Who we are
The Story Behind AAPCI
AAPCI was born out of a deeply personal and professional recognition of the challenges facing adolescents and their families in Ireland. Time and again, we saw parents struggling to find practitioners who could truly support and understand their unique needs—therapists who could see them without judgment and provide a safe space for their adolescents to open up.
For too many families, the available care felt limited: short courses of therapy that barely scratched the surface or a lack of practitioners trained in the complexities of adolescent development. We wanted to change that.
Beyond the therapy room, there was another glaring gap: no dedicated association for adolescent care. While other organisations offered special interest groups or add-ons, there was no unified voice to represent practitioners or advocate for the specific needs of adolescents and their families.
AAPCI was established to fill this void—a space where counsellors, psychotherapists, and supervisors could grow together as professionals while families could find highly trained, competent therapists they could trust.
Our Vision and Values
We’re still defining and refining these as we grow, but AAPCI is built on these core principles:
Collaboration: We believe in working together, not in isolation. AAPCI is a place where practitioners can share knowledge, support one another, and collectively raise the standards of adolescent care.
Excellence: Adolescents and their families deserve the best. That’s why we hold our members to high standards of training and education, ensuring they’re equipped to meet the complexities of working with young people.
Empathy: Understanding the lived experiences of adolescents and their families is at the heart of what we do. This includes fostering non-judgmental, inclusive spaces for practitioners and the public alike.
Advocacy: AAPCI aims to be a voice for adolescents, their families, and the professionals who support them. By engaging with policymakers, we hope to influence the future of adolescent mental health in Ireland.
Our Impact
We envision AAPCI as more than just an association—it’s a movement. We want to become the trusted resource for adolescent mental health, a beacon of support for practitioners and families alike.
For Practitioners: AAPCI is a place to belong, grow, and collaborate. Through training, networking, and professional development, we’re creating a community where practitioners can thrive while raising the bar for adolescent care.
For Families: We’re building a directory of trusted, highly trained therapists so families can find the right support with confidence and ease.
For Adolescents: By supporting those who inform policy and practice, we aim to ensure that every adolescent in Ireland has access to meaningful, high-quality care.
A Collaborative Future
AAPCI is more than an association; it’s a community. Together, we’re shaping the future of adolescent care—creating a world where families feel supported, practitioners feel valued, and adolescents feel genuinely seen and heard.
To achieve this future we need you please click below to join us.
