Counselling and psychotherapy are two types of talking therapies that work with individuals to improve their mental well-being. As careers, therapists can follow many different pathways and specialise in particular areas of interest, such as trauma therapy. As an aspiring counsellor or therapist, it may be difficult to know which courses to take to further your knowledge and expand your therapeutic approaches.
In this article, we will look at psychotherapist training in more depth. We will discover how psychotherapy and counselling training differ, who would be suitable to study the course and the key benefits of psychotherapist training.
Counselling as a Profession
Counsellors are impartial and non-judgemental therapists who offer a safe environment for individuals to discuss their current issues or specific problems, helping them cope with these challenges and look at making positive changes to improve their situation. There are many situations in which an individual may seek counselling. These can include divorce, bereavement, illness, general anxiety and more.
Counselling focuses on supporting clients to look at their beliefs, discover their patterns of behaviour and make their own decisions. Although this role does not give individuals direct advice, counsellors can help individuals challenge their ways of thinking.
Psychotherapy vs Counselling
Since both counselling and psychotherapy are kinds of talking therapy, several aspects overlap. In particular, the importance of creating a safe space for individuals to discuss their problems in confidence and developing a strong counsellor-client relationship.
However, the two differ in terms of the type of issues the individuals deal with or seek treatment for. Counselling aims to resolve current and often short-term issues while psychotherapy tends to deal with long-term issues and growth.
Psychotherapists work at a deeper level to explore how a person’s personality affects their relationships and life experiences. Psychotherapists are trained to formulate, meaning that they diagnose patients according to their therapeutic approach and create a treatment plan deemed to tackle the root cause.
Who Can Train as a Psychotherapist?
Psychotherapists often deal with individuals who are in a vulnerable state and require a high level of patience, understanding and empathy to build rapport with a counsellor. To conduct psychotherapy effectively, a counsellor needs to possess a variety of different skills.
The core skills and aptitudes of a psychotherapist include:
● The capacity to learn and study.
● A keen awareness of people and their behaviour.
● Strong communication skills.
● Sensitivity.
● Work independently and as part of a team.
● Maintain confidentiality.
● Emotional resilience.
● The ability to relate to others.
● The openness to address issues of unconscious bias or prejudice.
Psychotherapists can come from a number of different disciplines since there are no exact entry requirements for psychotherapy training. However, ideal candidates will already have a background in counselling or psychology.
For example, some people who have already completed or are due to complete a level 4 diploma in counselling. Other individuals may be health practitioners, like social workers with experience in counselling who seek psychotherapist training to continue their professional development and expand their current practice to facilitate psychotherapy as a treatment.
Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy
Integrative psychotherapy is built on the belief that no single approach is appropriate for every client. A range of different approaches and systems should be employed according to the needs of the patient with an emphasis on building a trusting relationship between the client and the psychotherapist.
The psychotherapy training course offered by Key Counselling training incorporates integrative, holistic, and spiritual approaches to support clients at a deeper level. Existing theoretical models and techniques are taught alongside specialised topics to enhance your ability to understand and build complex therapeutic relationships with clients.
With a focus on creating a safe and supportive environment and a non-judgmental approach, the training course allows you to practise new communication methods and gain confidence in using psychotherapeutic interventions.
The course offers a comprehensive combination of teaching on mental health issues like PTSD, as well as unconscious personality styles to formulate from, and therapeutic techniques like narrative therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy.
Topics to be studied on the course include:
● Bonding and attachment
● The fragmented self
● Shame and trauma vulnerability, power, and the healing relationship
● Narrative therapy
● PTSD
● Religion and spirituality in the counselling relationship
● Group psychotherapy
● ‘Spiritual abuse’
● Character styles from developed PA
● Laughter yoga and the power of joy
● ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
● Discounting with transferential dilemmas
The Benefits of Psychotherapy Training
Psychotherapist training brings a wealth of benefits, both personal and professional which can help you better understand a range of complex mental health issues, relate more strongly with clients and further your career.
Theoretical Knowledge
Psychotherapy training will provide an in-depth understanding of the core theoretical approaches involved in integrative psychotherapy. In addition to various therapeutic techniques employed in psychotherapy sessions to diagnose and treat patients.
Practical Application
The psychotherapist training course is highly practical and allows students to take theoretical approaches and techniques and put them into practice. During the course, you will conduct 50 hours of psychotherapy with clients.
You will be appointed a supervisor, a member of our team who is a qualified psychotherapist. Your supervisor will attend your sessions with clients to oversee your sessions, assess your approaches and provide constructive feedback.
Career Development
The psychotherapy course teaches a lot of key principles which are relevant throughout counselling, therapy and beyond. Individuals working as researchers or social workers can use this course to further their careers, giving them the freedom to branch out and become more employable in different fields.
Certification
Should the individual complete the course to a sufficient level, meeting the criteria for assessment and attendance, a certification will be awarded. The completion of this certification can increase credibility and trust with clients and employers by demonstrating your knowledge of psychotherapy and competence in employing psychotherapeutic techniques in talking therapy.
Continuous Professional Development
This course enables further professional development and opportunities for continued education. Other related specialisations which could be studied on completion of this course include an advanced certificate in CBT training or a diploma in family therapy or trauma therapy.
Empathy
Counselling and psychotherapy courses can boost empathy and understanding of patients’ struggles. This helps to form a strong connection between client and therapist. Building rapport is an essential part of a therapeutic alliance that enables clients to open up about what is troubling them.
Clients require the confidence to express their feelings openly to work with a therapist to discuss through their issues and find resolutions. If a strong rapport isn’t built, talking therapy may not be an effective treatment.
Personal Fulfillment
A career in therapy and counselling is extremely rewarding. Working with individuals with mental health issues or conditions can have a transformative effect on their lives and ability to cope with difficult situations. Witnessing clients’ progress and personal growth can be highly fulfilling.
Networking
In this course, you will meet industry professionals who have developed their careers in the therapy and counselling field. Meeting with other therapists, counsellors and mental health professionals is a great way to form connections with like-minded individuals.
Key Counselling Training
At Key Counselling Training, we are a counselling training provider with over 20 years of experience. Based in Birmingham, we offer classroom and remote learning opportunities for our counselling and psychotherapy courses to ensure everyone has access to quality counselling training.
We’re an accredited training provider of the diploma in integrative psychotherapy. Our course tutors are highly experienced and knowledgeable psychotherapists who will impart their expertise on the subject and support you throughout your training and assessments.
Aside from our online and face-to-face counselling courses, we regularly hold CPD events and workshops on a variety of topics, such as conflict resolution and imposter syndrome. These events enable you to continue your education in the counselling and therapy field and contribute to your continuous personal development as a counsellor.
For more information about our counselling and psychotherapy courses, contact us today! One of our trusted team members would be happy to give details about the courses we offer and answer any questions you may have.