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 other IACP 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.
IACP Research Awards 2026
We’re delighted to announce that the window for receiving applications for IACP’s Research Awards 2026 is now open.
Are you currently carrying out Doctoral research in the counselling/psychotherapy field (PhD / Professional Doctorate) and some funding could help you to reach the finish line? If so, you may like to consider applying for IACP’s Research Bursary 2026.
Or perhaps you’ve had an article based on your counselling/psychotherapy research published in a peer reviewed journal? If so, you may like to consider applying for IACP’s Research Excellence Award 2026.
Further information and application details for both awards can be found below.
Research Bursary 2026
The Research Bursary of €3,500 will be awarded to an IACP Member carrying out Doctoral Research (PhD / Professional Doctorate) which is deemed to be relevant to IACP’s strategic aims – promoting research in the counselling/psychotherapy professions.
The Research Bursary is to help to cover the direct research expenses involved in the carrying out and completion of doctoral research.
IACP members who are currently registered and carrying out Doctoral Research are now invited to apply for this Bursary. Applicants must provide:
· A 500 word proposal about their research, detailing progress to date and the trajectory for completion. The proposal should include: the aims of the research; the methodology; the proposed contribution to the field of counselling/psychotherapy, plans for dissemination and a breakdown of how this IACP research bursary would help with the costs of completion
· Ethical Approval from the appropriate academic body
· CV of the applicant
Additional Information and Terms and Conditions:
· The IACP website will host information about the Bursary and the successful applicant’s research details
· The successful applicant will be expected to submit an annual report to update the IACP on their progress until project completion
· The successful applicant will be expected to cite the support of the IACP on any publications arising out of their doctoral research
· The successful applicant will be expected to submit an article based on their research findings to the Irish Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, within one year of project completion
· The IACP will not take responsibility for promotion, recruitment or dissemination of the research or commit to any other action other than listed above
· The successful applicant will be offered the opportunity for their image and short biography to be used in IACP communications/publications
Completed applications should be sent by e-mail to IACP Research Lead, Dr Ellen Kelly (ellen@iacp.ie) by midday on Friday February 6th 2026 with the subject line: “IACP Research Bursary”
Research Excellence Award 2026
The IACP offers an annual award for an excellent/outstanding piece of completed research that contributes to the field of counselling/psychotherapy.
This is an acknowledgement award (non-remunerative) for research excellence.
Application Requirements and Additional Information:
Any member who has had their research published in a peer-reviewed Journal within the last five years [including the IJCP] can apply themselves, or can be nominated by another member. Please submit name, the abstract from the publication [maximum of 250 words], the details of the Journal the research is published in, a summary of the contribution to the field of counselling/psychotherapy [maximum of 250 words] and a copy of the final article.
Please note that if applying with a co-authored paper, the other author(s) should also be members of the IACP and a joint application should be made.
The successful applicant will be offered the opportunity for their image and short biography to be used in IACP communications/publications.
Applications should be sent by e-mail to IACP Research Lead, Dr Ellen Kelly (ellen@iacp.ie) by midday on Friday February 6th 2026 with the subject line “IACP Research Excellence Award”.
The Research Bursary and Research Excellence Award will be adjudicated on by the IACP Research Committee and recommended for approval to the Board of Directors. Award presentations will be made at the IACP Conference on April 18th 2026.
Please see below a couple of videos by our previous Awards Recipients.
Dr Stephanie Finan - IACP Research Bursary Recipient 2019.
Ashley Morgan - IACP Research Excellence Award 2023.
Neil O'Connor - IACP Research Excellence Award 2022.