Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter as we have discussed the need to regulate psychotherapy and counselling over the past ten years. There is no regulation at present in Ireland for the registration of psychotherapists or counsellors. There is no requirement for a qualification to practise in these areas. It is dangerous for untrained and unskilled people to probe a person's unconsciousness. We are dealing with extreme human vulnerability and serious damage can be done to such delicate people. We have seen it.

The eating disorder organisation, Bodywhys, has been discussing this for a number of years. It has quite extensive complaints about treatment by unregulated counsellors. Back in 2005 the Health and Social Care Professionals Act, which provides for the registration of persons qualifying under the title of a designated profession, was enacted. This is for the determination of complaints concerning the fitness to practise of professionals named under the legislation. Psychotherapy and counselling were not included as the various organisations could not agree. Subsequently, 22 of them made a presentation to the then Minister at his request, and produced the Psychological Therapies Forum report, Submission on the statutory registration of counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland.

On 20 March, 2014, the former Minister wrote to me saying he intended in the public interest to designate by regulation the professions of counselling and psychotherapy under section 4(2) of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. The Minister informed me he was obliged to consult the council in the first instance and give interested persons, organisations and bodies an opportunity to make representations to him concerning the proposed designation. The Minister also informed me he had requested that his officials put the necessary arrangements in place to initiate this consultation process as soon as possible.

On 20 February of the same year, the director of the National Office for Suicide Prevention of the HSE, Mr. Gerry Raleigh, stated that people in distress should avoid these services because counsellors may not be fully trained and may not be basing their counselling on best advice. He said it was important that a person seeking psychotherapy and counselling identifies professionals who are members of the Psychological Therapies Forum, which I already mentioned and which encompasses 22 professional organisations. This forum said it provides protection to clients but falls short of optional protection, as under the common law system it is possible for any person to take the title of counsellor or psychotherapist and to practise accordingly without training or competence. Any person can put up a sign and say he or she is a counsellor or psychotherapist and charge the usual fee of around €80 an hour to perform psychotherapy and counselling. The previous Minister accepted that it was extremely dangerous for such untrained people to do so and that regulation should take place.

I have two leaflets here - I have about a dozen more as well - one of which is advertising a so-called advanced diploma in suicide studies. It is a course taking place over seven weekends. There are two weeks for suicide prevention, two weeks for suicide intervention and two weeks for post-intervention. That makes up an advanced diploma in suicide studies. Bodywhys informed me of another diploma programme from the eating disorder resource centre of Ireland, with a certified trainer in practitioner skills for eating disorders and obesity. The diploma is granted over an eight-weekend period. The cost of that is €370 per module, which makes it up to €3,000 for the eight-week programme to obtain the diploma. As the Minister, a qualified professional himself, knows, eating disorders are psychological, psychiatric and physical. It is a very complex area. I got somebody who has no interest whatsoever in eating disorders or any area of psychotherapy and counselling to apply for this diploma, and they got a reply back - I have it here - saying they could start the course the following weekend, without any background whatsoever in any branch of medicine.

As such, I would welcome an update from the Minister on the current situation in respect of the regulation of psychotherapy and counselling.

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