Posted by Crazy_Charlie on November 4, 2004, at 1:48:44
In reply to Re: Psychologists in US, is it true that..., posted by mandinka on November 3, 2004, at 17:17:49
I agree on some thing, and disagree on some things. Of course it's not the degree that is making you a therapist, but still I find it weird that who ever wants to can just call themselves a therapist. The relationship between a client and a therapist is so vulnerable that some kind of guarantee for the person would actually be good.
By going on the university to become a psychologist in Norway, one of the things they are pushing you to do is exactly what you say: go in therapy yourself. At the study you are at any time provided with a therapist if you need it, without any costs. Another thing you do is having sessions with clients where an experienced therapist is sitting behind a oneway mirror watching you, and you also tape the session on video (this is of course with full consent from the client). After each session the student and the experienced therapist goes through the tape and looks at what the student did that was good and what he/she should work with.
A student who is repeatedly saying or doing things that is hurtingt the client, or in any other behaves inaproriate, will first be recommended to quit. If the student doesn't change he wont be allowed to continue with th eclient, and he wont get the course accepted. All courses has to be accepted for you to become a therapist.
I do NOT agree with that to become a good therapist you would have to learn it through having several different theraists. That is definately NOt good enough.
I also do not agree that a degree is only intellectuall understanding, espescially not when the degree includes 1,5 years with observated working with clients, and a course running over 2,5 years leaded by two experienced therapists about how to know yourself. All lecturs are held by experienced psychologists and researchers in the field, I don't think going in therapy with the same psychologist leading the course will give you the same insight of how it is to be a psychologist and what you should be aware of.
Becoming a therapist without a proper background in the field is at least irresponsible. We have proper tutorials in ethics, attachments to clients an dclients attachemnts to you, pros and cons in therapy etcetc. How can you learn all this from just going in therapy yourself? I have had five totally different therapists in my life time, but going to that 6 year study taught me more about myself than any of those therapists managed in any session.
The study in Norway is exactly what you say, practice practice and practice, under supervision. I am trained in short term psychodynamic approaches, integartive approaches, cognitive approacehs, forensic approaches, CBT approaches, humanistic approaches etc. How can you get this variability unless you are guided by someone who is experienced in the field?
I do see that not everyone on the study would make a good therapist, and I do see that some poeople who are not getting a place on the study would make a great therapist. But that is not my point....
I'm sorry, but I think you got more upset with defending something I don't understand than really reading my post. I hope this made it more clear.
poster:Crazy_Charlie
thread:411163
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20041026/msgs/411415.html