What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a talking therapy that allows patients to foster better behavioural patterns, improve self-awareness and strengthen relationships with the people around them. The aim of psychotherapy is to help people shift their negative mindset, thinking and habits. Psychotherapists assist people who want to overcome mental health and psychological issues including:
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Eating disorders
- Depression
- Addiction
- Schizophrenia
The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PCFA) and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) are the two peak bodies for psychotherapists in Australia.
Should you complete a psychotherapy course?
Are you looking for a career path where you get to improve the quality of life for your patients and help them achieve a positive mindset? If you answered yes, you should consider pursuing a career in psychotherapy. In order to succeed as a psychotherapist, some of the attributes:
- Good and attentive listening skills to be able to understand a person's life and the root causes of their mental health problems.
- Patience and an ability to take time to deliver superior service to a client.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills to be able to explain different treatment plans and coping mechanisms to clients in a clear and easy-to-understand manner.
If you see a correspondence between the above interpersonal skills and career objectives, continue reading to learn more about your course and study options in Sydney.
What are the course and study options for psychotherapists in Sydney?
The minimum requirement that all psychotherapists must satisfy before they can enter the workforce is that they must complete undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. There are many different study options to choose from such as a Bachelor of Psychology or a Bachelor of Counselling. This will then need to be followed on with a Master in Psychotherapy. In Sydney, higher education course providers offer both on-campus, online delivery options to suit your preferred learning style and pace.
During these courses, you will be introduced to ways to help people control and manage their emotions and behaviours. Additionally, you will get to cover other related topics including therapy, counselling and mental health. Finally, you will be required to complete a practical work experience module where you need to work for 80 to 100 hours in a clinical setting.
If you believe that this is something that you would be interested in pursuing in the future, you will be able to find a list of course options for you on this page. If you have further questions about a specific course regarding their study plan, payment plans or delivery all you have to do is get in touch with them directly.
What happens after you complete your psychotherapy course in Sydney?
After you finish your course, you will need to join one of the top accreditation bodies for psychotherapists in Australia, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PCFA). There are also many different workplace settings that psychotherapists are eligible to work in. This includes a rehabilitation clinic, psychiatric unit, group therapy practice, mental health clinic or private therapy practice.
Additionally, another option available for psychotherapy practitioners once they develop their skills and professional experience, is that they can build their own private practice. This will give them the flexibility to choose their own hours and decide where to work. If this is something that you decide to pursue in the future, Natural Therapy Pages will be there to help you along the process in expanding your client base by letting you list your in-person psychotherapy sessions or online sessions on the practitioner listing page.
Finally, further education is the key to expanding your career and professional development opportunities. This includes pursuing a Doctor of Counselling, where you get to deepen your understanding of psychotherapy. Furthermore, this also increases your career paths by letting you become a professor at a reputable educational institution teaching psychotherapy.
