A psychotherapist provides diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders using psychotherapeutic methods such as behavioural therapy, biofeedback, relaxation therapy and other techniques.
Occupation description
A psychotherapist provides diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders using psychotherapeutic methods such as behavioural therapy, biofeedback, relaxation therapy and other techniques.
Alternative Titles:
- Art Psychotherapist or Therapist
Occupations not considered suitable under this ANZSCO code:
The following occupations are assessed under ANZSCO 252299 Complementary Health Therapists nec:
- Dance Therapist
- Drama Therapist
- Hypnotherapist
- Music Therapist
- Play Therapist
Other Counselling modalities are also not considered under the occupation of Psychotherapist:
- Careers Counsellor
- Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
- Family and Marriage Counsellor
- Rehabilitation Counsellor
- Student Counsellor
- Counsellors not elsewhere classified
Psychologists are advised to contact the Australian Psychological Society for assessment as a Psychologist for migration purposes.
Psychotherapist is a Group A Occupation
This occupation requires a qualification which is assessed as comparable to the educational level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher*, in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation.
Applicants must also have at least one year of highly relevant, post-qualification employment, at an appropriate skill level completed in the last five years.
If the qualification(s) are not at the required educational level, and not in a highly relevant field of study, or if the employment has been completed prior to the qualification, then the applicant will be assessed below the required skill level.
*This includes qualifications assessed at AQF Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level qualifications.
A positive assessment of both qualifications and employment is required for a positive Skills Assessment Outcome.
*Those with a Bachelor that is not 'highly relevant' but in a related field, and with a Australian Graduate Diploma in Counselling or Psychotherapy can be accepted.
Relevant paid employment duration (20 hours or more per week)
Qualification and Employment Criteria
AQF Bachelor or higher*
Major Fields of Study
• Counselling
• Psychotherapy
The following areas of study may be considered highly relevant; however, these programs must include theoretical and practical training in Psychotherapy:
• Counselling – Health Sciences
• Applied Social Science (Counselling)
• Gestalt Therapy
• Reality Therapy
• Psychology – Degrees in psychology can be accepted if sufficient theoretical and supervised practical components in psychotherapy and counselling are completed
• Clinical Psychology
Employment
Tasks include:
- collecting data about clients and assessing their cognitive, behavioural and emotional disorders.
- developing, administering and evaluating individual and group treatment programs.
- utilising a range of therapeutic interventions and interpersonal relationship to enable people to develop self-understanding and insight. Psychotherapists may use a range of methods on clients’ during sessions such as music, art, drama and exercise, but that would be in addition to the talking therapy.
- working in one-on-one sessions or may guide group therapy meetings.
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