Psychotherapy
I have been accredited as a psychotherapist by NLPtCA
(Neuro-Linguistic Psychotherapy and Counselling Association)
and am registered with the United Kingdom Council for
Psychotherapy (UKCP).
The following information is taken from their website.
What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is the provision, by a qualified practitioner,
of a formal and professional relationship within which
patients/clients can profitably explore difficult, and
often painful, emotions and experiences. These may include
feelings of anxiety, depression, trauma, or perhaps
the loss of meaning of one's life. It is a process that
seeks to help the person gain an increased capacity
for choice, through which the individual becomes more
autonomous and self determined. Psychotherapy may be
provided for individuals or children, couples, families
and in groups.
A Psychotherapist thus works with people who have emotional,
behavioural, psychological or mental difficulties. The
actual work is mainly to encourage the client to talk
and explore their feelings, beliefs and thoughts, and,
sometimes, relevant aspects of and events in their childhood
and personal history. Some psychotherapists work to
help the patient/client understand more about their
problems and then make appropriate changes in their
thinking and behaviour. As a result, the work can last
over quite a long term. Brief psychotherapy is also
possible, especially to help someone resolve a more
immediate crisis. There are a number of different psychotherapeutic
approaches: Cognitive Behavioural, Psychodynamic, Psychoanalytic,
Systemic (Family & Relationship), Humanistic, Integrative,
Transpersonal, Experiential, Hypno-Psychotherapy, etc.
What is the difference between psychotherapy, psychology
and psychiatry?
- All 3 work with people who have emotional or mental
difficulties
- All 3 work both in the private sector and in the
NHS
- All 3 have had extensive training, and should be
members of the relevant professional body
A Psychologist is a general term for someone who has
studied psychology, usually to degree level or beyond.
Psychologists have observed and measured human behaviour
scientifically and have produced models and therapies
based on this knowledge. There are a number of different
branches of psychology including Occupational Psychology,
Forensic (Criminal) Psychology, and Educational Psychology,
amongst others. A Clinical Psychologist or a Counselling
Psychologist will have done further training (often
to a doctorate level) to be able to administer psychological
tests (personality tests, intelligence tests, etc.)
and to be able to treat people with emotional or behavioural
difficulties. For further information, go to the British
Psychological Society web site. (www.bps.org.uk)
A Psychiatrist works within a medical framework and
so will have trained as a medical doctor first and then
specialised in psychiatry. Psychiatrists diagnose and
treat mental illnesses and disorders. Only psychiatrists
and medical doctors can prescribe medications. For further
information, go to the Royal College of Psychiatrists
web site. (www.rcpsych.ac.uk)
A UKCP Psychotherapist has had a four-year, post-graduate,
in-depth and experiential training in how to work with
a variety of people with a wide range of emotional and
mental difficulties. Psychotherapists are trained in
one or more of the different modalities. For further
information, please explore the UKCP web site.
What is the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy?
There are many similarities between these disciplines,
and it is very hard to explain the differences between
them. There is usually a general understanding that
a psychotherapist has had longer training that a counsellor,
and can work with a wider range of clients/patients.
Psychotherapy is often considered to take longer and
go deeper. But there are also exceptions to every rule
and there is no set difference. The UKCP now has a Psychotherapeutic
Counselling section that ensures its registrants are
up to the same training standard as other UKCP psychotherapists.
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