conditions for the professional practice of psychotherapy
The institutional, legal and psychosocial practices and regulations related to the practice of psychotherapy.
Psychotherapists assist and treat healthcare users with varying degrees of psychological, psychosocial, or psychosomatic behavioural disorders and pathogenic conditions by means of psychotherapeutic methods. They promote personal development and well-being and provide advice on improving relationships, capabilities, and problem-solving techniques. They use science-based psychotherapeutic methods such as behavioural therapy, existential analysis and logotherapy, psychoanalysis or systemic family therapy in order to guide the patients in their development and help them search for appropriate solutions to their problems. Psychotherapists are not required to have academic degrees in psychology or a medical qualification in psychiatry. It is an independent occupation from psychology, psychiatry, and counselling.
Competences and skills
103 ESCO relationsEssential knowledge 21 competences
Occupation specific
3 competenceshistoric development of psychotherapeutic schools
The timeline of the psychotherapeutic schools of practice, their general description, characteristics and fields of application.
psycho-social forms of intervention
Types of support activities and interventions that can reduce stressful events, symptoms or risk and improve the quality of life.
Sector-specific
7 competencesclinical social work
The branch of social work that deals with assessing, making diagnoses, treating and preventing bio-psychological problems and other behavioural disturbances.
disorders affecting self-awareness
The consciousness process related to various medical disorders and illnesses and its manifestation and treatment options.
history of patient's psychotherapeutic problems
The records of the patient`s previous psychotherapeutic problems or disorders.
psychopathology
The criteria of psychiatric diagnoses, the use of the disease classification system, and the theories of psychopathology. The indicators of functional and organic disorders and the types of psychopharmacological medications.
psychopharmacology
The awareness of various effects that medicines have on the patient or client's behaviour, mood and thinking.
psychosomatics
Interdisciplinary medical specialty addressing the connection between the social, psychological, and behavioral attitudes and their impact on human processes.
therapy in health care
The principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions.
Cross-sector
11 competencesbody language
Notice and interpret the non-verbal signals that people send out with their body, including yourself.
health care occupation-specific ethics
The moral standards and procedures, ethical questions and obligations specific to occupations in a health care setting such as respect for human dignity, self-determination, informed consent and patient confidentiality.
personality development theories
The theories of the healthy and psychopathological personality development.
psychiatric disorders
The characteristics, causes and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
psychiatry
Psychiatry is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
psychological diagnostics
The psychological diagnostics strategies, methods and techniques concerning health-related experiences and behaviours as well as mental disorders
psychological theories
The historical development of counselling and psychological theories, as well as the perspectives, applications, and interviewing and counselling strategies.
psychology
The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.
scientific research methodology
The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
supervision of persons
The act of directing one individual or a group of individuals in a certain activity.
theories of personality
Theoretical conceptions of personality, such as psychodynamic theory, humanistic theory or behaviorism.
Essential skills and competences 52 competences
Occupation specific
6 competencesconclude the psychotherapeutic relationship
Conclude the process of the psychotherapeutic relationship, making sure that the patient's needs are met.
conduct psychotherapy risk assessments
Conduct risk assessment procedures, making use of any tools or guidelines. Recognise language used by the patient that might imply harm to self or others asking direct questions if required. Facilitate the process of getting the patient to discuss any thoughts of suicide, and quantify the likelihood of these being put to practice.'
discuss the end point of therapeutic intervention
Identify a possible end point of therapeutic interventions with the patient in accordance with their original goals.
evaluate practice in psychotherapy
Analyse existing psychotherapy models and their applicability to individual clients.
keep up with current trends in psychotherapy
Keep up with current trends and debates in mental health services, being aware of changes in social, cultural, and political thinking about psychotherapy and of the interplay of various theories. Stay informed about increases in the demand for counselling and psychotherapies, and be aware of evidence-based research, the appropriate measurement tools for psychotherapy, and the need for research.
maintain personal development in psychotherapy
Develop and monitor personal qualities as a professional psychotherapist, ensuring resilience, the ability to manage complex and unpredictable behavior and taking appropriate action when required
Sector-specific
33 competencesaccept own accountability
Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.
advise on healthcare users' informed consent
Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.
apply context specific clinical competences
Apply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within one`s own scope of practice.
comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice
Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.
conceptualise healthcare user’s needs
Get an idea of what the healthcare use needs are and visualise the case, the possible solutions, and treatments to be applied.
contribute to continuity of health care
Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.
decide upon a psychotherapeutic approach
Make an informed choice about which type of psychotherapeutic intervention to apply when working with patients, according to their needs.
diagnose psychiatric symptoms
Recognise and diagnose the common medical, neurologic and primary psychiatric symptoms such as delirium, dementia, violent episodes, self-injurious behavior, etc.
encourage healthcare user's self-monitoring
Encourage the healthcare user to engage in self-monitoring by conducting situational and developmental analyses on him- or herself. Assist the healthcare user to develop a degree of self-critique and self-analysis in regards to his behaviour, actions, relationships and self-awareness.
ensure safety of healthcare users
Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.
formulate a case conceptualisation model for therapy
Compose an individualised treatment plan in collaboration with the individual, striving to match his or her needs, situation, and treatment goals to maximise the probability of therapeutic gain and considering any possible personal, social, and systemic barriers that might undermine treatment.
handle patient trauma
Assess the competences, needs, and limitations of people affected by trauma, referring the patients to specialised trauma services where appropriate.
identify mental health issues
Recognise and critically evaluate any possible mental health/illness issues.
manage psychotherapeutic relationships
Establish, manage and maintain the therapeutic relationship between psychotherapist and patient and client in a safe, respectful and effective way. Establish a working alliance and self-awareness in the relationship. Make sure the patient is aware that his/her interests are a priority and manage out-of-session contact.
monitor therapeutic progress
Monitor therapeutic progress and modify treatment according to each patient's condition.
organise relapse prevention
Help the patient or client identify and anticipate high risk situations or external and internal triggers. Support them in developing better coping strategies and back-up plans in case of future difficulties.
perform therapy sessions
Work in sessions with individuals or groups to deliver therapy in a controlled environment.
prescribe psychotherapeutic treatment
Prescribe, direct, and administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat disorders of a mental, emotional, or behavioural nature.
promote mental health
Promote factors that enhance emotional well-being such as self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, control of one`s environment, spirituality, self-direction and positive relationships.
promote psycho-social education
Explain mental health issues in simple and understandable ways, helping de-pathologise and de-stigmatise common mental health stereotypes and condemning prejudicial or discriminatory behaviours, systems, institutions, practices, and attitudes that are clearly separatist, abusive or harmful to people's mental health or their social inclusion.
provide a psychotherapeutic environment
Create and maintain a suitable environment for the psychotherapy to take place, making sure the space is safe, welcoming, consistent with the ethos of the psychotherapy, and meeting the needs of the patients as far as possible.
provide treatment strategies for challenges to human health
Identify possible treatment protocols for the challenges to human health within a given community in cases such as infectious diseases of high consequences at the global level.
record the outcome of psychotherapy
Keep track of and record the process and results of the treatment used in the psychotherapy process.
respond to healthcare users' extreme emotions
React accordingly when a healthcare user becomes hyper-manic, panicky, extremely distressed, agressive, violent, or suicidal, following appropriate training if working in contexts where patients go through extreme emotions regularly.
support patients to understand their conditions
Facilitate the process of self-discovery for the healthcare user, helping them to learn about their condition and become more aware of and in control of moods, feelings, thoughts, behaviour, and their origins. Help the healthcare user learn to manage problems and difficulties with greater resilience.
use clinical assessment techniques
Use clinical reasoning techniques and clinical judgement when applying a range of appropriate assessment techniques, such as mental status assessment, diagnosis, dynamic formulation, and potential treatment planning.
use e-health and mobile health technologies
Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.
digital
use psychoeducation
Work with patients and their families through psychoeducation.
use psychotherapeutic interventions
Use psychotherapeutic interventions suited to the different stages of treatment.
use techniques to increase patients' motivation
Encourage the patient`s motivation to change and promote the belief that therapy can help, using techniques and treatment engagement procedures for this purpose.
work on psychosomatic issues
Work with body and mind issues such as the spectrum of human sexuality and psychosomatic ailments.
work with healthcare users under medication
Work with healthcare users who are using prescribed medications and other drugs.
work with patterns of psychological behaviour
Work with the patterns of a patient or client's psychological behaviour, which may be outside of their conscious awareness, such as non-verbal and pre-verbal patterns, clinical processes of defence mechanisms, resistances, transference and counter-transference.
Cross-sector
13 competencesadhere to organisational guidelines
Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
communicate in healthcare
Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.
comply with legislation related to health care
Comply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.
counsel clients
Assist and guide clients to overcome their personal, social, or psychological issues.
develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship
Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.
empathise with the healthcare user
Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.
follow clinical guidelines
Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.
interact with healthcare users
Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.
listen actively
Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.
manage healthcare users' data
Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.
manage personal professional development
Take responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional development based on reflection about own practice and through contact with peers and stakeholders. Pursue a cycle of self-improvement and develop credible career plans.
research
respond to changing situations in health care
Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.
work in a multicultural environment in health care
Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.
Optional knowledge 7 competences
Occupation specific
0 competencesNo competences in this bucket.
Sector-specific
3 competencespsychoanalysis
The types of psychoanalytic theories and techniques that relate to the unconscious mental processes
psychomotor therapy
Psychomotor observation and therapy in adults, children and persons with an intellectual disability meant to tackle the psychiatric problems of a person.
sexual disorders
The range of sexual disorders such as sexual aversion disorder, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, and vaginismus and the effects of medication on sexual function.
Cross-sector
4 competencesgeriatrics
Geriatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
paediatrics
Paediatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
pedagogy
The discipline that concerns the theory and practice of education including the various instructional methods for educating individuals or groups.
rehabilitation
The methods and procedures used to help an ill or injured person restore lost skills and regain self-sufficiency and control.
Optional skills and competences 23 competences
Occupation specific
1 competencecollaborate to discuss treatment plans in psychotherapy
Discuss, if appropriate, treatment plans and progress with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses and other professionals.
Sector-specific
12 competencesaddress side effects of menopause
Address side effects of menopause such as fatigue, body temperature changes, mood swings, depression and weight gain. Search for symptoms of health problems that can be caused by menopause, such as heart disease, vision issues and osteoporosis.
apply caseload management
Manage a number of patients within a given amount of time, striving to provide optimum health services.
apply hypno-psychotherapy
Hypnotise a patient to create subconscious change in the form of new responses, thoughts, attitudes, behaviours or feelings.
apply psychoanalysis
Conduct psychoanalysis on patients, focusing on unconscious forces that can have a negative effect on their psychological well-being.
apply systemic therapy
Conduct therapy, not addressing people on a strictly individual level but as people in relationships, dealing with the interactions of groups and their interactive patterns and dynamics.
carry out psychiatric assessment of child
Evaluate the child or young person's problems with attention to physical, genetic, developmental, emotional, cognitive, educational, family, peer, and social components and use the information to determine a diagnosis for the mental disorder.
diagnose mental disorders
Formulate a diagnosis for people with a variety of issues and mental disorders, ranging from short-term personal and emotional problems to severe, chronic mental conditions, recognising and critically evaluating any possible mental health issues.
employ cognitive behaviour treatment techniques
Employ cognitive behavioural treatment techniques for those whose treatment involves cognitive re-training, addressing dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviours and cognitive processes and contents through a variety of systematic procedures.
help healthcare users develop social perceptiveness
Provide strategies and support to healthcare users with social difficulties. Help them understanding others` verbal and non-verbal behaviour and actions. Support them in developing better self-confidence in social situations.
work in multidisciplinary health teams
Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.
work on the effects of abuse
Work with individuals on the effects of abuse and trauma; such as sexual, physical, psychological, cultural and neglect.
work with healthcare users' social network
Get involved with the friends, families and other relevant actors important for the client or patient being treated, under the conditions of confidentiality and transparency.
Cross-sector
10 competencesapply organisational techniques
Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.
apply systemic design thinking
Apply the process of combining systems thinking methodologies with human-centred design in order to solve complex societal challenges in an innovative and sustainable way. This is most often applied in social innovation practices that focus less on designing stand-alone products and services to designing complex service systems, organizations or policies that bring value to the society as a whole.
deal with emergency care situations
Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.
educate on the prevention of illness
Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and health conditions. Provide advice on the identification of risks leading to ill health and help to increase the patients' resilience by targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.
inform policy makers on health-related challenges
Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.
promote inclusion
Promote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive environment.
provide health education
Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.
record healthcare users' billing information
Record the healthcare user`s information for the billing of provided medical services.
use foreign languages for health-related research
Use foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.
use foreign languages in patient care
Communicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.