Becoming a psychotherapist in my 40s

[Toyen]

Hello Mums,

My first post here... I am hoping that some of you will help me shed some light on how to retrain to become a psychotherapist. I must say that I'm not really keen on spending 20k+ on another undergraduate degree (I have a BA and a postgrad degree in languages and interpreting, so an unrelated field), but it seems that to be taken at all seriously, one needs to have a related-field degree and then invest another 3+ years into further study to actually get to work with clients.

I have seen the option of becoming a psychotherapeutic counsellor, which seems to be a less involved (and less expensive) route, but also seems to be limited in the scope of provided services/treatment. I wonder whether one can, with time, get to the level of an actual psychotherapist, without following the traditional route.

I have seen courses through organisations such as Chrysalis, but some graduates say that the quality of the material and the tuition itself wasn't of high quality. Also, they aren't answering calls and I cannot get through to a live human to discuss any of my questions.

Have any of you here retrained to be a psychotherapist later in life? Are you happy with this decision? How long did it take you please? And what would you recommend as the best place to start? I will be 46 in a few weeks, and wondering if this leap is worth taking. Thanks in advance!

@Toyen I have a family member considering the same. Any further ideas on the various approaches?

I'm coming at this from the point of view of someone who has experienced long term therapy and has also had inexperienced people try and help but who have caused more trauma/damage

I think it is totally appropriate that in order to help those with complex problems, you need lengthy and careful training. For example if you have not had proper trauma training and practice you may inadvertently retraumatise someone and cause them more harm.

If you do less training then it is only right that you are limited to the services you provide.

I think it is probably possible to start out as a counsellor and then do continued study to gain more psychotherapeutic skills and eventually do a psychotherapy Masters part time while working as a counsellor. I don't think there are short cuts though

I’m a psychotherapist. Many people on my course were in their 40s.
i trained at SPTI and I would always recommend them, or metanoia. It’s a big commitment and it’s expensive so irs important to find the right place for you, and also to get the best training experience. I wouldn’t train as a counsellor, or via an online course personally.

The bottom paragraph isn’t true. The amount of hours you need to do as a therapist in training means it’s not possible to do it part time in that way.

I know someone who did a psychotherapy masters part time while working as a counsellor but it was a while ago so it may not be possible now.

The course feels like part time because it’s very limited - one weekend a month or one evening a week. But on top of that is client hours, therapy and supervision, plus essays etc.

What route have you seen? Currently there’s no official distinction between ‘counsellor’ or ‘psychotherapist’. So you can do a counselling course and call yourself a psychotherapist, if you want. I know plenty who do.

Have you thought about counselling training? Ignore the silly advice from @PandaOrLion Counselling training can be very worthwhile in many ways. The snobbery within the profession is very real.

Whatever you decide I’d recommend doing a course that’s been accredited by the BACP or/and UKCP.