Psychotherapy for Beginners
Before I begin today, know in advance that I understand that there are many of my colleagues who will probably not be happy with the parameters which I will be using for this article. There is a myriad of people and organisations which claim to be psychotherapists or represent or qualify psychotherapists. For the first time client, this can seem an overwhelming amount of choice. So, how do you choose?
First, in an ideal world, you would go to a psychotherapist referred to you by either a GP, friend or family member. As this is not often an easy conversation to have, this can be an ideal which never occurs. So, failing that, how do you find an appropriately qualified practitioner. In the UK, there are the big 3 organisations. They are The UK Council for Psychotherapy, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and the British Psychoanalytic Council. These organisation have rigorous, independently assessed training and ethical requirements for accreditation. This is the first port of call for many new clients.
Next, decide on the therapeutic approach you want to utilise. These are varied, but can include: Person Centred, Integrative, Humanistic, Psychoanalytic, Psychodynamic, Cognitive, Hypno-Psychotherapeutic, Outcome Oriented, and Systemic. There are of course more, but this will give you a good starting point.
Finally, do your homework. Look for a practitioner who is appropriately qualified who also has the experience you are looking for to assist you with your issues. All psychotherapists are not the same and you want the right fit for you. Remember, just because someone says they are a psychotherapist does not mean that they are. Do your homework and get the right therapist for your needs.
