Why Psychotherapists, Psychoanalysts, Hypnotherapists and Counsellors should have personal therapy
Therapists can sometimes rather enjoy being the agent of change rather than the subject of therapy. Although they often (and all should) have supervision which places them somewhere in between, they often neglect their own personal wellbeing.
Before becoming a therapist
Before training or launching as a therapist providing psychotherapy, counselling, hypnotherapy, psychoanalysis or any other form of psychological therapy there are two very good reasons for having personal therapy. Firstly the therapist who is not emotionally stable is a liability to his or her clients. It is not about being “perfect” or never having had any issues. Indeed Jung talks of the “wounded healer” in a positive way. However having instability and neurotic issues actively effecting judgement and behaviour means danger to the client. Secondly it is very valuable to have an insight into the client position. In other words it is good to know what it is like to be the client. This helps prevent the good therapist from becoming over attached to any position of authority or power that could be insinuated from their title of therapist. This reminds the therapist that the therapy process is a journey where the client and therapist cooperate.
Therapy after becoming a therapist
Life is not a bed of roses and therapists do not get a free pass! Therefore it is essential that should the therapist themselves have real life problems, which after all are part of the human condition, they seek therapy to deal with it, for the same reasons as listed in the section above. The sensible therapist will recognise they need human support, just like everyone else. It can also be interesting to experience different styles of therapy and learning from them, since in the long run this can improve the therapist’s own performance.
National Occupational Standards and AR / Regulator Fitness to Practice
NOS, AR and regulator all have clauses of good practice / ethical practice which all essentially say the therapist has a duty of care to the client to ensure they are fit to practice. This covers psychological and physical fitness, and well as reputation / criminal offences. Therefore part of fitness to practice means ensuring that you the therapist are sufficiently well physically and mentally to practice without a detrimental effect to the service or the well being of the client.
Psychoanalysis, Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy, Counselling, CBT, NLP, Life Coaching in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Stirling and Glasgow
Stuart is a psychoanalyst, clinical hypnotherapist and holistic psychologist also registered and qualified to provide psychotherapy, life coaching and counselling (within these NLP and CBT). He had psychoanalysis prior to commencing as a therapist and has had counselling and psychoanalysis since when life has placed demands upon him. He adhered to AR and CNHC regulator fitness to practice requirements. He has regular clinical supervision, also peer supervision and continues to study new psychological and physical therapy methods.
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