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I want to be a psychotherapist what are the main pathways ?

aidie

i am toying with the idea of becoming a psychotherapist 

One that listens to and helps people get better

what are the main routes to this new career ?

is there such thing as an apprenticeship ? and are people of autism prevented in any way ?

do u know anyone who has switched career like this in mid life ?

  • in reply to Mark (NicheMarket)

    This is the course my friend just did which she was super happy with tavistockandportman.nhs.uk/.../

  • in reply to aidie

    If I had a parallel life I'd consider 5 Spirit Accupuncture. This is an older version than traditional accupuncture which had a lot strupped out by the communists. 5 Spirit accupuncture works with the soul, or 5 spirits. It's a different form of therapy and i find can help whete talking sometimes fails.

    I was also recently impressed by NLP, which prob has a shorter route. And there's just not enough people doing EMDR fo post traumatic trauma.

    It's worth looking at gaming the system and getting a student loan for an under or post grad course. If you don't earn loads after you don't pay it back; and if you're earning well you do and everyone's happy!

  • ;-) I'm NOT going to call this an endorsement, because I haven't been involved with any training on this site. Some of their literature has proved personally useful, however.

    One huge problem is (and they highlight it) that there are some 200 plus 'schools' of psychotherapy 'thought' globally. There are probably some training routes that would purposely avoid that, but this one at least suggests that we can mix and match according to clients' vastly differing needs; and the differing abilities of individual psychotherapists.  Also, the books and downloads on this site might help you find your way through this maze; even if you eventually go elsewhere.

    Human Givens Institute: Holistic & Scientific Approach To Your Needs (hgi.org.uk)

    I also reckon it would suit you, given your regular positive input here. If I were in the UK and a bit younger, I'd be interested myself.

    (Sure, I could do some online courses, but I would still be faced with the very unfortunate fact that almost anything (in my country of residence) containing the notion of 'psycho' (especially with adults) is certain to be shunned by both local society and those political types who manipulate just about everything here. Even as a volunteer, I would almost certainly be left out in the cold.)

  • Hi Aidie, 

    There are laws against discriminating because of someone's diagnosis, so you would not be prevented from studying to be a psychotherapist in any way at all based on your autism. The same goes for employment (although I know people are discriminated against even if not in an obvious way)

    I am currently at university and lots of people on my degree are having a career change in mid life (me being one of them!) 

    I would say go for it! Heart️

  • Most therapists seem to start mid career, even late career. And I recently did a works communication skills course with a therapist who happened to be autistic, so it can work! And I did a 1 year foundation course in group therapy, loved it, and felt really competent in it. I'd do the full thing except I dedicated to my current job. So no barriers for us!

    There are a few routes in. The main thing is whether you want to train as a psychotherapist or counsellor. Counsellor courses are much shorter and generally 'counsel'. Therapy courses more focus on helping you develop a therapeutic relationship with the client that transforms them. Counselling courses are often offered by your local FE college, or as a diploma at a uni. Therapy mostly by professional society type things, though i think there are undergrad and more postgrad courses in it. I did mine with The Institute of Group Analysis. The Tavistock Institute is often recommended. There's also becoming a clinical psychologist which is a 2-3 year postrad taught doctorate. And Psychiatric Nurses. There's dozens of schools of therapy so definitely find out which one resonates with you. I'd avoid Freudian Analysis and Lacan. No idea how you choose but there's a book that explains the main schools of therapy, and prob more than one book and maybe some internet stuff.

    There's also specialisms like Trauma, Sexual Abuse, Family, Kids, Substance Recovery, ... .

    I'm sure you'll be great, go for it!