What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a type of talking therapy that aims to assist clients with overcoming negative thoughts and habits. It looks at a multitude of factors impacting a person's life such as their environment, social network and lifestyle. This form of treatment is immensely beneficial for a client as it allows them to increase their self-awareness, improve their relationships with others around them and foster healthier behavioural patterns. Psychotherapists can help people who are dealing with a variety of psychological and mental health issues such as:
- Depression
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Addiction
- Eating disorders
- Schizophrenia
The two main accreditation bodies that assist psychotherapists in the Adelaide region through employment programs and networking opportunities are:
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PCFA)
- Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
Should you complete a psychotherapy course?
Do you want a career where you get to help others overcome problems that are inhibiting them from achieving a positive mindset? If this sounds like you, psychotherapy is the perfect career path for you. In order to be a successful psychotherapist, you must have the below interpersonal skills:
- Strong listening skills to be able to get a comprehensive understanding of all the aspects in the person's life that are contributing to a negative mindset and mental health problems.
- Patience especially since you will be dealing with a lot of people throughout the workday and sometimes it will take time to develop trust and a strong rapport with clients.
- Be able to uphold high levels of confidentiality and privacy especially since you will be dealing with sensitive medical and personal information.
- Clear communication skills where you will be able to explain in easy-to-understand terminology the coping mechanisms that clients should adopt.
What are the course and study options for psychotherapists in Adelaide?
For you to work as a qualified psychotherapist, you will need to dedicate a lot of time to achieve this goal. The prerequisites you must meet before enrolling are that you complete an undergraduate degree in psychology, counselling or any related field. Next, you must complete a Master's degree in psychotherapy. Adelaide-based psychotherapy course providers offer both on-campus and online.
In these courses, you will learn about theories counselling, mental health and the practice of a therapist. It also includes clinical training where you get to experience first-hand working as a psychotherapist with clients.
If you are set on working as a psychotherapist and ready to begin your studies, Natural Therapy Pages has made it easy for you by providing you with a comprehensive list of different course options available in your area. If you have any queries about any of the courses, you are able to enquire with the course provider directly.
What happens after you complete your psychotherapy course in Adelaide?
Psychotherapy is not an industry that is regulated in Adelaide and for that reason, it is highly recommended that you sign up to be a member with either the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) or the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). This will allow you to remain up-to-date with the safety and ethical procedures that all psychotherapists must uphold before they enter the workforce. When choosing where you want to work, you are offered a variety of different specialties to choose from. This includes, but is not limited to educational psychology, interpersonal therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, group therapy and family therapy
After you gain some experience working as a psychotherapist, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills that will grant you the opportunity to start your own private practice. This is a much sought-after option by psychotherapists as it gives them the freedom to manage their own business however they like. If this is an option that you decide to go with in the future, you will be able to list your face-to-face psychotherapy consultations or online services on Natural Therapy Pages’ practitioner listing page.
Finally, once you finish your initial undergraduate and postgraduate studies as well as gaining experience working as a psychotherapist, you will have the option to complete a Doctor of Counselling.
