The Irish Council of Psychotherapy is proposing to introduce Continuous Professional Development as a requirement for re-registration and re-accreditation for each section.

This re-accreditation would be on a five yearly basis and would be dependent on fulfilling and recording Continuing Professional Development.  The requirement will be to complete an average of 50 hours per annum on CPD (total of 250 hours over a period of five years).You will all be aware that simple counting of hours does not ensure quality. On the other hand, a balance has been struck between the requirement for hours and a true deepening of professional practice. This may be more about integrating formal CPD, professional practice and supervision through a reflexive cycle.

In conjunction with the European Association of Psychotherapy, it has been decided that this CPD can be taken in the following forms:

a) Advanced or additional professional psychotherapy courses.

b) Engagement in personal therapy, reflective practices etc.
c) Professional supervision for psychotherapy practice/clinical/group work and peer supervision.
d) Psychotherapy conference/symposium attendance.
e) Professional activities in psychotherapy. (Being elected to a Board or a Committee and attending meetings).
f) Participation in extra psychotherapy training as a supervisor/researcher/teacher.

These are the domains in which CPD could be accrued. It is further recommended that minimum 250 hours shall consist of no more than 75 hours from any one category.Â

The introduction of Continuous Professional Development is particularly important in the current environment where there is an increasing scrutiny of the professional competence of all health care professionals including psychotherapists, with more transparent complaints procedures and more vigorous monitoring of fitness to practice issues within each profession.