The evolving world of Therapy and Training
Psychology and therapy training and practice are constantly evolving. The PHTA approach gives our students a rounded training in a broad and varied range of therapies, allowing them to create a therapeutic approach that is “tailor made” to each individual client. This is a vital part of the PHTA philosophy, to recognise that each unique individual has a unique way of being in the world. A flexible approach to therapy means being able to engage in each client’s world, and in doing so, find the best way to help them achieve their goals. This may mean using hypnotherapy, NLP, cognitive or behavioural techniques, elements of psychodynamic or existential therapies, or a combination of approaches.
Underlying all of these approaches is PHTA’s commitment to the client or person centred approach to therapy. Whatever therapeutic approach or model a therapist chooses to work with, it needs to be based on an empathic relationship between client and therapist. Therapy, in our view, is about human connection, about creating an environment in which clients feel comfortable and safe to explore possibilities. When this is achieved change can take place.
In recent years there has been a shift towards the cognitive and behavioural based therapies. More recently a further shift towards a neurological based approach has evolved, basing therapies on theories of brain function. These are interesting new developments covered in the PHTA curriculum. However, we do see these developments from a perspective that recognises how therapy changes and evolves. Even as the cognitive and neurological approaches have gained momentum, another shift has been taking place towards the field of energy or meridian therapies. PHTA has been at the cutting edge of this field, and has been teaching Emotional Freedom Techniques for a number of years. This element of our training has been so successful that we have set up a separate division, the EFT Training Academy, to offer courses in meridian therapies. Can we simply reduce human beings to theories, diagrams and neurological activity; is there something intrinsically human that science cannot define?
This leads us to a frequently asked question: Is therapy an art or a science? In our view it is both. This is how PHTA approaches training, building from an academic and skill base, but encouraging students to be creative and to develop their intuitive skills.
There is a bewildering range of courses of varying length available. We do not believe in short cuts to becoming a safe, ethical, competent and successful therapist. The two years spent on our diverse curriculum allows our students enough time to absorb and learn the different skills we teach, and develop the necessary self - awareness so important to therapy.
On completion of the course students are able to join our three independent accrediting bodies, the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (including the General Hypnotherapy Register), the National Council of Psychotherapists and the National Council for Hypnotherapy. This will allow students to gain public liability insurance, to be listed on the relevant websites for client referrals, and to practise in an ethical framework with a recognised code of ethics (PHTA also has it’s own code of ethics). Our accrediting bodies are among the longest standing in the UK.
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