History

The Iron Mill is a long established educational and training organisation and a place of high professional standards. The institute is based in Devon in the South-West of England and has been established for nearly 30 years. The Iron Mill was pioneered by Julie Hewson, the current Director in the early eighties as a way of combining Psychology, Art and Sociology in the transformatory process of Clinical and Organisational Applications. This has led to a range of nationally and internationally accredited trainings in Psychotherapy, Counselling, Supervision, Coaching and Specialist applications. 

It is known both nationally and internationally as a place of excellence and there is regular cooperation between the Iron Mill and Institutes across Europe and the United States. In addition there is a culture of courtesy, care, cooperation and creativity plus a strong sense of a learning community where graduates come back again and again to say hello or to refresh themselves with one of the Iron Mill Institute’s range of professional development workshops.

We offer a range of professionally accredited training in the fields of counselling, psychotherapy, supervision, coaching and dramatherapy. We also have a rich and varied continuing professional development programme (CPD) available to the qualified professional or for those just wanting to sample what we offer.

The Institute has grown and flourished over the years moving to Exeter from a more remote location in 2000 (shown in the picture above). It has attracted students from a range of cultural, religious and minority groups, and the range of professions that have been represented here during this time has been astonishing. Each person brings a richness and diversity to the Iron Mill and we are blessed with teachers and trainers of high quality and commitment with a range of excellent practitioners, plus a dedicated and welcoming administrative team, who provide important back up and support for the people studying here.

The Institute is now based in a beautiful historic building in the centre of Exeter. The location has enabled more people to gain access to our trainings and has helped to build on the existing foundations with an increasing diversity to both the learning community and the range of courses we can offer. Please take some time to read the ‘About Exeter’ page as the city has a lot to offer while you study with us.

By clicking below you can listen to an interview with the Director Julie Hewson on BBC Radio explaining how the Iron Mill started: