Psychotherapy has many training courses run by universities, colleges and institutions of which you can attend to become a qualified psychotherapist. The variety of training and modalities within psychotherapy can be confusing so it is important to understand what you want to learn and how to go about achieving it.
Firstly, you should examine your reasons for wanting to become a psychotherapist. Your choice to work in psychotherapy may be guided by a desire to help adults or children with issues. You may want to work in the private sector or within the NHS. Perhaps you prefer working on a one-to-one basis or enjoy dealing with group sessions. Whatever your preference there will be a sector within psychotherapy for you to train in that will suit you and your skills.
A psychotherapist works with people, usually over a long period, to help overcome psychological, behavioural and emotional problems. Psychotherapy helps patients to make changes to thinking and behaviour by understanding their thoughts, beliefs and experiences (personal and childhood). Within psychotherapy there are different methods and techniques. The methods you use will depend on the core theoretical model you have been taught. These models are psychodynamic, behavioural, cognitive, humanistic and integrative, person-centred and interpersonal/systemic.
Skills that are required for psychotherapy include empathy, sensitivity and an ability to listen and question. You will also need to be non-judgemental and able to remove your own feelings from those of your client. As a trained psychotherapist your salary will depend on the environment you work in. As an NHS psychotherapist you can expect to earn up to 25k to begin with rising to 60k as a senior practitioner. In the private sector psychotherapy sessions can be charged anywhere from 30 to 75 pounds so your income will reflect your client base and session attendance. Of course as a private psychotherapy practitioner your overheads will be taken into account as you'll need to rent an office and advertise your service.
Psychotherapy is a demanding profession and as such the training is equally demanding. Broadly speaking a psychotherapy training course will take a minimum of four years attending on a part-time basis. Psychotherapists working in the private sector are voluntarily overseen by bodies such as the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the British Association of Psychotherapists (BAP). These professional associations also give psychotherapy courses 'accreditation of training'.
For a university, college or institution to gain an accredited psychotherapy course from a professional psychotherapy association they must meet basic eligibility criteria such as: minimum hours of professional practitioner training between staff and students, minimum hours of supervised psychotherapy and a previous record of student graduation in psychotherapy. Joining a course that has been accredited by a professional psychotherapy association ensures your training is carried out in a suitable environment and undertaken by qualified teachers. You may also have the opportunity to join the association as a junior member giving you the opportunity to receive discounts on extra courses and training materials.
Before applying to join a course, it is beneficial to attend an introductory class to help you understand the profession and find out what is expected of you during your period of learning. Many of the psychotherapy associations operate these classes throughout the year or your local university, college or institute may offer something similar. By understanding how psychotherapy developed and what it involves you'll be able to find out if the job is for you.
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My friend needs closure
By: voterperson | 05-07-2008
Stacy buys blouses, sweaters and blazers at the 99store and they really are gorgeous. She goes every other day and buys a few or more than a few. Yesterday she went and purchased about twelve blouses (both for summer and winter). This morning the following took place:Stacy: ?Mom I am going to go out for about an hour?Mom: ?To the 99 cent store?Stacy: ?Yes?Mom: ?You just went yesterday and don?t you think you have enough, you don?t have enough storage room, it is becoming obsessive. I don?t care how much of a good buy it is?Stacy went anyway. She went to get the three blouses she left behind yesterday. When Stacy came home her mom was reading a book and then they both decided to have lunch.After lunch Stacy went to check her e-mail:Stacy: ?Mom I received the email from Annie? (Annie is Stacy?s cousin and her mom came into Stacy?s room to hear about the email)Mom: ?Ok what did Annie say.?Stacy: ?She liked my message about the book?Mom: ?So what did you buy today?Stacy showed her mom and her mom loved itSo if you were Stacy how would you interpret the remarks the mom right before Stacy left the house and the remark (?So what did you buy today?) her mom made and should Stacy still go the 99 cent store and not care about what her mom thinks.AND HERE ARE MORE THINGS:BACKGROUND: Most of the time Stacy (54 years old) goes ALONE to the 99 cent store to buy the clothes. Sometimes she will go with her mom (in her 80?s). When Stacy goes by herself she always comes home with the gorgeous stuff (items from Talbot?s, Old Navy, etc) and her mom loves the stuff that Stacy brings home. When Stacy goes with her mother her mother comments.HERE ARE THE THINGS HER MOM SAYS NOT ALL AT ONCE BUT AT VARIOUS TIMES(1) That is short, you don?t like short? (when they are at the 99 cent store)(2)?Look it over to make sure it is in good condition? (when they are at the 99 cent store)(3) ?I only told you that it didn?t look good because you weren?t sure if you liked it or not? (when they are at the 99 cent store)(4) ?Even though it is gorgeous I like the other one better if I was going to wear it?(when they are at the 99 cent store)(5) ?I do love that turtleneck you picked out but thick turtlenecks bother me? (when they are at the 99 cent store)(6) ?I only told you what I thought because you asked me if I liked it or not? (when they are at the 99 cent store)(7) ??But you don?t have to be obsessive. I mean it isn?t like you don?t have anything to wear?? (AT HOME)(8) ?You just went? (AT HOME)(9) ?You are not working right now you have to be careful with your money? and her mom will first say that the 99 cent store is NOT included and then when they fight her mom includes the 99 cent store.(10) Aren?t you going to be hot in that blouse. It is going to be a hot summer day 11) Well what you are wearing is not nice. I cant let you go out of the house like that?*she said this when they were fighting (12) People should wear what is appropriate for the weather? she said this when Stacy said well what would happen if I wore a material that might not be cool for the summer(13) Buy what you want, and I buy what I want but you don?t have to talk about it.?(14) I buy the food, and I am supporting you. But do you realize you are rubbing it in(15) I am working I cannot go to the 99 cent store or Kohl?s or any place like that to shop. You are home and shopping. I mean you talk about shopping constantly. I don?t want to hear it anymore(16) I don?t care what you buy but you don?t have to talk about it. They are pretty but again I don?t want to hear about it. When you get a job you can talk to me about your jobHOWEVER, WHEN STACY GOES BY HERSELF THIS IS WHAT HER MOTHER SAYS WHEN STACY COMES HOME:(1) ?I love what you got - I want it.? (AT HOME)(2) ?I love that and I am going to take that from you? (AT HOME)(3) ?Get me that? (AT HOME)STACY AND HER MOM WILL SAY THE FOLLOWING WHEN THEY ARE AT THE 99 CENT STORE:(1) ?Mom you always make comments? which her mother replied: ?I am allowed to say something and I am allowed not to like something?(2) ?Mom I feel you would have said something about the ones you loved that I brought home if you had come with me on those outings here? which her mother replied ?No I wouldn?t have because they are beautiful. And it is your problem if you feel this way, not mine?(3) Her mother also says ?You really lack self-esteem?(3) Her mom also says ?You know Stacy sometimes you tell me you don?t like an article of clothing I buy, but if I really like it you could stand on your head and I wouldn?t care if you liked it or not because I do.SO MY QUESTION: (1) DO you think Stacy is overreacting to the comments her mother makes; (2) DO you think Stacy?s mom would have made comments about the items Stacy brought home If her mom had gone with Stacy on those outings?
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