Necessary Qualifications in Order to Practice Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is the art of treating certain forms of distress that we suffer from. Distress is not necessarily an illness but more of a psychological problem that affects our behavior, emotions and how well we relate to others and the environment. This form of treatment is not just given by anybody. It is highly sensitive just the same way medical cases are.

It is because of this reason and many more that only the qualified psychotherapists and psychiatrist get to have access to distress patients. Imagine getting medical attention from someone who did not study medicine and have minimal knowledge about it. The same case apply to giving someone therapy or counseling even though these do not require medical support.

In order to practice psychotherapy, one will need to go to school and acquire the basic and necessary knowledge that is related to the subject. Academic qualification requires one to be a graduate from medical school but with a major in psychiatric care. The highest level for this is the PhD but with a diploma from a recognized institution, one can be guaranteed on being hired as a psychiatrist. Schooling does not only stop right after graduation as training is also needed. Training is important so as to acquire the necessary skills and also to put into practice what they have been learning from school. The best way to get proper training can be through working as an intern.

Landing an internship with your local hospital or that private firm can help a lot, so before you even graduate, start looking for one.
Practicing psychotherapy will also require one to be licensed by the board of psychiatrists from the region you plan to practice from. This is important so that patients can have the necessary trust in you.

In some regions, it is considered illegal if one practices therapy or counseling without being licensed and or being recognized as a qualified psychiatrist. Apart from being illegal, this step is also important so that should something go wrong with the patient, they have someone to hold accountable. Remember distress can be very serious and if the wrong treatment is given, the end result may not be the best.

That is why they say being a psychiatrist is a little bit more important than being a regular doctor because you get to handle their emotions. But it is important to note that there is no superior title when it comes to caring for others as all are important.

Although the above three qualifications are very important when it comes to psychotherapy (in Denmark we call it lære mere om psykoterapi ), the overall qualification is considered to be having passion for the subject.

Passion is all about giving your best to something. Passion is what drives us to choose something over another as we know we will perform at our best when we do something we love. One can either be born with the passion to study psychotherapy, or marriage therapy(known as nyttige parterapi in Danish), or they can acquire it through life changing experiences. Having undivided passion , the right skill and knowledge and lastly being licensed will definitely help you to become a successful psychiatrist.