Choosing a therapist is different for everyone. These are some pointers and pieces of information that I would have found useful when I started my personal therapy journey. I would also recommend checking out the UKCP FAQ’s at Psychotherapy FAQs | UKCP .
Do I need therapy?
Whether it’s a wondering or a certainty that you would like to start therapy, why not find out how an empathic and supportive working relationship can work for you? There are no criteria for ‘needing’ therapy. Your life doesn’t have to be falling apart, nor do you need to have a diagnosed mental illness to have therapy. Psychotherapy is about being human and all that involves from anxiety, depression, neurodiversity, addiction, trauma, issues with sex, issues at work, relationships or feeling lost in the world. Being human can be hard and I’m here to help.
Tips for choosing a therapist
Meet them first. The therapist client relationship has been shown to be the most influential factor in positive outcomes from therapy.
Meet a few therapists so you can compare and contrast.
Choose a therapist belonging to a professional body. Counsellors and psychotherapist don’t yet have to join an accredited register by Law. A counsellor or psychotherapist that is registered with a professional body is demonstrating a level of training and their commitment to working within that professional body’s policy and ethical framework.
Face to face or online therapy?
Since the pandemic online therapy is now a regular form of therapy offered by many therapists. If it is something you are thinking of check out the registers for UKCP, BACP and Psychology Today to find practitioners that offer this. I don’t offer online work at the moment.
What is a UKCP Trainee?
A UKCP registered trainee is enrolled on a UKCP accredited training course leading to a psychotherapy qualification.
I am a 2nd year trainee on the Post Graduate Advanced Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy at the Welsh Psychotherapy Institute (WPI). This is a post graduate course with a duration of 4 years with an independent study phase afterwards. So, the shortest length of time I will be training for before qualifying is around 6 years.
During this time, I must have my own continuous personal therapy and higher frequency supervision than when I qualify. This means I am well supported in my work with you.
Supervision
Supervision is undertaken by all UKCP practicing therapists.
UKCP’s definition of supervision is ‘Supervision is a formal process in which a qualified or trainee psychotherapist or psychotherapeutic counsellor regularly presents his or her client work to a designated or chosen supervisor as way of enhancing their practice through careful reflection on the process.’
In my words, this means I take some of our work in the session to another experienced therapist to help my reflective practice and make me a better therapist for you.