-The Institute of Technology Tralee and Cuan Mhuire launch BA (Honours) in Counselling with Addiction-

In recent years’ addiction is becoming an increasing problem in Ireland, with the Government pledging to increase funding in the area of mental health initiatives as part of the national counselling service. Counselling and psychotherapy are growing and evolving professions in Ireland and internationally. It was therefore with great excitement that the Institute of Technology Tralee, in partnership with Cuan Mhuire in Athy, have launched a four-year BA (Honours) in Counselling with Addiction (Level 8) along with a One Year Add-On Programme (Level 8).

A new addition to the School of Health and Social Sciences, this degree course was launched at an event held in the IT Tralee with special guest, Sr. Consilio in attendance. Sr. Consilio, is the founder of Cuan Mhuire, Ireland’s largest provider of residential detoxification and treatment for those suffering from addiction.  It is her tireless, lifelong work in helping individuals and families suffering from addictions to drugs, alcohol and gambling that resulted in her many honours including Person of the Year in both Kerry and Athy, and an honorary MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2011.

Speaking passionately at the launch of theBA (Honours) in Counselling with Addiction Sr. Consilio commented, “I have dedicated my life to working with individuals and families of those suffering from a wide range of addictions, and am so excited to watch the next generation of counsellors learn the skills and tools to help those in need, through this extremely rewarding vocation. This is the first collaborative partnership at third level which we at Cuan Mhuire have entered into, and we couldn’t have picked a better partner in the Institute of Technology Tralee.”

The BA (Honours) in Counselling with Addiction, delivered by a team of experienced practicing addiction counsellors and third level academic staff in Cuan Mhuire/Galilee House of Studies, Athy and IT Tralee, will provide systematic training to students in counselling theory and practice at a level that prepares participants to counsel in a variety of settings and to use various counselling approaches. 

The One Year Add-On programme was development in direct response to incoming regulation which states graduates of counselling and psychotherapy programmes completing studies in 2019 will be regulated under CORU (Ireland’s multi-profession health regulator), and all of the relevant Irish professional bodies will require practitioners in counselling to hold, as a minimum entry qualification, a NFQ Level 8 (Honours) degree in counselling. This one year programme will facilitate holders of an NFQ Level 7 quali¿cation in counselling to up skill and bring their quali¿cations in line with this upcoming change in regulation.

IT Tralee are now accepting applications to both the BA (Honours) in Counselling with Addiction Degree and its One Year Add-On course, with Friday 30^th June marking the closing date for applications. For more information or to request an application form contact the Admissions Office in IT Tralee on 066 7145638 or e-mail info@ittralee.ie. Alternatively, to find out more visit www.ittralee.ie