2. Where can I find a good psychology counsellor, or a psychotherapist? What qualifications should I look for?
In North America, the following qualifications are required for psychology counsellor and psychotherapy.
Clinical Psychotherapists Requirements:
Normally Clinical Members shall
Hold an appropriate graduate degree from a recognized university (psychology, counselling, social work, medicine, theology, humanities, or a related program, a copy of which should accompany the application.
Alternatively, experienced psychotherapists who do not have a graduate degree will be considered for membership on an individual basis by the Membership Committee. Both experience and training will be assessed as an equivalent to the graduate program.
These Clinical Members shall have 1000 hours of clinical experience working primarily with individuals. Members must be university graduates and demonstrate learning in at least four (4) of the following six (6) areas as they relate to psychotherapy:
• theory
• methodology/clinical skills
• research/literature review
• assessment/testing
• intellectual inquiry
• writing skills.
Knowledge in these areas may be drawn from the following sources: courses, seminars, training workshops, professional conferences and work experience. These sources shall be in addition to personal psychotherapy or psychotherapy training
• Psychotherapy Training: must have specific training in psychotherapy or have completed an academic graduate degree or counselling practicum.
• Clinical Psychotherapy Practice: must have a minimum of one thousand hours of professional clinical work as a psychotherapist. This clinical work must be mainly with individuals.
• Supervision: must have completed a minimum of one hundred hours of one-to-one supervision. Ordinarily an applicant is expected to have had at least two supervisors, neither of whom have concurrently served as the applicant's personal psychotherapist.
• Individual Psychotherapy: must have completed a minimum of one hundred and fifty hours of personal psychotherapy. At least fifty hours of this must be individual and consecutive with one psychotherapist.
• Liability Insurance: must have, or apply and be approved for, professional liability insurance.
