Talking with clients, psychotherapists help them explore emotional problems, deal with distress, or develop coping strategies. Psychotherapists use a variety of collaborative processes to establish a relationship with the client.
Treatment is effective with both individuals or groups, and psychotherapists work with adults and children alike. Psychotherapists use a number of different approaches:
Psychodynamic - focuses on childhood experiences, dreams, the unconscious and the dynamics of the client-therapist relationship
Behavioural - works on the principal that damaging behaviours can be changed
Cognitive - works by attempting to question and change self-deprecating thoughts and habitual responses
Humanistic and integrative - based on self-development and personal growth
Person-centred - based on developing inner resources
Interpersonal/systemic - works by changing transactions and roles within relationships.
Opportunities for psychotherapists exist in the NHS, the public sector, or with voluntary organisations. Other practitioners are self-employed, running their own private practice.
There are a variety of ways to increase your employment possibilities, by developing a portfolio of services that you can offer. For example:
Working in a variety of specialisms, for example, with children
Working in mental health settings such as hospitals
Working with private clients to help them make changes in their lives
Training other professionals
Teaching or lecturing
There are a number of governing bodies to whom you can turn for further information:
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
All information on thefitmap.co.uk web site is for information only. Neither thefitmap.co.uk nor its parent company, thehealthfinder Ltd, offer any medical advice or information. Always consult your GP before undertaking any form of weight loss, fitness or exercise.
