To want a therapist with a PhD

[GalGadont]

It’s always been my understanding that you see a therapist or counsellor, not a psychiatrist or psychologist, for stuff like mild depression (rather than severe problems). However I find some counsellors, to be really frank, not that bright, and it’s not really clear to me how rigorous or thorough their training is. WIBU to want to see someone with the fullest qualifications (privately, I obviously wouldn’t expect an NHS referral)? Do people do this? How do you find someone?

Not meaning to offend anyone: I’m sure there are good counsellors, but I’ve felt like there’s something missing in my experience so far. If I’m having to pay anyway, it feels like I might as well be paying for someone with the most thorough grounding and knowledge.

As PP have said, if you're going to insist on a doctorate, you'd want someone with a relevant professional doctorate (e.g. DClinPsych), not a PhD. PhDs are research qualifications and don't focus on psychotherapeutic skills.

That said, a lot of good psychotherapists may have a Masters rather than a doctorate, but extensive skills. Possible signs of this could include combining their private practice with leading an NHS therapy service and/or training and supervising less experienced therapists. So, definitely don't get too hung up on a doctorate as a sign of quality.

If money's really no object, you could look for a "medical psychotherapist," who'll be a fully qualified psychiatrist with additional postgraduate training in psychotherapy. They tend to be pretty brainy, but their fees reflect them being medics

A phd doesn't mean you are a chartered psychologist.

Have a look on ACCHIPP, BPS or HCPc sites to find a clinical psychologist,

Look at the UKCP website. You will find psychotherapists with masters and doctorates in psychotherapy, who have been trained at length, and will work at depth with you.

To everyone who’s been rude and sarcastic when the reason for the thread is that I’m struggling with depression, haven’t found treatment to date helpful, and am looking for a more effective way to spend my limited time and money - congratulations. Well done you.

Thank you to those who have made helpful suggestions, I appreciate it. I hadn’t focused on the difference between a research PhD and a professional doctorate, so will bear that in mind.

PhD isn’t the professional training qualification for clinical or counselling g psychologists.

I’d suggest you familiarise yourself with the different therapy routes and qualifications (BACP etc)

I think it's not cut and dried. I've seen about 5 therapists over 20 years.

There's a big difference between someone with a PhD and Jez from Peep Show with his life coaching certification.

I've seen a very highly qualified therapist that I wouldn't rate at all.

My current long term therapist doesn't have a PhD but she's wonderful and her life experience tells.

It's not an exact science. I think you could have every qualification in the land and be a shit therapist.

Had two years therapy with a counsellor she was good but I don’t think my mental state necessarily improved.

Just started to see a psychologist and I already feel like it’s a different type of therapy.

A psychiatrist is more there to diagnose conditions and treatment plans such as therapy type and medication - I only see mine once every 8 weeks. But see my psychologist twice a week.

Is anyone able to explain under which qualifications people can call themselves psychotherapists in the UK?

What's the difference between a psychotherapist and (clinical) psychologist?

Do you get a trial session? I had ridiculously bad cosmopolitan level insight from a psychiatrist I saw when I was a youngish adult, and not really awful but not great help from a psychiatrist as a teen, so whilst I agree you need to have a certain level of confidence in your therapist, I wouldn’t get caught up on the finer distinctions.

although yes, there is a minimum level of qualification and experience I’d look for - I’ve got a few acquaintances who are now counsellors and I have my doubts!

OP it's really hard that people with mental illnesses need to research and find their own treatment options. The system is flawed and I'm sorry some replies here are so unhelpful. It's not easy having depression and trying to keep your life together.

It also depends on whether the therapist has had enough of their own therapy, to be "good". It's a training requirement for many courses, especially the psychoanalytic ones, but not for all.

Generally the level of expertise goes like this: counsellor, psychotherapist, psycho/jungian analyst, senior/training analysts. None of those training courses are PhD (though can go on to be) but the duration of the courses can vary massively from 2 years to 6 years +. Having said that, the experience, supervision and personal therapy of the therapist matters the most. There are some very experienced, excellent counsellors out there, and some awful, self-important psychoanalysts (look in the history books!).

So, I don't think having a PhD is important but decent training, supervision and personal therapy is.

Regrettably, psychotherapist isn't a protected title, so it can be used by someone with no qualifications at all.
Look for someone who has done a psychotherapy specific qualification, with UKCP accreditation. UKCP accredit robust psychotherapy training at masters level. It takes at least 5 years of training to achieve.

I feel like part of the problem is many of them claim to be ‘experts’ in so many areas and they just can’t be!!

I once had a professional tell me I’m not an alcoholic because I wasn’t physically addicted but then claim to be an expert on addiction 🤦‍♀️

research someone with a lot of experience in the area you need help for eg anxiety, depression, PTSD and go from there.

Good luck

It sounds like you have no idea what you're talking about.
It also sounds like you suffer from acute lack of empathy and I didn't even have to be a qualified doctor to diagnose that.

OP, I totally understand you and I'm at the same point that you are, I'm very tired of being referred to god knows who. I had three therapists/counsellors in the last 10 years and only one was good enough. I've decided that now that I can pay I'm going to do my research and find someone suitable to my issues.

I've bookmarked several posts in this thread, thank you everyone who contributed with useful info

Because it's a common degree for the most highly trained in this field: clinical and counselling psychologists

I have a pgdip in counselling, but my PhD is in physics. Doesn't help much, I think they just wanted to make sure the people on my course we're teachable because it was a more intensive course.

I've met many counsellors, I don't think being a good one has anything at all to do with academic intelligence. However you do have to have a connection with your therapist so if you are unable to take a less educated person seriously you will not get the most out of your sessions. So find a counsellor you are comfortable with.

Most private psychologists advertise on Psychology Today or Counselling Directory. Approach a few and have an informal chat first to see if they are a good fit. The reality is that even the best therapist isn’t going to be a good fit with everyone. And as someone said upthread, psychologists who are registered to practice clinically do a doctorate not a PhD (unless they are from another country) - check for HCPC registration.

I entirely agree with you. I've met quite a few people training to be counsellors and some of them weren't very academically bright and didn't have great verbal and written language skills -- to the point I thought they may not even understand the words their clients were using.

That is just one of the attributes you need to be a good counsellor, but I think it is pretty important (I'd not want to feel I was significantly more intelligent than my counsellor as the 'balance' would be wrong between us).

Perhaps look for BACP registration.

Brilliant - this is what I was looking for, thank you. Thanks also @Twatalert and @BetsyBobbins for your supportive posts - Betsy I’m glad you’ve found this thread useful also and I hope you find a good therapist for you.

MyCBT therapist was woefully under qualified. It was obvious within a couple of minutes.

I really wish that I'd had a choice and if I'd been given a list of counsellors beforehand, I'd have chosen the most qualified.

I have a PhD. The therapist I saw for several years did not. However, my therapist was very experienced and was able to help me because she was an expert in her field. I understand wanting to find a therapist who ‘gets’ you, but a doctorate is no guarantee of that. For me it was more important that my therapist had a theoretical orientation that worked for me, and experience dealing with clients who needed the sort of help I needed. Just me experience.

Damn it, just my experience.
Freudian slip 😁

Counsellors can practise after 12 weeks diploma online its not a regulated profession.
I've done a masters and I would say you want someone who has their 100client hours as the training is done by counselling people not reading books.
Doing a one is researching ìnto one thing a trained counsellor had learned the modalities and practiced them
No amount of theory Will help a counsellor help a client. We are basically a person to figure things out with they don't fix your problems

Phd not one sorry