New York psychotherapist describes psychotherapist education and discusses choosing a therapist

When a person is considering entering psychotherapy, or thinking about going back into therapy, 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 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 is pursued by only some licensed psychotherapists.

I believe that postgraduate Certification in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy is important preparation for all psychotherapists. This intensive training teaches the therapist to listen and conceptualize in a particular way. An analytically trained therapist has the capacity to listen in depth and to recognize and delineate repetitive patterns that occur in an individual and also between couples.

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 essential for completion of the certification.

The experience of intensive personal treatment teaches the therapist to recognize his or her own issues, judgments and biases. This awareness enables the therapist to keep his or her personal issues separate from those that the patient or the couple has brought to treatment.

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 awareness provides a solid foundation for the achievement of deep and lasting change.