25/01/2026
Only a few days left before our Diploma begins, there are still some spaces available.
šø Professional Diploma in Integrative Adolescent Psychotherapy (2026)
IACP CPD Accredited ā 150 Points
Commencing February 2026
šæ A Journey of Depth, Reflection, and Becoming
The Professional Diploma in Integrative Adolescent Psychotherapy is a reflective and experiential journey for therapists and professionals who wish to work with adolescents in a grounded, compassionate, and integrative way.
More than an academic qualification, this is a transformative process that invites participants to engage with themselves as deeply as with the material. The emphasis is on awareness, presence, and reflection: exploring who we are when we sit with young people, how we relate, and how we hold their stories.
Now entering its second cohort following a highly successful pilot in 2025, the diploma is rooted in a trauma-informed and integrative philosophy. It encourages students to view adolescence not as a problem to be solved, but as a stage of becoming, rich in potential, vulnerability, and growth.
Students are guided through a blend of theory, experiential learning, and reflective practice, supported by a structured and well-resourced learning environment.
Course Overview
This one-year diploma explores the emotional, developmental, and psychological world of adolescence through an integrative, trauma-informed lens. It combines a strong theoretical foundation with experiential learning, reflective development, and ongoing supervision.
Students engage with a range of psychological and therapeutic frameworks, including psychodynamic, humanistic, attachment-based, and systemic perspectives. Both directive and non-directive approaches are explored, helping participants develop flexibility, creativity, and confidence in their clinical and relational work.
Learning is supported through Moodle, a professional online platform housing course materials, readings, reflective activities, and assessments. Each student also receives a comprehensive course handbook detailing all modules, learning outcomes, and assessment guidelines.
Participants are encouraged to engage with the material both intellectually and personally, understanding how theory lives within practice and how reflective awareness enhances therapeutic presence.
Course Details
Start Date: February 2026
Duration: 12 months (February 2026 ā January 2027)
Format: Blended delivery (In-person and Online)
In-Person Venue: Mullingar, Westmeath
Online Delivery: Secure virtual learning platform
Supervision: Group supervision and reflective support included throughout the year.
Students completing clinical placement as part of the psychotherapy pathway must also engage in their own external clinical supervision in line with IACP requirements.
Accreditation: 150 CPD Points with IACP
This course is delivered to a professional standard, ensuring students experience clear structure, academic depth, and personal care at every stage.
Course Structure
The diploma is designed around three interconnected phases that mirror both the developmental stages of adolescence and the reflective process of becoming a therapist. Each phase integrates theory, creativity, and personal reflection, creating a rhythm of learning that is immersive, relational, and transformative.
The intention is not only to train professionals to work with adolescents, but to cultivate the awareness, depth, and self-reflection that sustain ethical and attuned practice.
Phase One: Relational Foundations
Focus on safety, presence, and empathy while exploring core concepts of adolescent development, trauma, and relational attunement. Students develop self-awareness and emotional regulation as the foundation of therapeutic work.
Phase Two: Clinical Readiness
Bridge theory and practice through assessment, family systems, and case formulation. Reflective readiness becomes central, cultivating the capacity to work with complexity while maintaining integrity and containment.
Phase Three: Integration and Supervision
Bring together theory, reflection, and lived experience. Supervision begins in this stage, supporting students in applying their learning to clinical or professional practice. Themes include identity, shame, endings, and the integration of personal and professional growth.
The rhythm of the course, moving from understanding to readiness to integration, reflects the developmental process it teaches.
Who Can Attend
This diploma welcomes both practising therapists and professionals supporting young people in educational, social, or community settings. It is ideally suited for:
Counsellors and Psychotherapists
Psychologists
Social Workers
Guidance Counsellors
Teachers
Youth Workers
Social Care Workers
Mentors and professionals in education, youth, or community services
For therapists and trainees, the diploma forms part of their professional development in adolescent psychotherapy and includes a supervised clinical placement.
For professionals not qualified to engage in therapeutic practice, the course provides an in-depth exploration of adolescent development, trauma-informed practice, and reflective engagement through a Practice-Based Integration Portfolio.
Both pathways honour the same philosophy: that effective work with young people begins with self-awareness, reflection, and presence in relationship.
Guest Lecturers
Throughout the year, guest lecturers contribute specialist knowledge in areas such as neurodiversity, creative interventions, and trauma-informed systems. Their input broadens understanding and ensures a dynamic, multidimensional learning experience.
About Maura Carey
Maura Carey, Clinical Director of Cherry Blossom Therapy, is an integrative psychotherapist, supervisor, and lecturer currently completing a Doctorate in Psychotherapy exploring developmental trauma and childhood adversity.
Her approach is both philosophical and relational, viewing education as a living process that engages the whole person and invites transformation. Mauraās facilitation style blends theory, presence, and reflection, creating a space where students are encouraged to think deeply, feel safely, and grow authentically.
Grounded in compassion and professional integrity, she invites each student to explore who they are within their role and to understand how their history, values, and awareness shape the work they do with young people.
Why Choose Cherry Blossom Therapy
Trauma-informed, relational, and integrative teaching
Structured, professional delivery with clear learning supports
Moodle platform for materials, readings, and reflection
Comprehensive course handbook provided
Emphasis on self-reflection and professional development
Experiential learning that brings theory into lived experience
Group supervision and reflective support included
Guest lecturers and specialist workshops
IACP CPD Accreditation (150 Points)
Supportive, authentic, and inspiring learning community
Course Fee and Payment Plan
Total Fee: ā¬2,700
Deposit: ā¬500 (non-refundable, due upon offer)
Remaining Balance: ā¬2,200
Payment Plan: Five monthly instalments of ā¬440
Payment Schedule:
Deposit due upon acceptance
1st instalment: March 1st, 2026
2nd instalment: April 1st, 2026
3rd instalment: May 1st, 2026
4th instalment: June 1st, 2026
5th instalment: July 1st, 2026
All payments are made via bank transfer, with receipts issued monthly.
Invoices can be provided for employers or funding support upon request.
Apply Now
Places are limited and early application is recommended.
š§ admin@cherryblossomtherapy.ie
š www.cherryblossomtherapy.ie
Click link to register for a place https://forms.gle/LNKNxySDRBu6SDiUA
šæ Step into a year of growth, reflection, and professional transformation with Cherry Blossom Therapy.
