PCI College

"How you manage rupture and repair says more to an insecurely attached client than almost anything you say in session."
Every experienced therapist learned attachment theory in training. But there's a meaningful difference between knowing Bowlby and Ainsworth academically, and actually recognising attachment patterns as they unfold in real time, in a client's silence, their urgency, their sudden withdrawal, their difficulty accepting care.
Our latest article explores how attachment theory shapes every client relationship: the four attachment patterns and how they present in session, the idea of the therapist as a "secure base," and, just as importantly, how your own attachment history shapes the way you show up with clients.
It's a piece written for experienced practitioners looking to deepen (not relearn) their understanding of one of therapy's most enduring relational frameworks, and why revisiting it through CPD can meaningfully sharpen clinical practice.
👉 Read the full article: https://www.pcicollege.ie/?post_type=news&p=42481

Specialize in supporting the next generation.

Are you a qualified professional looking to deepen your expertise in working with children, teenagers, and young people? Join us for an online Open Evening dedicated to our MSc in Child & Adolescent Counselling & Psychotherapy

This programme is designed for those who want to gain the specialist theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to work effectively with clients under the age of 25.

Join us to find out more:
📅 Date: 30th July 2026
⏰ Time: 7:00 pm
📍 Location: Online via Zoom

Our lecturing team will be on hand to answer your questions about the course structure, clinical practice, and how this postgraduate qualification can advance your career in therapeutic work.

Registration is free but essential. Secure your place here: https://www.pcicollege.ie/event/msc-child-adolescent-open-evening/

Thinking about a career in mental health?

Are you considering a path toward becoming a qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist? Join us for our upcoming online Open Evening for the BSc (Hons) Counselling & Psychotherapy!

Our Open Evenings are the perfect way to get all your questions answered. You’ll hear directly from our lecturing and admissions team about:
✅ Course content and structure
✅ Entry requirements and qualifications
✅ How we approach teaching and learning
✅ Career paths and accreditation (IACP/Middlesex University)

📅 Date: 29th July 2026
⏰ Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
📍 Location: Online via Zoom (Registration is essential)

This event is free to attend, but please register in advance to receive your meeting link. Secure your spot here: https://www.pcicollege.ie/event/open-evening-bsc-counselling-psychotherapy/

"You cannot think your way out of OCD."
That line from our latest article gets to the heart of why OCD is so often misunderstood, and so often mistreated, even by well-meaning practitioners.
OCD is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions in Ireland, screening positive in nearly 12% of adults. Yet it remains chronically under-identified, with over half of common presentations misdiagnosed by GPs, and an average gap of 10–17 years between symptom onset and effective treatment.
Why? Because OCD doesn't always look like checking locks or washing hands. It can show up as intrusive thoughts about harm, relationships, or religion, thoughts the person finds deeply distressing, not thoughts they want to act on. And the instinct to reassure someone experiencing this, however natural, can actually reinforce the very cycle we're trying to help them break.
Our new article, "Working with OCD & Health Anxiety: What Therapists Need to Know," unpacks the science, the most commonly missed presentations, and why Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) remains the evidence-based gold standard for treatment.
A must-read for therapists, students, and anyone who wants to understand these conditions properly.
👉 Read the full article: https://www.pcicollege.ie/?post_type=news&p=42477

Considering a career change or looking to develop your professional skills? Our upcoming Open Evening is the perfect chance to learn more about the Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy.

Meet the team, ask questions about the curriculum, and get a feel for what it’s like to study with us at PCI College. Whether you’re just starting your journey or looking to add new qualifications to your CV, we’d love to see you there.

Register your interest here:
https://www.pcicollege.ie/event/summer-certificate-in-counselling-psychotherapy-open-evening/

What is your anxiety actually trying to tell you?
Anxiety is everywhere in Ireland right now, recent research shows it affects a striking proportion of Irish adults, with financial worries, relationships, family responsibilities, and work all named as key triggers.
But most conversations about anxiety focus on making it go away, rather than asking what it might be communicating. Is it pointing to something you value deeply? A boundary that's been crossed? An old wound that needs care? Physical depletion that's being read as psychological distress?
In our latest article, "What Your Anxiety Is Trying to Tell You," we explore the research behind anxiety as a signal rather than a weakness, and what it means to genuinely listen to it, rather than just manage it.
It's a thoughtful read for anyone who has ever felt like their anxiety doesn't make sense, because often, it makes more sense than we think.

👉 Read the full article: https://www.pcicollege.ie/?post_type=news&p=42471