Iron Mill College was established over 40 years ago, to offer courses in counselling, psychotherapy, and psychological well-being. We pride ourselves on being a specialist college; one that holds space for students to express their individuality and creativity as developing professional practitioners
The College, which operates from two campuses in Exeter and Poole, employs over 50 teaching and administration staff, and has approximately 500 students studying for a range of qualifications including certificates, diplomas, foundation and primary degrees, and advanced diplomas. So, whether you are starting out on your journey to becoming a counsellor or psychotherapist or already qualified but seeking to further develop your skills – we have a course for you. We also have a rich CPD programme for social professionals and a low-cost counselling service to local communities.
We are proud of our alumni many of whom create and run local and regional services; our students join them in direct fieldwork experience that is central to courses; and we are proud to have been creating, contributing to, and supporting this network for over four decades.
Watch our video below to hear what our students say:
Our history
Iron Mill College was established in 1981 by Julie Hewson who started a small family business from her home located in Exmoor near a stream called the Iron Mill (yes, that's where our name came from!).
Julie's aspiration was to run a set of psychotherapy, psychological wellbeing courses that held a space for students to express their individuality, creativity and uniqueness. We're extremely proud to have carried this ethos right through to today.
Iron Mill College moved to Exeter on Longbrook street which was still a family business but gave the opportunity for people to access the courses easier. The site only featured a few classrooms and offices but grew its reputation of providing excellent creative learning courses to the city and beyond. We still have a few staff members working with us today who joined the college back in the Longbrook street days!
In 2011, Julie decided to sell the college to CCS Training, an Irish company, allowing her to focus on her art interests. Since this time, the Iron Mill has grown rapidly where we have been able to offer a low-cost community counselling service, validated University courses, postgraduate courses and an excellent range of CPDs for our students and the general public.
CCS Training also opened a sister college called PCI College that leads counselling and psychotherapy courses in Ireland where we collaborate together to continue our journey of providing creative and outstanding education. From joining CCS Training, we have been able to open another branch in Poole which we are enjoying seeing the development of this centre.
All in all, the college has grown from strength to strength. The creative learning community has flourished where we have been able to qualify students as Psychotherapists and Counsellors every year that will help hundreds of people in their career journey.
Our mission and values
Our mission is to inspire transformative education in mental wellbeing, with the goal of empowering our learners to fulfil their potential by delivering robust contemporary training in the area of mental wellbeing by inspiring development of emotional, cognitive knowledge and practice skills to benefit society. Our ethos is underpinned by three key values;
- Wisdom: creating a deeper understanding of knowledge and expertise in the field of mental wellbeing
- Responsibility: being committed to developing and creating sustainable wellbeing
- Integrity: to know and have the courage to do what is right
