Professional Diploma in Group Therapy & Facilitation: CPD Training Online in Ireland

Group therapy is a powerful therapeutic modality that offers clients a unique context for healing, belonging, and change. Running a therapeutic group — whether in a clinical, community, or educational setting — requires specific knowledge of group dynamics, facilitation skills, and the therapeutic factors that make group work effective. ICPS College's Professional Diploma in Group Therapy and Facilitation equips counsellors, psychotherapists, and group facilitators with the theory and practical tools needed to plan, lead, and manage therapeutic groups with confidence.

Delivered live online over ten weeks, this course provides a rigorous grounding in group therapy theory alongside practical skills development for facilitators at all levels of experience.

What the Professional Diploma in Group Therapy and Facilitation Covers

Ten modules cover:

• Therapeutic factors in group therapy: universality, cohesion, catharsis, and interpersonal learning (Yalom)

• Group development stages: forming, storming, norming, and performing

• Group facilitation skills: active listening, reflection, feedback, and managing conflict

• Planning and structuring therapeutic groups: open versus closed, session design, and contracting

• Working with group dynamics: subgroups, scapegoating, and the identified patient

• Therapeutic groups in specific settings: addiction recovery, bereavement, trauma, and CBT

• Ethical and professional considerations in group facilitation

• Co-facilitation: roles, responsibilities, and communication between facilitators

• Supervision and self-care for group therapists and facilitators

• Evaluating group outcomes and evidencing therapeutic impact

Who Is This Course For?

• Counsellors and psychotherapists who wish to extend their practice to group settings

• Practitioners working in addiction, mental health, or community services

• Educators, trainers, and facilitators in organisational contexts

• Social workers and community workers who run support groups

• Anyone seeking a systematic foundation in therapeutic group facilitation

Delivery Format and Duration

Delivered live online via Zoom over ten weeks, with one session per week. Teaching is in real time by experienced group therapy practitioners, with supplementary reading and reflective tasks between sessions. Participants receive 60 CPD credits on successful completion.

Accreditation and CPD Credits

Accredited by the Professional Development Consortium and the CPD Standards Office, this course provides a Professional Diploma in Group Therapy and Facilitation and 60 CPD credits on completion. Credits are suitable for submission to IACP, IAHIP, BACP, and other recognised professional bodies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is group therapy very different from individual counselling?

Yes and no. The core therapeutic skills of empathy, active listening, and genuine engagement apply in both settings. However, group therapy introduces additional dimensions: managing multiple relationships simultaneously, understanding and working with group dynamics, and harnessing the therapeutic potential of the group itself. This course addresses those specific dimensions directly.

Can I facilitate a group after completing this diploma?

The diploma provides a solid theoretical and practical foundation for group facilitation. Many participants go on to co-facilitate groups alongside an experienced group therapist, using supervision to consolidate their learning in practice. Beginning with co-facilitation and seeking regular supervision is strongly recommended.

Does this course cover running groups for specific populations?

Yes. The course includes modules on running therapeutic groups in specific contexts, including addiction recovery, bereavement, trauma, and CBT-based groups. Participants gain transferable skills applicable across a range of settings and client presentations.

Enrol in the Professional Diploma in Group Therapy and Facilitation

View full course details and enrolment information on the Professional Diploma in Group Therapy and Facilitation course page. You may also be interested in the Professional Diploma in Couples and Relationship Therapy, Advanced Professional Diploma in Clinical Supervision, and Professional Diploma in Clinical Psychology. For enquiries, visit the ICPS College contact page.