What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a talking therapy modality where psychotherapists help clients overcome limiting thoughts and negative habits. These practitioners determine the cause of the problem through looking at their client's lifestyle, behaviour, relationships and environment. Some of the benefits of a psychotherapy session for a client's long-term mental health and wellbeing include:
- Improved empathetic skills
- Restored relationships with family and friends
- Reduced toxic and negative thought processes
- Improved communication skills
People who are dealing with the below psychological and mental health issues usually go to psychotherapists for treatment:
- Depression
- Trauma
- Bipolar disorder
- Panic disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
- Borderline personality disorder
- Phobias
- Addiction
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Eating disorders
The two main accreditation bodies for psychotherapists in Perth are:
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PCFA)
- Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
Should you complete a psychotherapy course?
Is your career ambition to have a job where you get to help others overcome emotional problems that are inhibiting them from achieving a positive mindset? If you answered yes, a career within the psychotherapy industry will allow you to achieve this. The characteristics that help improve your ability to succeed as a psychotherapist in Perth include:
- A desire to learn about the core concepts of psychotherapy and how it varies according to different conditions.
- Strong and attentive listening skills to get a good and accurate understanding of all the aspects in the person's life that are contributing to a negative mindset and mental health problems.
- High levels of patience and empathy as a way to build trust and foster a strong professional rapport with your clients.
- Clear verbal communication skills where you can explain to clients the different coping mechanisms and strategies that they should adopt and guide them through this process.
If there is a match between your interests and skillset, continue reading to find out more about your psychotherapy course and career options in the Perth region.
What are the course and study options for psychotherapists in Perth?
In Perth, all psychotherapists have obtained an undergraduate degree Bachelor of Psychology or a Bachelor of Counselling. This will then need to be followed on with a Master in Psychotherapy. These qualifications are the minimum requirements that you must meet before you can work as a qualified psychotherapist in Perth. Higher education course providers based in Perth offer a variety of delivery methods to accommodate your preferred learning pace and schedule. Some of these options include on-campus, online or blended learning delivery modes.
Throughout your educational journey, you learn about counselling, therapy and mental health. This will give you the important foundations in being able to assist people to control and managing their emotions and behaviours. These courses are taught by professional psychotherapists who have extensive experience either teaching, researching or practising in this field. As a part of your program, you will need to complete 80 to 100 hours in a clinical setting.
If you are interested in pursuing psychotherapy as a career path and interested in the course structure of psychotherapy courses, then you should consider enrolling in a psychotherapy degree program. Natural Therapy Pages has made this process easier by listing some of your course options, available at the top of this page. After you finish short-listing your favourite courses, you can get in touch with the course provider and enquire about any additional information that will assist in your decision-making such as the curriculum, delivery options or accreditation.
What happens after you complete your psychotherapy course in Perth?
As a psychotherapy graduate, you will be eligible to join one of the peak accreditation bodies for psychotherapists in Australia. Most psychotherapists decide to join the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PCFA) where they can gain access to industry updates, legislation changes and professional development opportunities. Some of the workplace settings that you are able to work in include:
- Rehabilitation clinics
- Psychiatric units
- Group therapy practices
- Mental health clinics
- Private therapy practices
After gaining some experience as a psychotherapist, you have the option to start your own private practice. This is a very rewarding career option as it gives you the opportunity to have greater flexibility when choosing your work hours as well as being able to have a greater degree of control over your business management. If this is something that you decide to pursue in the future, Natural Therapy Pages can assist you with the process of driving traffic to your services and growing your client base. This can be achieved through listing your in-person psychotherapy sessions or online sessions via the website.
If you are interested in enhancing your career opportunities or entering the research field in psychotherapy, you should consider returning back to your studies and enrolling in a Doctor of Counselling.
