Postgraduate Diploma in Relationship Psychotherapy

COURSE DURATION: One Year (April 2025 – March 2026)
PROGRAMME DIRECTOR: Karen Murphy MIACP
VENUE:
Online: Zoom
In-Person: Maldron Hotel, South Mall, Cork City
DELIVERY FORMAT: Blended (Online/In Person)
PARTICIPANT LIMIT: Maximum of 20 participants
CONTACT EMAIL: [email protected]
INFORMATION EVENING: Thursday 9th January 2025

This programme is open to therapists who have successfully completed a core psychotherapy or counselling psychology training course and are accredited with an accrediting body such as IAHIP, IACP, BACP, PSI, or equivalent. A minimum of two years of post-qualification work is a prerequisite.
Please note, this programme does not constitute core training for entry into the profession for the purposes of acquiring accreditation as a psychotherapist.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Commitment and motivation for personal and professional development
• Knowledge of general counselling and psychotherapy processes
• Interest in the practices of relationship psychotherapy

Click the button below to apply, or download or application form to apply through [email protected]

• Information Evening: 9th January 2025
• Closing Date: 28th February 2025
• Interview: Eligible applicants will be invited to an online interview.
• Late Applications: Accepted after initial interviews if any places remain unfilled.

Course Fee is €2,900.
Applicants who are offered a place are required to forward a non-refundable booking deposit of €500 in order to secure their place followed by 10 month instalments of €240.

KAREN MURPHY (She/Her)

Course Director, Lecturer

Karen founded the Institute of Couples Therapy driven by her passion and dedication to the field of relationship therapy. With over a decade of experience as a psychotherapist and an accredited supervisor, Karen is committed to helping couples find meaningful ways to overcome challenges and reconnect.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Person-Centred Humanistic Psychotherapy and has successfully run a private practice for over 10 years. Additionally, Karen has completed advanced training in EMDR, adolescent psychotherapy, and family constellations.
She works from a relational, experiential, and exploratory approach with couples strongly influenced by Gestalt principles, the Developmental Model, Relational Life Therapy, David Schnarch’s differentiation, and Salvador Minuchin’s family therapy.

BRIAN NANNETTI

Lecturer

Brian brings nearly 25 years of experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist, working across diverse healthcare settings and lecturing in Gestalt and Existential group therapies.
Returning to Ireland from Australia in 2018, Brian continues to pursue his passion for couples therapy, believing that intimate relationships offer unique opportunities for personal growth and healing.
Since 2004, he has been in private practice, supporting individuals and couples through life’s complex dynamics.

REBECCA REDDIN (She/Her)

Lecturer

Rebecca Reddin is a Chartered Psychologist, Certified Perinatal Specialist with Postpartum Support International and the Founder of the Perinatal Mental Health Institute. She is passionate about creating in-depth, powerful, and evidence based trainings that explore the complexities of the transition to parenthood; including everything from the expected clunkiness of Matrescence, to the intense impact of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders on individuals, couples and families and everything in between.
Rebecca has provided training and education throughout her career as a Corporate Trainer and Psychology Specialist, having worked with several Fortune 500 companies to provide mental health education to employees and training to their Managers and Senior Leadership, and now provides specialised training through her own educational institute around perinatal mental health. Rebecca is a board member for the Psychological Society of Ireland’s Special Interest Group for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health and holds a Masters of Science in Psychology and Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Rebecca has worked in women’s mental health since 2010 and has supported couples and individuals through the transition to parenthood in her private practice since 2014.

SANDRA CARROLL

Lecturer

Sandra is an experienced, integrative psychotherapist with a BA (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
She is also an accredited EMDR Europe practitioner and she has received advanced training in various couples therapy models with experts in the field, including the Resnick’s model, the developmental model with the Couples Institute, and specific sex therapy training with the Institute of Relational Intimacy.
Sandra’s approach integrates person-centred, psychodynamic, and family systems theories, alongside relational and mindfulness-based practices.

SILVIA PLAZA (They/She/He)

Lecturer

Silvia is certified as a General Health Psychologist in Spain, with extensive training and experience in psychotherapy, and follows the standards of recognised professional bodies in Ireland. Accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), she specializes in gender and neurodiversity, offering a welcoming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and neurodiversity-friendly space rooted in transfeminist and inclusive perspectives.
Silvia helps clients navigate life’s difficulties with a flexible approach that draws from supportive listening, exploring past experiences, mindfulness practices, and practical problem-solving tools.
As a queer, neurodivergent therapist, she welcomes clients from diverse communities, including kink and polyamory, promoting social justice and empowerment.

ALVINA CASSIDY 

Lecturer

JOYLINE GOZHO (She/Her)

Lecturer

MINH TRAN (She/Her)

IT and Training Manager