Psychotherapy Training
Course (4 years)
The Psychotherapy Training Course is suitable for
individuals seeking to establish or further develop their
private practice; or as a means to enhance employment
opportunities and further develop skills within the
government and community sectors. The course provides
clinical training and supervision in the clinical practice
of longer-term Individual Psychotherapy, and Small Group
Psychotherapy.
The ICP Psychotherapy Training Course does not adhere to
any one particular school of therapy but rather draws upon
a wide variety of perspectives in understanding the
therapeutic relationship and process, working with the
unconscious and dreams, and the “spiritual” dimension of
human existence. A substantial emphasis is placed upon the
trainees’ exploration and understanding of their own
dreaming and relationship processes.
Training
Components:
1. Clinical Theory and Supervision Group
2. Reading Group
3. Individual Psychotherapy
4. Dream Group
5. Early Childhood Development Group (Toddler Observation)
6. Individual Clinical Supervision
1. Clinical Theory and Supervision Group
The objective of this group is to explore critical issues
relevant to clinical practice as a Psychotherapist by way
of seminars, selected reading, discussion, skills training
and clinical supervision of case work. Particular attention
will be focussed upon the differing theoretical approaches
to working with and understanding the therapeutic
relationship and process, the unconscious, and dreams
arising from Jungian Analytical Psychology, Psychoanalysis,
Humanistic and Existential Psychology, Systemic Therapy,
C.B.T.
Emphasis is placed upon developing sound clinical skills
particularly with regard to working with the therapeutic
frame and boundaries, transference and
counter-transference, and practice ethics. Some of the
clinical skills to be explored are: assessment, diagnosis
(using the DSM IV TR), contracting, listening, empathy,
dream work and interpretation, frame and transference
interpretations, silences, holding, interventions,
reframing, the use of questions, neutrality, understanding
context, report writing, and private practice skills and
development. Current day realties with regard to obtaining
clients, referrals and marketing are explored.
Where appropriate trainees (with no prior clinical
experience) generally commence their clinical practice in
year 2, by engaging in shorter term individual counselling
and shorter-term "support and discussion" groups in order
to hone their basic counselling skills, prior to the
commencement of longer-term psychotherapy style cases and
groups. Video tapes of trainees’ clinical work are
utilised. There is ample opportunity for trainees to
develop their own unique style and pursue their own
clinical interests. Trainees are required to present a
tutorial paper to the group twice per year in each of the
first 3 years. A major paper focussing upon an area of
personal interest is due by the end of year four.
*In our experience over the past ten years, trainees
generally find that their income from client work
eventually covers and exceeds their training costs. Every
assistance in this regard is offered. However your level of
income, both during the training and subsequently, is
fundamentally determined by your motivation, capacity as a
Psychotherapist and market forces. Graduates currently earn
between $75 and $120 per hour. Individual results do vary,
and this statement is intended as a general guide only.
Trainees often find partime employment in a variety of
agencies.
2. Reading Group
The Reading Group will look at biographies and
autobiographies of Freud, Jung and Klein. The particular
focus is the influence of one's personal life and social
context in relationship to the development of theory and
clinical practice.
3. Individual Training Psychotherapy
The objective of this experiential component of the
training course is to learn more about oneself, with a
focus on expanding self understanding and knowledge; and
increasing one's capacity to self reflect with particular
regard to repetitive unconscious patterns in thinking
feeling and behaving. Individual Training Psychotherapy
also provides the opportunity to reflect on transference
and counter transference issues pertaining to clinical
work.
4. Dream Group
This experiential component of the training course focuses
upon interpersonal learning and utilises dreams, ones
experience in the group and feedback from the group to
increase awareness of significant aspects of interpersonal
behaviour such as strengths, limitations and interpersonal
distortions. The opbjective of this group is to increase
one's understanding and appreciation of core relationship
beliefs and repetitive unconscious relationship patterns.
5. Early Childhood Development Group
(Toddler Observation)
This group runs for approximately 18 months and involves
the weekly observation of a toddler’s development, and
attendance at a weekly seminar group. This is a unique
opportunity to learn about human development and the
process of observation; and to explore the work of Donald
Winnicott and other early childhood theorists. For the
duration of this group trainees will be required to be in
individual psychotherapy on a twice per week basis.
6. Individual Clinical Supervision
Individual Clinical Supervision can be taken up at any time
during the course depending on caseload. Training staff may
require trainees to take up additional clinical supervision
if they deem it necessary. Trainees will be required to
complete two control cases: one dream focussed individual
psychotherapy case (minimum length 12 months), and one
psychotherapy group (minimum length 12 months), with the
assistance of one hour per week individual clinical
supervision.
Upon completion of the four year Clinical Psychotherapy
Course, trainees will be required to undertake a further
two years of postgraduate individual clinical supervision
on a minimum one hour per fortnight basis to further
develop their clinical skills and to fulfil ICP
registration requirements.
Training
Structure
The Psychotherapy training course is of 4 years part time
duration and runs according to the public school terms. As
such there are 4 terms per year of approximately 10 weeks
per term.
Year One
• Clinical Theory and Supervision Group: 2 hours per week
(4 years duration)
• Dream Group: 1 1/2 hours per week (2 years duration)
• Reading Group: 1 1/2 hours once a month for six months
(commencing second half of year one)
Year Two
• Psychotherapy Clinical Theory and Supervision Group
• Individual Psychotherapy
• Dream Group
Year Three
• Psychotherapy Clinical Theory and Supervision Group
• Individual Psychotherapy (twice per week)
• Early Childhood Development Group (Toddler Observation) :
2 hours per week (18 months duration)
Year Four
• Psychotherapy Clinical Theory and Supervision Group
• Individual Psychotherapy.
• Early Childhood Development Group continues
• Individual Clinical Supervision (one hour per week
throughout control cases)
Note: with the exception of Individual Psychotherapy, all
other units require completion of written assignments, and
trainees are expected to read widely.
Registration
Trainees who successfully complete the first two years of
the course may receive provisional registration as a
Psychotherapist. Upon successful completion of the training
course, graduates receive full registration as a Clinical
Psychotherapist, and Clinical Membership of ICP.
Postgraduate
Training
On satisfactory completion of the training trainees are
eligible to apply for:
1. Dream Analysis
2. Systemic Couple
and Family Therapy
2.
Tibetan Buddhist Psychotherapy (run by the
'Compassion in Action')
Introduction to Psychotherapy is also available as a 12
months course either by attendance or Distance Training Option
Application Process
Applicants will need to fill out an application form and
attend two pre-selection interviews. There are no minimum
requirements, however experience in working therapeutically
with others, and current access to clients would be well
regarded.
ICP’s selection process is non-discriminatory on the basis
of gender, ethnicity, spiritual belief, sexual preference
or disability.
Trainees are requied to abide by ICP's ethics.
To obtain an application form, a prospectus or to make
further enquiries,
Contact ICP
