Counseling Profession in Ireland: History, Policy & Practice

This graduate course abroad will provide participants with an understanding of the history and philosophy of the counseling profession, as well as its various specializations, including school counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and student development in higher education in Ireland. Special emphasis will be placed on educational and disability rights and policies related to these fields, including both past and current legislation.

We will explore current issues related to social and emotional learning, college and career readiness, disability services, mental health, and rehabilitation in Ireland and the European Union (EU), including community-based services that support individuals with disabilities. Participants will gain a broader understanding of global and cultural influences on students and adults with disabilities, as well as on mental health, prevention and intervention services, and rehabilitation policy. We will examine cultural influences on counseling and disability awareness within Irish society and the EU. We will also compare Irish, EU, and U.S. cultural influences on comprehensive school counseling programs and rehabilitation service programs, including the educational and rehabilitation policies that impact service delivery for individuals with disabilities.

We will begin in Galway, Ireland, where we will spend a day with the National University of Ireland Galway Centre for Disability Law and Policy to learn about current research related to individuals with disabilities and human rights, including Ireland’s National Disability Strategy (2005) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). While in Galway, we will have the opportunity to visit the Cliffs of Moher, explore the Burren region, and experience the seaside city.

We will also travel by bus through the Irish countryside and its quaint towns on the way to Dublin. While in Dublin, we will explore the city, with possible visits to Temple Bar, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Grafton Street, the Guinness Storehouse, and EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum. We will also meet with mental health advocates, representatives from the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), the Department of Education, and Old Bawn Community School.

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