Psychotherapist : Training

A psychotherapist may be a medical health professional who has done further specialist training in psychotherapy or a non-health professional who has undertaken in-depth training in this area. Irrespective of their background, all psychotherapists are required to participate in continuous professional development (CPD) and keep abreast of clinical and theoretical papers, which can be done by regular attendance at conferences, courses or meetings.

See the BACP Accredited Course Search  for a list of training locations that are approved by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) . Their courses are organised and led by experienced BACP psychotherapists and are presented in a number of formats, ranging from introductory lecture/discussion groups to post-qualification workshops. This ensures that courses remain accessible to psychotherapists from a range of professional backgrounds who are at different stages in their careers.

Training routes vary between different areas of psychotherapy. Contact the relevant membership organisation for the specialist area you are interested in to identify training and accreditation options. Some psychotherapists may specialise in hypnotherapy. Information about this can be found at General Hypnotherapy Standards Council , the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH)  and the Hypnotherapy Society .

Associate membership of the BACP and registration with the British Psychoanalytic Council  are open to those candidates who have successfully completed professional training. Many proceed to full membership of the BACP after about five years.