The Division of Psychotherapy promotes two key objectives; the promotion of psychotherapy as a core discipline within psychology, and the unifying recognition of Chartered Members across all PSI Divisions who have pursued requisite training in psychotherapy, such that PSI can endorse them as having specialist expertise in the practice of psychotherapy.
PSI Division of Psychotherapy consists of psychologists who have pursued training in psychotherapy in addition to their psychology education and qualification. A key aim of the division is the promotion of psychotherapy as a core discipline within psychology. The Division provides an identity for those psychologists with specialist expertise in the area of psychotherapy. Psychologists who have pursued additional training in psychotherapy are acknowledged and formally recognised within their own professional body, rather than any external body, which has no representative function in relation to psychology. The Division of Psychologists specialising in Psychotherapy within PSI is in a position to represent its members at a national level in relation to all matters relating to the broader professional psychotherapy community incl. accreditation, training, and supervision. The Division encourages additional training among psychologists with an interest in this specialism.
A key purpose of the Division is to provide the public with a list of psychologists, the members of which are endorsed by the Society as having met certain criteria laid down by the Society. The establishment of the Division of Psychotherapy in PSI is in line with a European move to recognise the unique contribution which psychologists make to the practice of psychotherapy.
The Division is relatively new, having formed in 2017. We are gradually establishing ourselves as a voice for psychotherapists who are members of PSI. As of the 2021 AGM, the division has a membership of 74. Many of our members are also members of other divisions of PSI, in particular Counselling and Clinical, while others are only members of this division. It has a committee that meets regularly; addressing issues of relevance and organising events such as workshops and seminars. The division also holds an AGM at which there is a keynote speaker who is invited to give a presentation.
Contact Us: psychotherapy@psychologicalsociety.ie
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING GROUP MEMBERSHIP CHARGES:
You will be charged the full membership fee upon application. Should your membership be approved, this will cover your group membership for the rest of the calendar year. Your group membership will renew automatically during the renewal period (between 01 January and 31 March), along with your general PSI membership. Please note, should your application be declined, there are no refunds for your groupapplication fee, as per PSI T&C's: https://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/footer/Terms-and-Conditions. Thus, please ensure to read the membership criteria very carefully before making an application to join a PSI group (div or SIG).
Prices to join DOP as a member
Full Membership - €20
Associate Membership €10
Officers
John Broderick
Vice Chair
Sile MacNeill
Treasurer and Events Coordinator
Declan Ahearne
Events Coordinator
Frank Harnett
Minutes Secretary
Zuleika Daly
Membership Secretary
Margaret McElvaney-Smith
Ordinary Member
Darina Van den Bergh
Ordinary Member
Niamh Murray
Ordinary Member
Membership of the Division of Psychotherapy
The benefit of joining this division is that it provides you with an opportunity to exchange ideas and views with those who have had a similar training to yourself. It is a very welcoming and inclusive group that recognises the importance for psychotherapists within PSI to have a forum where their professional identity can be best expressed.
Applicants for membership of the Division of Psychotherapy may apply for one of two levels; Full Membership or Associate Membership.
Full Membership
This is available to Psychologists who:
- Are Chartered members of PSI
And
- Have completed a formal training course in psychotherapy over a minimum of 3 years (or equivalent), to have included a minimum of:
- 500 hours of supervised practice
- 150 hours of supervision
- 100 hours of personal development work in the form of psychotherapy
- 400 hours of theoretical and practical teaching and learning
Or
- Satisfy a grand-parenting route (open until 31 January 2023) for Chartered Psychologists who have not undertaken formal psychotherapy training but who meet training course criteria in the form of hours accumulated, through attendance and participation at workshops, seminars, supervised practice, and personal therapy.
Associate Membership
This is available to:
- Students on clinical or counselling psychology training programmes with an interest in psychotherapy
Or
- Graduate Members who are pursuing psychotherapy training
Or
- Non-Chartered PSI psychologists who would otherwise meet Full Membership criteria. Such applicants would be eligible for Full Membership at the point of becoming Chartered with PSI.
Or
- Psychotherapists who are Graduate Members of PSI and have completed formal psychotherapy training
Associate Members who wish to gain Full Membership of the Division will be guided on how to do this.
Please read the guidelines document and how to complete the Division of Psychotherapy membership application.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING GROUP MEMBERSHIP CHARGES:
You will be charged the full membership fee upon application. Should your membership be approved, this will cover your group membership for the rest of the calendar year. Your group membership will renew automatically during the renewal period (between 01 January and 31 March), along with your general PSI membership. Please note, should your application be declined, there are no refunds for your groupapplication fee, as per PSI T&C's: https://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/footer/Terms-and-Conditions. Thus, please ensure to read the membership criteria very carefully before making an application to join a PSI group (div or SIG).
Prices to join DOP as a member
Full Membership - €20
Associate Membership - €10
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Grandparenting Rule is to enable Full and Associate members of the Special
Interest Group in Coaching Psychology, who are experienced coaching psychologists and
professional coaches, to gain membership of the Division of Coaching Psychology during a
transition period.
The Grandparenting Rule acknowledges that due to the emerging and evolving nature of coaching
psychology qualifications and professional pathways, some current members may not meet all the
requirements of the new Full or Associate membership criteria of the Division of Coaching
Psychology.
This Rule seeks to recognise the prior learning, qualifications, and experience of coaching
psychologists and professional coaches who are current members of the Special Interest Group in
Coaching Psychology, ensuring inclusion of those established practitioners in the Division of
Coaching Psychology, while maintaining standards for new entrants into the profession.
WHO CAN APPLY:
This Membership Route is only open to those who are Full or Associate Members of the
Special Interest Group in Coaching Psychology as of 18th October 2025.
Thereafter all applications (lapsed or new) for Full or Associate Membership of the Division of
Coaching Psychology must meet the new Membership criteria as set out in the Rules of the
Division of Coaching Psychology.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
The below criteria are outlined in greater detail in the Grandparenting Rules.
Please read the Grandparenting Rules before completing the Application Form.
Thereafter, applicants should complete the attached Grandparenting Application Form in full and upload below.
Applicants for Full membership must hold PSI Graduate or Chartered membership.
Applicants for Full and Associate Membership must hold membership of the Division of Coaching
Psychology and meet each of the following four criteria demonstrating professional experience
and contribution to coaching psychology.
- Coaching Experience
- Qualifications and Training
- Contribution to the Field of Coaching Psychology
- Commitment to Professional Ethical Standards, Reflective Practice and Supervision
TIMEFRAME AND DEADLINE:
The Grandparenting Route will be open for a limited transition period from 20 October 2025 to 1st
March 2026.
After this period, all applicants (lapsed or new) must meet the Division of Coaching Psychology
New Membership criteria as defined in the Rules of the Division of Coaching Psychology and
adopted by membership at the AGM on 18th October 2025.
PLEASE NOTE:
There is no additional fee required to transfer via the Grandparenting Route to the Division of
Coaching Psychology.