Why finding the right fit matters
Reaching out for therapy takes courage. Once you decide to look for support, though, the number of options, job titles and letters after people’s names can feel overwhelming. This page is here to help you find your way through it.
One thing matters more than you might expect: the relationship between you and your therapist. A large review of nearly 300 studies, covering more than 30,000 clients, found a consistent link between the strength of this relationship and how much people benefit from therapy (Flückiger et al., 2018). Feeling safe, heard and able to trust the person you are working with is not a bonus. It is part of what makes therapy work.
So it is worth taking a little care over who you choose.
Regulation in Ireland: where things stand
Counselling and psychotherapy in Ireland are on their way to being regulated by law. CORU, Ireland’s regulator for health and social care professionals, has a Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board. However, its registers are not yet open, so the titles “counsellor” and “psychotherapist” are not yet protected by law (CORU).
When the registers do open, practitioners already working will have a two-year transition period to register. After that, only people on the register will be able to use those titles.
Why this matters for you: for now, anyone can call themselves a therapist, counsellor or psychotherapist, whatever their training. Checking a practitioner’s qualifications and professional accreditation is the best way to protect yourself.
What to look for: accreditation
Accreditation with a recognised professional body tells you that a therapist has met standards that go well beyond a short course. The details differ between bodies, but accreditation typically means:
- Rigorous postgraduate training in counselling or psychotherapy, including hundreds of hours of supervised work with clients
- Ongoing professional development (CPD), so their knowledge and skills stay up to date
- Regular supervision, where they reflect on their work with an experienced colleague
- A code of ethics they must follow, with a complaints procedure if something goes wrong
Recognised accrediting bodies in Ireland
IAHIP: Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy- Accredits psychotherapists who work in humanistic and integrative ways: person-centred, holistic and existential approaches that see the whole person and place the therapeutic relationship at the centre. Accredited members use the letters MIAHIP.
IACP: Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy- Accredits counsellors and psychotherapists from a wide range of approaches. Accredited members use the letters MIACP.
ICP: Irish Council for Psychotherapy- A national body for psychotherapy, bringing together psychotherapists from a range of traditions. Accredited members use the letters MICP.
PSI: Psychological Society of Ireland- The professional body for psychologists, such as clinical and counselling psychologists. Psychologists are also being brought under CORU regulation.
FTAI: Family Therapy Association of Ireland- The professional body for family and systemic psychotherapists, who work with couples, families and individuals in the context of their relationships.
Most of these bodies have a public directory on their website, so you can check that someone is a current, accredited member.
Questions you can ask a therapist
A good therapist will welcome your questions. You might ask them in an email, or during a first phone call or session:
- “Which professional body are you accredited with?”
- “What is your core therapeutic approach, and what is your training background?”
- “Do you attend regular professional supervision?”
- “What are your policies on confidentiality, session boundaries and fees?”
There are no wrong questions, and how a therapist responds can tell you a lot.
Green flags and red flags
Green flags: signs of ethical practice
- A clear contract and boundaries from the start: session length, fees, cancellations and how to get in touch
- Respect for your autonomy: you set the pace, and your choices are respected
- Openness about their qualifications and accreditation
- Regular, ongoing supervision
- A clear agreement on confidentiality, its limits, and how your information is kept
Red flags: reasons to pause
- Vague or missing qualifications
- Promises of a guaranteed “cure”, or of fixing things in a set number of sessions
- Pushing boundaries, or pressure of any kind
- No membership of a recognised professional body
- Reluctance to answer basic questions about their training or credentials
If something does not feel right, trust that feeling. You can stop therapy at any time, and accredited therapists’ professional bodies have complaints procedures.
Take your time
It is okay to ask questions, to take your time, and to speak to more than one therapist before deciding. Many people do, and the right fit is worth waiting for.
If you have any questions about my own practice, training or accreditation, I’d be glad to answer them. I am an accredited member of IAHIP and ICP, and you are very welcome to get in touch.
Sources
- CORU. Introduction to the Registration Process (Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board FAQ), checked October 2026.
- Flückiger, C., Del Re, A. C., Wampold, B. E., & Horvath, A. O. (2018). The alliance in adult psychotherapy: A meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 316–340.