Question by Ambi valent: Can anyone tell me how psychotherapy training is provided in the USA?
I’m beginning to think that the term ‘psychotherapist’ has completely different connotations in the USA from in the UK and Europe. Responses on here seem to indicate that psychotherapy is seen as a rather low-level activity, below that of psychologists. As I went through a lengthy (six year), in-depth training during which I was in personal therapy throughout, had to meet serious academic targets, and was guided by supervision starting with one client and working up to six clients over a 4 1/2 year period, I feel my qualification is worth something. This is not, perhaps, the case in the USA. A recent question to which I responded had other answerers suggesting that ‘therapists’ are people who don’t progress beyond the Masters level of a psychology training. This would be an entirely different understanding of the word, and I don’t want to represent myself on here in ways that will be misunderstood.
So, can anyone tell me if there are independent trainings in psychotherapy in the USA, and, if so, what they entail? Are there psychoanalytic, gestalt, transactional analysis, psychosynthesis, integrative, transpersonal, or other, trainings? We have all those and more.

Best answer:

Answer by Carol M
“Psychotherapist” is a term that can cover a lot of territory and is sometimes used in regard to anyone who provides “therapy”.

A psychiatrist is a physician, psychologists and counselors can have a masters degree or a Ph.D. I have a friend who has a masters in counseling and she had to do an internship under the supervision of a licensed counselor.

There are also licensed clinical alcohol and drug abuse counselors.

As you can see, I don’t think there’s a clear-cut answer to your question. Just state what your degree is (M.A., MSW, Ph.D. for example) and what your area of specialization, if any, is.

Hope I didn’t further confuse you.

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