“Anyone can be a therapist. It’s just listening and nodding.”
I see comments like this all the time. I get it. Few people know that you can’t do the job with just a basic degree.
So, let me break it down.
I’m a Level 7 Psychotherapist and Counsellor – here’s what it took to get here:
BSc
Psychology (Hons) – Four Years
A deep dive into cognitive, individual, and social psychology, neuroscience,
animal behaviour, philosophy of psychology, plus statistics and research
methods.
I did an extra honours year, conducting research and writing a thesis.
BScs are fab but they don’t train you to work with people. For that, you need:
Masters
in Counselling (Dist) – Three Years
Theory, techniques, assessment, ethics, statistics, and more.
It
concluded with the Supervised Practicum—a fancy way to describe supervised
fieldwork.
I did mine in three places:
All Women’s Action Malaysia (AWAM)
– abuse, domestic violence, rape, incest, sexual harassment, trauma
Dresser-Rand-Siemens
– career stress, cross-cultural issues, mental health during layoffs
Asia Pacific University (APU)
– international students/staff with anxiety, depression, loneliness, growth
I took an extra course in Online Therapy and Counselling because this wasn’t covered in universities yet.
I now have an added 9+ years of experience in my private practice. But I still study. I read newly published studies every week.
Funnily enough, I do have a few clients who ask very specifically for listening and nodding.
Most though hire me to help them manage support or recovery from abuse, bullying, stress, tricky divorces, cross-cultural moves, rape, trafficking, depression, anxiety, c-PTSD and other challenges.
It’s hard work. Intense at times. But I love it. It’s what I trained for.
This
is what qualified looks like.
And I’m proud of it.
Also, my clients get better! Several of them are graduating this month, so I have spots coming up in August. Message me today via email ellen.whyte@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +44 7514 408143 for your free 15-minute consultation.
