Working as a Psycotherapist in Private Practice

OzMister

Hi all,

Is there much work available as a psychotherapist in private practice? I know it would take a few years to get up and running one qualified, but is there much demand in this climate.

Mrs OBumble

Moved from Work and Jobs ... hopefully this is a better forum.

sam34

And I'll move it to psychology, hopefully folk there will be able to answer your question.

JuliusCaesar

There was some discussion about this before, can't give you a link I'm afraid. IIRC there are very few employment prospects, and there are an awful lot of qualified people around. The impression I was left with was that the market is saturated with counsellors and psychotherapists.

OzMister

Thanks JC I was also told that, suppose I would be looking at it as a side line profession as my primary area is social care, I would be happy only seeing a few clients a week when the times comes, my head and heart is telling me go for it.

dar100

JC is right, insofar as there are many courses around, each turning out around 30 students, yearly, sometimes more.

Many people use this profession to add to income, and would have a regular job, 9-5, like yourself. Whether you can get clients to see you privately, will really depend on word of mouth, and the reputation you build as a Counsellor.

There was a interesting article written recently, can't recall the name, was British I think, talking about the ratio of students V jobs in the field, the outlook is not good.

I know if you are applying to PCI, they have a Guidance type person who works with you to develop a career path, although I don't know how helpful this will be in your case, as you seem to know where you want to go.

I would say if this is where your heart is, go for it. It will add immensely to your present skill base in the social care field, and who knows what may happen once you qualify

Rewind

My brother relocated his practice from London to Dublin a number of years ago. From talking to him about the whole thing I gather a good business model/approach is just as important as your skills as a psychotherapist/counselor. An understanding of SEO (search engine optimisation) and how to increase your Google ranking is also incredibly important.

There are a plethora of people practicing who do not qualify for registration with the PSI, so achieving a level of counseling psychologist would help in distinguishing you from the rest. That said, just because you reach that level doesn't make you any better suited to the role as the skills required for such work can come more naturally to others. Apparently there are a load of people who claim to specialise in CBT but really don't have the qualifications to justify their claims. A proven background will again help strengthen your appeal, though your average Joe Soap won't really know the difference.

JuliusCaesar

I do think the whole one-man/woman-band model of private practice will gradually be superceeded by the group practice, often run by a businessperson rather than a counsellor/psychologist.

One-doctor practices, one-lawyer practices, one-dentist practices...all going and being superceeded by group practices.

OzMister

JC I have never heard of group practice, is this new to the psychotherapy field?

HiGlo

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

I do think the whole one-man/woman-band model of private practice will gradually be superceeded by the group practice, often run by a businessperson rather than a counsellor/psychologist.

One-doctor practices, one-lawyer practices, one-dentist practices...all going and being superceeded by group practices.

Yes, I have noticed this too. My dentist office now is more of a one stop clinic offering dentist, physio and counsellor also... I've seen a few similar practices around.
It makes sense really.

Gairdin nua

OzMister wrote: »

Hi all,

Is there much work available as a psychotherapist in private practice? I know it would take a few years to get up and running one qualified, but is there much demand in this climate.

I am very interested in your thread as I am in a similar position, CBT and nurse trained and have just retired from the NHS and moving to the south west and would be interested in doing a day or two a week to keep my hand in and help me make the transition from workaholic to potential man of leisure. I know many of my UK colleagues who have retired here have joined counselling/psychotherapy practises as did not want the hassle of setting up their own websites and all that goes with it, is there any in the Cork/Kerry area? Any additional thoughts would be very welcome. There has also been a tendency to move away from single practise since the Dr Shipman fiasco. Thanks

Roquentin

I would have thought with the recession that there would be a huge demand for councilors.

There is a lot of unhappy people now.

JuliusCaesar

Roquentin wrote: »

I would have thought with the recession that there would be a huge demand for councilors.

There is a lot of unhappy people now.

But can they pay?

A prime requirement in private practice. Especially as the health insurers generally don't cover this.

Roquentin

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

But can they pay?

A prime requirement in private practice. Especially as the health insurers generally don't cover this.

No. They can complain alright but cant pay. They have no job sure.

I am only messing. I dont know tbh.

Public would be better, but all those are taken id say.

You could go abroad. canada is about to burst, so there should be plenty of jobs in counseling there soon.

The jails are always full in america, so a job as a councilor in a prison may be worth looking into. Might be a bit rough, but a job is a job.

Valmont

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

The impression I was left with was that the market is saturated with counsellors and psychotherapists.

I always thought it was the opposite. Perhaps the state-provided mental health facilities soak up most of the demand?

JuliusCaesar

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

The impression I was left with was that the market is saturated with counsellors and psychotherapists.

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

But can they pay? A prime requirement in private practice.

Valmont wrote: »

I always thought it was the opposite. Perhaps the state-provided mental health facilities soak up most of the demand?

No, Valmont - there's a lot of demand, but most of them (potential clients) cannot afford to pay in private practice, and there are not half enough (counsellors/therapists) in the public health service. And health insurance doesn't generally cover the cost either. So if you are embarking on expensive training as a psychotherapist, you will probably have great difficulty getting either a job, or opening a private practice, either of which are your career options.

Roquentin

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

No, Valmont - there's a lot of demand, but most of them (potential clients) cannot afford to pay in private practice, and there are not half enough (counsellors/therapists) in the public health service. And health insurance doesn't generally cover the cost either. So if you are embarking on expensive training as a psychotherapist, you will probably have great difficulty getting either a job, or opening a private practice, either of which are your career options.

Yea i agree. You are better off doing psychiatry. Thats where the jobs are in that discipline

JuliusCaesar

Roquentin wrote: »

Yea i agree. You are better off doing psychiatry. Thats where the jobs are in that discipline

You can only specialise in Psychiatry if you are already a qualified Medical doctor. It's a different discipline altogether, so not very helpful here.

HiGlo

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

So if you are embarking on expensive training as a psychotherapist, you will probably have great difficulty getting either a job, or opening a private practice, either of which are your career options.

Eeeeeek! Really?? This is the path I'm just in the early steps of. Heading into 4th year of Psychology degree and planning to go on and do HDip and Masters in Psychotheraphy!!

Any chance the landscape might have changed somewhat in 5 years time??

Roquentin

HiGlo wrote: »

Eeeeeek! Really?? This is the path I'm just in the early steps of. Heading into 4th year of Psychology degree and planning to go on and do HDip and Masters in Psychotheraphy!!

Any chance the landscape might have changed somewhat in 5 years time??

It depends a lot on if the economy gets worse or better. Its actually a trade-off. If the economy gets better more people are working and have money to spend, but they are more happy. However if the economy is poor, more people are unhappy but dont have enough money to spend.

DM addict

HiGlo wrote: »

Eeeeeek! Really?? This is the path I'm just in the early steps of. Heading into 4th year of Psychology degree and planning to go on and do HDip and Masters in Psychotheraphy!!

Any chance the landscape might have changed somewhat in 5 years time??

Doesn't mean that you can't do it, if that's what you really want. But be prepared for the fact that it's an area with a lot of competition for not a lot of jobs.

As to where things will be in five years - who knows?

Valmont

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

No, Valmont - there's a lot of demand, but most of them (potential clients) cannot afford to pay in private practice, and there are not half enough (counsellors/therapists) in the public health service.

I'm not hoping to fill it but surely the economics of the profession point to a gaping hole in the market for 'bargain psychotherapy' of some kind!

JuliusCaesar

Valmont wrote: »

I'm not hoping to fill it but surely the economics of the profession point to a gaping hole in the market for 'bargain psychotherapy' of some kind!

Pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap?







(Can't see how this would work...)