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When a person is
considering entering psychotherapy, or thinking about going back
into treatment, they often seek a consultation to discuss their
situation before making a decision. During consultations, I am
frequently asked, "What exactly is a psychotherapist?" and "What
kind of training should I look for and how can I evaluate it?"
Most psychotherapists are usually trained in one of three licensed disciplines: 1) Psychiatry, 2) Psychology and 3) Clinical Social Work. The training in each of these disciplines varies somewhat in its focus, but all are geared toward helping people learn to cope with and overcome emotional problems. Another aspect of training that is less well known and understood is postgraduate Certification in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy from a recognized training institute. In New York State, these institutes are certified by the State Board of Regents. This postgraduate course of study is optional and only some licensed therapists choose to pursue this additional course of study. I believe postgraduate Certification in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy is important for all psychotherapists. An analytically trained therapist has the capacity to listen in depth and to recognize and delineate repetitive patterns of behavior. Certification from a recognized training institute generally requires the therapist to have a minimum of 300 hours of personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy at a frequency of two to three sessions per week. It involves 400 hours of classroom study focused on theoretical concepts and their application to the therapy process. Extensive individual supervision of patient treatment is also required for completion of the certification.
This combination of personal analysis, academic study and intensive supervision enables the therapist to work toward a thorough understanding of the patient’s personality patterns or of a couple’s relationship dynamics. The resulting understanding provides a solid foundation for the achievement of deep and lasting change.
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