Psychotherapist
What is the work like?
Psychotherapists use a variety of psychological methods and talking therapies (rather than drugs or physical interventions) to help clients relieve symptoms of distress.
As a psychotherapist, the approach you use with clients would be broadly based on a core theoretical model of psychotherapy, for example:
- psychodynamic – based on childhood experiences, dreams, the unconscious and the dynamics of the client-therapist relationship
- behavioural – based on the belief that damaging behaviours can be unlearnt or reconditioned
- cognitive – based on questioning and changing negative thoughts and habitual responses
- humanistic and integrative – based on self-development and personal growth (sometimes dealing with spirituality and consciousness)
- person-centred – developing inner resources by expressing negative feelings with the therapist
- interpersonal/systemic – based on changing behaviour and roles within relationships.
See the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy websites for more information on theoretical models.
Your work with clients could involve:
- encouraging them to talk about their experiences in order to explore emotional or relationship problems
- analysing past events and behaviours so that changes can be made
- assessing the clients thought processes and feelings
- helping them develop new coping strategies.
The therapeutic techniques you use would depend on the core model of psychotherapy you were practising.
You could work with adults or children, individually and in groups. You may also train non-therapeutic groups like social workers, who are keen to understand more about how groups function.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
There is no single professional body responsible for overseeing the work of psychotherapists. However, you could join a voluntary regulatory body such as:
- the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
- the British Association of Psychotherapists (BAP)
- the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
The UKCP, for example, has divided the main approaches to psychotherapy into seven areas, which are:
- analytical psychology
- behavioural and cognitive psychology
- experiential constructivist
- family, couple, sexual, systemic therapy
- humanistic and integrative psychotherapy
- hypno-psychotherapy
- psychoanalytic and psychodynamic
- psychoanalytically-based therapy with children.
Your route to qualifying as a psychotherapist will depend on the area of psychotherapy you want to work in. Each area has links with membership organisations that either run training courses or accredit training programmes offered by other institutions. See the UKCP website for details of professional bodies related to each specialism.
For most courses accredited by a UKCP member organisation, you will need:
- a relevant honours degree (for example, in social work or psychology) or similar qualification
- experience of working with vulnerable adults or children
- a caring personality and self-awareness.
What further training and development can I do?
You could start your career in a training post in the NHS, but there are only limited numbers of these. Usually you will begin your vocational training on a postgraduate course in psychotherapy, on a four to six year part-time basis.
Courses will often combine supervised placements (working with clients), with academic study and personal development and therapy.
Throughout your career in psychotherapy you will need:
- the ability to build up good working relationships and networks with other health professionals
- access to regular supervision with another practitioner to discuss personal and professional issues
- the ability to keep up-to-date with developments in psychotherapy by, for example, attending conferences, lectures, courses and meetings organised through professional bodies or university schools of psychotherapy.
Where can I go for more information?
West Hill House6 Swains Lane
London
N6 6QS
Tel: 020 7267 3626
London
NW3 7TU
Tel: 020 8458 1609
London
NW2 4HJ
Tel: 020 8452 9823
35-37 Albert Street
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV21 2SG
Tel: 0870 443 5252
2 Wakley Street
London
EC1V 7LT
Tel: 020 7014 9955
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- The starting salary for a psychotherapist working in the NHS may be between £19,600 and £25,500 a year.
- A senior psychotherapist in the NHS may earn around £43,500 a year.
Many psychotherapists charge between £25 and £80 a session depending on the circumstances of their clients.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would usually work between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. However, private therapy sessions often take place in early morning or early evening to fit in with clients' working times. A consultation will last from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on what you agree with the client. Part-time hours are often possible.
This work can be emotionally challenging, however, you are likely to have regularly supervision sessions with a mentor to help with this.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- empathy, sincerity and sensitivity
- strong communication skills
- good listening and questioning skills
- a genuine interest in emotional and relationship issues
- good observational skills
- a non-judgmental approach
- the ability to create trust and rapport with a wide range of people
- an energetic and positive outlook
- the ability to separate your own feelings from those of your clients
- the confidence and skill to explore painful issues with clients
- commitment to self development.
What opportunities are there?
You could work as a psychotherapist within mental health services in the NHS (see NHS Jobs for vacancy details). You could also work in other areas of the public sector and with voluntary organisations.
Skills in psychotherapy can also be useful if you go onto train in an areas such as psychology, social work or one of the health professionals.
You may improve your employment prospects if you are experienced in more than one model of psychotherapy and can demonstrate your ability to work with different client groups.
With experience, you could take on a training, teaching or mentoring role, or become self-employed and set up independently in private practice. Networking and creating links within this field and the healthcare profession is very important and may help you build your practice as well as a solid client-base.
Throughout your career you will need to arrange and have access to professional support from a qualified mentor or supervisor.
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