need.

My question to you is about how to deliver counselling and psychotherapy safely in light of the Covid-19 outbreak. A large number of our members have expressed concern about continuing with face-to-face sessions. These sessions generally run for 50-60 minutes and although we have provided the HSE and HSPC guidance to all members we are seeking clarity and direction from you as to what constitutes safe practice in the therapy room when conducting face-to-face sessions.

A large cohort of our members already provide Tele-counselling/psychotherapy or on-line counselling/psychotherapy and many more have moved to these platforms and away from face-to-face sessions in recent weeks. However, for members and clients who wish to continue with face-to-face consultations we feel that there is a duty of care to both the counsellors/psychotherapists and their clients to provide clarity and re-assurance in light of the rapidly evolving situation.

I am seeking an urgent response and I look forward to hearing from. You have our best wishes and full support in all your endeavours.

Yours sincerely,

Lisa Molloy
CEO
IACP

CC Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer

IACP offers support to DOH and HSE - 16/03/2020

Dear Minister,

Further to the recent article in the Irish Times I am writing to offer our support to both your department and the HSE in addressing the inevitable negative psychological impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy represents over 4,500 members throughout the country who can help with the provision of counselling and psychotherapy supports to those who are isolated, anxious and frightened. Our organisation has developed comprehensive guidelines and standards for the provision of tele-counselling and online counselling and also provides a training module on on-line counselling which is available to our members via our on-line Training platform.

I would like to commend you and your team for the decisive action that has been and continues to be taken and I very much welcome your commitment to support counselling services.

Please contact me at any time.

Kind regards,

Lisa Molloy
CEO
IACP

COVID-19

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