Psychotherapist Legal, Social & Cultural Professionals
SaveWhat Does a Psychotherapist Do?
Psychotherapists assist and treat healthcare users with varying degrees of psychological, psychosocial, or psychosomatic behavioural disorders and pathogenic conditions by means of psychotherapeutic methods. They promote personal development and well-being and provide advice on improving relationships, capabilities, and problem-solving techniques. They use science-based psychotherapeutic methods such as behavioural therapy, existential analysis and logotherapy, psychoanalysis or systemic family therapy in order to guide the patients in their development and help them search for appropriate solutions to their problems. Psychotherapists are not required to have academic degrees in psychology or a medical qualification in psychiatry. It is an independent occupation from psychology, psychiatry, and counselling.
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Where Do I Start?
Scientific Research Methodology
The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Psychotherapist
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialScientific Research Methodology knowledge
The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
Recommended Books
5 books -
EssentialTheories Of Personality knowledge
Theoretical conceptions of personality, such as psychodynamic theory, humanistic theory or behaviorism.
Recommended Books
2 books -
EssentialPsychosomatics knowledge
Interdisciplinary medical specialty addressing the connection between the social, psychological, and behavioral attitudes and their impact on human processes.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialHealth Care Occupation-Specific Ethics knowledge
The moral standards and procedures, ethical questions and obligations specific to occupations in a health care setting such as respect for human dignity, self-determination, informed consent and patient confidentiality.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialSupervision Of Persons knowledge
The act of directing one individual or a group of individuals in a certain activity.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialTherapy In Health Care knowledge
The principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialPersonality Development Theories knowledge
The theories of the healthy and psychopathological personality development.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialConditions For The Professional Practice Of Psychotherapy knowledge
The institutional, legal and psychosocial practices and regulations related to the practice of psychotherapy.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialDisorders Affecting Self-Awareness knowledge
The consciousness process related to various medical disorders and illnesses and its manifestation and treatment options.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialPsychiatric Disorders knowledge
The characteristics, causes and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialPsychiatry knowledge
Psychiatry is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialPsychological Diagnostics knowledge
The psychological diagnostics strategies, methods and techniques concerning health-related experiences and behaviours as well as mental disorders
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialPsychological Theories knowledge
The historical development of counselling and psychological theories, as well as the perspectives, applications, and interviewing and counselling strategies.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialPsychology knowledge
The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialPsychopharmacology knowledge
The awareness of various effects that medicines have on the patient or client's behaviour, mood and thinking.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialPsycho-Social Forms Of Intervention knowledge
Types of support activities and interventions that can reduce stressful events, symptoms or risk and improve the quality of life.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialHistoric Development Of Psychotherapeutic Schools knowledge
The timeline of the psychotherapeutic schools of practice, their general description, characteristics and fields of application.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialHistory Of Patient's Psychotherapeutic Problems knowledge
The records of the patient`s previous psychotherapeutic problems or disorders.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialPsychopathology knowledge
The criteria of psychiatric diagnoses, the use of the disease classification system, and the theories of psychopathology. The indicators of functional and organic disorders and the types of psychopharmacological medications.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAccept Own Accountability skill
Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAdhere To Organisational Guidelines skill
Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAdvise On Healthcare Users' Informed Consent skill
Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialApply Context Specific Clinical Competences skill
Apply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within one`s own scope …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialCommunicate Effectively In Healthcare skill
Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialComply With Legislation Related To Health Care skill
Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialComply With Quality Standards Related To Healthcare Practice skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialContribute To Continuity Of Health Care skill
Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialCounsel Clients skill
Assist and guide clients to overcome their personal, social, or psychological issues.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDevelop A Collaborative Therapeutic Relationship skill
Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEmpathise With The Healthcare User skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEnsure Safety Of Healthcare Users skill
Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialFollow Clinical Guidelines skill
Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialIdentify Mental Health Issues skill
Recognise and critically evaluate any possible mental health/illness issues.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialInteract With Healthcare Users skill
Communicate with clients and their carer's, with the patient's permission, to keep them informed about the clients' and patients' progress and safeguarding confidentiality.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialListen Actively skill
Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Healthcare Users' Data skill
Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Personal Professional Development skill
Take responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional development based on reflection about own practice …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOrganise Relapse Prevention skill
Help the patient or client identify and anticipate high risk situations or external and internal triggers. Support them in developing better coping strategies and back-up plans in case of future …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPerform Therapy Sessions skill
Work in sessions with individuals or groups to deliver therapy in a controlled environment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPromote Mental Health skill
Promote factors that enhance emotional well-being such as self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, control of one`s environment, spirituality, self-direction and positive relationships.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide Treatment Strategies For Challenges To Human Health skill
Identify possible treatment protocols for the challenges to human health within a given community in cases such as infectious diseases of high consequences at the global level.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialReflect On Practice skill
Routinely evaluate own practice, critically evaluating and monitoring the practice methods and outcomes in consistent, coherent and appropriate ways, being aware of relevant methodologies and utilising feedback from managers, supervisors, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialRespond To Changing Situations In Health Care skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse E-Health And Mobile Health Technologies skill
Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork In A Multicultural Environment In Health Care skill
Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialConceptualise Healthcare User's Needs skill
Get an idea of what the healthcare user needs are and visualise the case, the possible solutions, and treatments to be applied.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialConclude The Psychotherapeutic Relationship skill
Conclude the process of the psychotherapeutic relationship, making sure that the patient's needs are met.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialConduct Psychotherapy Risk Assessments skill
Conduct risk assessment procedures, making use of any tools or guidelines. Recognise language used by the patient that might imply harm to self or others asking direct questions if required. …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDecide Upon A Psychotherapeutic Approach skill
Make an informed choice about which type of psychotherapeutic intervention to apply when working with patients, according to their needs.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDiscuss The End Point Of Therapeutic Intervention skill
Identify a possible end point of therapeutic interventions with the patient in accordance with their original goals.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEncourage Healthcare User's Self-Monitoring skill
Encourage the healthcare user to engage in self-monitoring by conducting situational and developmental analyses on him- or herself. Assist the healthcare user to develop a degree of self-critique and self-analysis …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEvaluate Practice In Psychotherapy skill
Adopt a critical attitude towards existing psychotherapy models and their applicability to individual clients.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialFacilitate The Psychological Development Of The Healthcare User skill
Facilitate the process of self-discovery for the healthcare user, helping them to learn about their condition and become more aware of and in control of moods, feelings, thoughts, behaviour, and …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialFormulate A Case Conceptualisation Model For Therapy skill
Compose an individualised treatment plan in collaboration with the individual, striving to match his or her needs, situation, and treatment goals to maximise the probability of therapeutic gain; considering any …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHandle Patient Trauma skill
Assess the competences, needs, and limitations of people affected by trauma, referring the patients to specialised trauma services where appropriate.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialKeep Up With Current Trends In Psychotherapy skill
Keep up with current trends and debates in mental health services, being aware of changes in social, cultural, and political thinking about psychotherapy and of the interplay of various theories. …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMaintain Personal Development In Psychotherapy skill
Develop and monitor personal qualities as a professional psychotherapist, ensuring resilience, the ability to manage complex and unpredictable behavior and taking appropriate action when required
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Psychotherapeutic Relationships skill
Establish, manage and maintain the therapeutic relationship between psychotherapist and patient and client in a safe, respectful and effective way. Establish a working alliance and self-awareness in the relationship. Make …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMonitor Therapeutic Progress skill
Monitor therapeutic progress and modify treatment according to each patient's condition.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMotivate Patiens skill
Encourage the patient's motivation to change and promote the belief that therapy can help, using techniques and treatment engagement procedures for this purpose.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPromote Psycho-Social Education skill
Explain mental health issues in simple and understandable ways, helping de-pathologise and de-stigmatise common mental health stereotypes and condemning prejudicial or discriminatory behaviours, systems, institutions, practices, and attitudes that are …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide A Psychotherapeutic Environment skill
Create and maintain a suitable environment for the psychotherapy to take place, making sure the space is safe, welcoming, consistent with the ethos of the psychotherapy, and meeting the needs …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialRecord The Outcome Of Psychotherapy skill
Keep track of and record the process and results of the treatment used in the psychotherapy process.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialRespond To Healthcare Users' Extreme Emotions skill
React accordingly when a healthcare user becomes hyper-manic, panicky, extremely distressed, agressive, violent, or suicidal, following appropriate training if working in contexts where patients go through extreme emotions regularly.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse Clinical Assessment Techniques skill
Use clinical reasoning techniques and clinical judgement when applying a range of appropriate assessment techniques, such as mental status assessment, diagnosis, dynamic formulation, and potential treatment planning.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse Psychotherapeutic Interventions skill
Use psychotherapeutic interventions suited to the different stages of treatment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork On Psychosomatic Issues skill
Work with body and mind issues such as the spectrum of human sexuality and psychosomatic ailments.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork With Healthcare Users Under Medication skill
Work with healthcare users who are using prescribed medications and other drugs.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork With Patterns Of Psychological Behaviour skill
Work with the patterns of a patient or client's psychological behaviour, which may be outside of their conscious awareness, such as non-verbal and pre-verbal patterns, clinical processes of defence mechanisms, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 28 displayed)
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OptionalGeriatrics knowledge
Geriatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalPsychoanalysis knowledge
The types of psychoanalytic theories and techniques that relate to the unconscious mental processes
Recommended Books
2 books -
OptionalPaediatrics knowledge
Paediatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalPedagogy knowledge
The discipline that concerns the theory and practice of education including the various instructional methods for educating individuals or groups.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalRehabilitation knowledge
The methods and procedures used to help an ill or injured person restore lost skills and regain self-sufficiency and control.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalPsychomotor Therapy knowledge
Psychomotor observation and therapy in adults, children and persons with an intellectual disability meant to tackle the psychiatric problems of a person.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalApply Health Sciences skill
Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalApply Organisational Techniques skill
Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the goals set. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDeal With Emergency Care Situations skill
Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEducate On The Prevention Of Illness skill
Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEmploy Foreign Languages For Health-Related Research skill
Use foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEmploy Foreign Languages In Care skill
Communicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEnsure Proper Appointment Administration skill
Set up a proper procedure to manage appointments, including policies related to cancellation and nonappearance.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalInform Policy Makers On Health-Related Challenges skill
Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPromote Inclusion skill
Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide Health Education skill
Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRecord Healthcare Users' Billing Information skill
Record the healthcare user`s information for the billing of provided medical services.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalWork In Multidisciplinary Health Teams skill
Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalApply Caseload Management skill
Manage a number of patients within a given amount of time, striving to provide optimum health services.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalApply Hypno-Psychotherapy skill
Hypnotise a patient to create subconscious change in the form of new responses, thoughts, attitudes, behaviours or feelings.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalApply Psychoanalysis skill
Conduct psychoanalysis on patients, focusing on unconscious forces that can have a negative effect on their psychological well-being.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalApply Systemic Therapy skill
Conduct therapy, not addressing people on a strictly individual level but as people in relationships, dealing with the interactions of groups and their interactive patterns and dynamics.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCollaborate To Discuss Treatment Plans In Psychotherapy skill
Discuss, if appropriate, treatment plans and progress with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses and other professionals.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDiagnose Mental Disorders skill
Formulate a diagnosis for people with a variety of issues and mental disorders, ranging from short-term personal and emotional problems to severe, chronic mental conditions, recognising and critically evaluating any …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEmploy Cognitive Behaviour Treatment Techniques skill
Employ cognitive behavioural treatment techniques for those whose treatment involves cognitive re-training, addressing dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviours and cognitive processes and contents through a variety of systematic procedures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalHelp Healthcare Users To Develop Social Perceptiveness skill
Provide strategies and support to healthcare users with social difficulties, helping them understand others` verbal and non-verbal behaviour and actions and guiding them in learning to interpret a combination people`s …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalWork On The Effects Of Abuse skill
Work with individuals on the effects of abuse and trauma such as sexual, physical, psychological, cultural and neglect.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalWork With Healthcare Users' Social Network skill
Get involved with the friends, families and other relevant actors important for the client or patient being treated, under the conditions of confidentiality and transparency.
Course recommendations coming soon.