What is Supervision?

Supervision is a formal arrangement for Counsellors/Psychotherapists to regularly discuss their work with someone experienced in Counselling/Psychotherapy and Supervision.

The task is to work together to ensure and develop the efficacy of the Counsellor/Psychotherapist/Client relationship. The agenda will be the Counsellor/Psychotherapist’s work, with the Supervisor’s reactions and comments. Supervision is a process to maintain adequate standards of Counselling/Psychotherapy and a method of consultancy to widen the horizons of the practitioner. IACP accept IACP accredited Supervisors, BACP* Accredited Supervisors and IAHIP** Accredited Supervisors.

*BACP Accredited status plus supervisor qualification. These requirements are due to the BACP reconfiguring membership categories (16/10/2023) – if contracting with a BACP Accredited Supervisor, please ensure that the above criteria are met. If you have any queries regarding a pre-existing contract, please contact the IACP).

**IAHIP Accredited Supervisor NB. must have receievd their IAHIP Supervisor accreditation prior to January 2025.

Why Supervision?

The IACP sees supervision as vital to the process and ongoing maintenance of a Counsellor/Psychotherapist’s competency and continued accreditation.  All IACP Members working as Counsellor/Psychotherapists are bound by the IACP Code of Ethics and Practice to monitor their work through regular Supervision to ensure that their standard of Counselling/Psychotherapy is competent and continues to develop.

Online Supervision

Remote/online supervision is now accepted for Pre-Accredited Members, Accredited Members and Supervisors who work with clients to face and remotely. Remote/online supervision is accepted Student Members within certain parameters outlined below:

Changes to apply from September 2022:

IACP requirements for core training will allow the option of some online teaching delivery and remote supervised placements, supervision and personal therapy:

• At least 70% of teaching must take place face-to-face and synchronous (live) in the classroom setting.
• Modules where there is an emphasis on personal development, relationship development and skills must be completed in person / face-to-face.
• A small number of specific modules can be completed remotely (online), such as theory and research-based modules.
• At least 70% of placement client hours and supervision (both individual and group) must be completed in person / face-to-face
• At least 70% of required 50 hours of personal therapy in training must be completed in person / face-to-face.
• Changes should be implemented from the academic year September 2022 with allowances for flexibilities in case of further restrictions/lockdowns/illness (staff/students)/other emergency situations.
• The additional allowances can be also considered on case-by-case basis for students with underlying health conditions / disabilities. If such situations occur, the IACP should be notified of these in writing.

Ratified by the IACP Board of Directors in March 2022. To be reviewed in Q2 of 2023.

Members who wish to work with clients via telephone or online must follow the IACP Code of Ethics and Practice and IACP guidance and criteria for the provision of online counselling. Please note that there is also a free CPD training course on online counselling in the CPD Portal in our Members Area.

IACP Supervisors who supervise remotely/online must be competent to deliver work remotely and adhere to IACP's Criteria for Remote/Online Counselling and Psychotherapy Work, as well as our Recommended Approach for Online Counselling & Psychotherapy (both files are available here). 

Competence and training

Competence includes having alternative ways of providing services if the primary method of communication fails, having access to technological support that ensures the confidentiality of the work and keeping up to date with new technological developments to provide the safest and most reliable service to clients. 

Competence in providing counselling/psychotherapy services and supervision using technology requires formal training. Training should cover modules such as:

•  Different means of delivering online therapy and supervision 
•  Benefits and risks of online client and supervision work for practitioner and client/supervisor and supervisee
•  Legal and ethical considerations including informed consent, privacy/GDPR
•  Future developments and the importance of staying up to date with technological changes 

It is recommended that online supervision is contracted face to face and that there is a blend of face to face and online supervision contracted when possible rather than solely online/remote supervision to maintaining the benefits of face to face contact in building a supervisory relationship. All other current supervision criteria must be met to count online supervision. 

For those interested in online/remote work and/or supervision, an introductory course in working online is available on the IACP Online CPD Platform, which can be accessed through the Members' Area of the website: here. Please click on the CPD Portal to access the training area free of charge. If you have mislaid your login details or password, don't hesitate to get in touch with IACP Member Care on 01 230 3536 or iacp@iacp.ie  

Supervision

• Overview
• Recently Accredited Supervisors
• Code of Ethics and Practice for Supervisors
• Online Directory of Accredited Supervisors
• Supervision Requirements
• How do I become an Accredited Supervisor
• Renewal of Supervisor Accreditation
• CPD for Accredited Supervisors
• Supervisors Report Forms
• Inactive Accredited Supervisor Membership
• Supervisor Accreditation Appeals Procedure
• Supervisor FAQ

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