History, Policy, & Current Issues for the Counseling Profession in Ireland

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Join us as we explore current issues regarding the counseling profession, mental health, school counseling, and rehabilitation in Ireland and EU including community-based services which serve individuals with disabilities. We will explore the cultural influences on counseling and disability awareness in Irish society and EU. We will also compare and contrast Irish, EU, and U.S. cultural influences on mental health and rehabilitation service programs, comprehensive school counseling programs, and supporting individuals with disabilities through educational and rehabilitation policies that impact service delivery.

The course will include guest speakers, professionals, researchers from counseling and education (i.e., rehabilitation and mental health counseling, disability policy and mental health service providers, and school counseling). It also includes visits to agencies, schools, and university programs to observe and meet counselors, counselor educators, disability advocates, and professionals, as well as students and consumers with disabilities.

We 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 regarding individuals with disabilities and human rights including the Irish National Disability Strategy of 2005 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. While in Galway, we will have an opportunity to see the famous Cliffs of Moher, the Burren Region, and explore the seaside city.

We will also see the beautiful countryside and quaint towns of Ireland as we travel by bus to the city of Dublin. While in Dublin, we will be meeting with Mental Health Ireland, Irish Association of Counselors and Psychotherapy and Irish Institute of Guidance Counselors. In addition, we will explore the city with a

walking tour with visits to Temple Bar, St. Patrick’s, Grafton Street, and a Guinness Factory tour.