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Psychotherapist
Psychotherapists help people to deal with psychological and emotional issues that can lead to problems such as distress, anxiety, phobias or eating disorders. They encourage clients to explore their thoughts, emotions and experiences.
Work activities
Psychotherapists usually work with clients on a one-to-one basis, meeting them in private and treating their problems in confidence. Some psychotherapists work with families, couples, children or groups of clients. Usually, treatment lasts no longer than 50 minutes and takes place one to three times a week. Some clients experience positive changes after a few meetings. In other cases, sessions may go on for several years. There are various schools of thought in psychotherapy:
- Therapists who use psychodynamic therapy (which includes psychoanalysis and Jungian analysis) encourage clients to explore their feelings and open up their emotions. Many psychotherapists believe that our experiences as children strongly affect our adult behaviour, even if we are unaware of this influence. They help clients to make links between past and present events, and to discuss their dreams, because these could be a clue to their inner conflicts. A central part of psychodynamic therapy is the idea that the type of relationship that develops between psychotherapist and client can itself reveal a lot about the client’s difficulties.
- In cognitive/behavioural psychotherapy, therapists help clients to challenge their assumptions about past experiences and present relationships. Psychotherapists help their clients to think about and put into practice strategies for change. Face-to-face interviews and verbal communication are an important part of psychotherapy. However, the therapist can also learn from non-verbal communication. For example, psychotherapists who specialise in child and adolescent psychotherapy observe how children play or behave towards other children, to find out more about their feelings and relationships. They also analyse drawings to see what they reveal about young people’s thoughts and feelings.
Personal qualities and skills
As a psychotherapist, you need:
- An investigative mind.
- A strong interest in the way people think and act.
- A logical and methodical approach to problem solving.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- A calm, professional approach at all times.
- Strict respect for your clients’ confidentiality.
You should also be:
- A good listener.
- Logical and systematic.
- Patient, non-judgemental and objective.
- Able to build a trusting, constructive relationship with clients.
- Committed to helping people transform their lives in a positive way.
- Resilient and able to avoid becoming burdened by the difficulties you encounter.
Pay and opportunities
Salaries for psychotherapists vary depending on their area of specialisation and whether they are employed or in private practice. Psychotherapists working within the NHS typically start on Agenda for Change pay band 6, which starts at £35,392. They can progress up to band 7, which pays up to £50,096.
Working hours for psychotherapists vary widely. They may see two to four clients a day, each for around an hour. Many work part-time. They need to coincide with patients’ commitments, so early morning and evening work is common. Many posts are part-time; some psychotherapists work at more than one centre or combine another job with private practice.
Competition for psychotherapy posts following qualification is strong, as there are often more applicants than vacancies. Many people go into the psychotherapy profession after working in a related area such as social work, medicine or psychiatric nursing. New entrants considering training should check on likely work opportunities in their area.
Opportunities for psychotherapists occur throughout the UK. Psychotherapists find work in child guidance centres, outpatient clinics, private clinics, hospices, general practice surgeries or special schools.
Many psychotherapists work in private practice, often from their own home.
Where are vacancies advertised?
Vacancies are advertised in local/national newspapers, on job boards, on employers’ websites, on the Government’s Find a Job service.
Entry routes and training
Most psychotherapists have a degree in psychology or are qualified in related areas such as social work, medicine or psychiatric nursing. Many people go into psychotherapy after working in one of these areas. To enter an employed position, you first need to complete a recognised training course. The UK Council for Psychotherapy and the British Psychoanalytic Council are the two organisations that set training standards.
A number of organisations provide training. Entry requirements depend on the organisation and the type of course offered. All trainees must be in individual psychotherapy themselves, with an approved training therapist. You are also likely to need professional experience of working with people in need/distress. Many organisations will expect you to undertake a relevant placement if you do not have this experience. Training is expensive, especially because trainees undertake their own psychotherapy. Students often have to take part-time jobs to support them during the training period. Training usually lasts for at least four years (part-time) before qualification. Most trainees work in a related field during this time.
Employed psychotherapists with experience and business skills sometimes progress to self-employed positions.
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: Some posts, in the health service for example, are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.
Qualifications
Entry requirements for training courses in psychotherapy vary. Some courses require a degree in psychology, while other training providers accept entrants with degrees in science or humanities. Entrants with qualifications and experience in social work and medical areas are often accepted onto training.
For entry to a degree course in psychology, the usual requirement is:
- Two to three A-levels, ideally including psychology.
- GCSEs (grades 9-4) in two to three other subjects.
English, maths and science subjects are sometimes preferred. Other qualifications, such as an Edexcel (BTEC) Level 3 National qualification or the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma could also be considered.
Adult opportunities
Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.
Applicants have usually gained skills and abilities in related areas, such as medicine, psychology or social work. Many people need to work part-time to finance their training and period spent in personal psychotherapy.
Some training organisations offer flexible training options. A range of colleges and universities offer courses in psychotherapy/counselling at undergraduate and postgraduate level including with part time/flexible and distance learning study options.
