Public Administration & LegalLegal, social and cultural professionalsISCO 2634
psychotherapist
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.
About psychotherapist
As a psychotherapist, you will provide professional mental health treatment to clients experiencing psychological, psychosocial, and psychosomatic disorders using evidence-based therapeutic methods. You'll work with individuals, families, and sometimes groups to help them understand their behaviors, emotions, and relationships, guiding them toward personal development and improved well-being. Drawing on approaches such as behavioral therapy, existential analysis, psychoanalysis, or systemic family therapy, you'll create a safe, empathetic environment where clients can explore their challenges and develop practical solutions to their problems. Unlike psychology or psychiatry, psychotherapy is an independent profession that doesn't require formal academic credentials in those fields, though rigorous training and supervision are essential. In Poland's increasingly health-conscious society, the demand for mental health services continues to grow, creating strong career prospects. You'll likely maintain a private practice, work in clinics or hospitals, or provide services in organizational or educational settings, often requiring continuous professional development and adherence to ethical standards.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a psychotherapist.
1
Individual Psychotherapy and Clinical Assessment
- Conduct comprehensive psychological diagnostics and assessments to understand client difficulties
- Apply various psychotherapeutic methods including behavioral therapy, existential analysis, and psychoanalysis
- Establish therapeutic relationships and create safe environments for clients to explore psychological issues
- Guide clients through personal development and help them develop problem-solving capabilities
2
Specialized Treatment of Psychological and Psychiatric Disorders
- Treat clients with psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders
- Address psychosomatics and conditions affecting self-awareness and personal identity
- Utilize understanding of psychopathology to inform treatment planning and interventions
- Explore the historical development of clients' psychotherapeutic problems and family dynamics
3
Family and Systemic Therapy
- Conduct systemic family therapy to address relationship issues and family dynamics
- Work with families to improve communication and relationship capabilities
- Assess and intervene in family systems to promote healthy functioning and resolution of conflicts
- Apply psycho-social forms of intervention appropriate to family contexts
4
Professional Practice and Ethical Conduct
- Maintain understanding of conditions for professional practice of psychotherapy and legal requirements
- Adhere to health care occupation-specific ethics and professional code of conduct
- Engage in ongoing clinical supervision and professional development
- Establish and maintain professional boundaries while practicing empathy with clients
5
Research and Knowledge Development
- Apply scientific research methodology to evaluate therapeutic outcomes and effectiveness
- Stay current with psychological theories and historic development of psychotherapeutic schools
- Understand psychopharmacology and its interaction with psychotherapeutic treatment
- Contribute to advancement of psychotherapeutic practice through research and clinical work
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (70)
theories of personalitytheories of personalityTheoretical conceptions of personality, such as psychodynamic theory, humanistic theory or behaviorism.psychological diagnosticspsychological diagnosticsThe psychological diagnostics strategies, methods and techniques concerning health-related experiences and behaviours as well as mental disorders.body languagebody languageNotice and interpret the non-verbal signals that people send out with their body, including yourself.health care occupation-specific ethicshealth care occupation-specific ethicsThe 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 patie...supervision of personssupervision of personsThe act of directing one individual or a group of individuals in a certain activity.psychiatric disorderspsychiatric disordersThe characteristics, causes and treatment of psychiatric disorders.historic development of psychotherapeutic schoolshistoric development of psychotherapeutic schoolsThe timeline of the psychotherapeutic schools of practice, their general description, characteristics and fields of application.psychopharmacologypsychopharmacologyThe awareness of various effects that medicines have on the patient or client's behaviour, mood and thinking.personality development theoriespersonality development theoriesThe theories of the healthy and psychopathological personality development.psycho-social forms of interventionpsycho-social forms of interventionTypes of support activities and interventions that can reduce stressful events, symptoms or risk and improve the quality of life.history of patient's psychotherapeutic problemshistory of patient's psychotherapeutic problemsThe records of the patient`s previous psychotherapeutic problems or disorders.clinical social workclinical social workThe branch of social work that deals with assessing, making diagnoses, treating and preventing bio-psychological problems and other behavioural disturbances.therapy in health caretherapy in health careThe principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions.psychologypsychologyThe human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.psychopathologypsychopathologyThe 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 psychophar...psychosomaticspsychosomaticsInterdisciplinary medical specialty addressing the connection between the social, psychological, and behavioral attitudes and their impact on human processes.conditions for the professional practice of psychotherapyconditions for the professional practice of psychotherapyThe institutional, legal and psychosocial practices and regulations related to the practice of psychotherapy.scientific research methodologyscientific research methodologyThe theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.psychological theoriespsychological theoriesThe historical development of counselling and psychological theories, as well as the perspectives, applications, and interviewing and counselling strategies.disorders affecting self-awarenessdisorders affecting self-awarenessThe consciousness process related to various medical disorders and illnesses and its manifestation and treatment options.psychiatrypsychiatryPsychiatry is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.respond to changing situations in health carerespond to changing situations in health careCope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.prescribe psychotherapeutic treatmentprescribe psychotherapeutic treatmentPrescribe, direct, and administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat disorders of a mental, emotional, or behavioural nature.use clinical assessment techniquesuse clinical assessment techniquesUse clinical reasoning techniques and clinical judgement when applying a range of appropriate assessment techniques, such as mental status assessment, diagnosis, dynamic formulation, and potential tre...manage psychotherapeutic relationshipsmanage psychotherapeutic relationshipsEstablish, 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 t...use e-health and mobile health technologiesuse e-health and mobile health technologiesUse mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.evaluate practice in psychotherapyevaluate practice in psychotherapyAnalyse existing psychotherapy models and their applicability to individual clients.empathise with the healthcare userempathise with the healthcare userUnderstand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence...maintain personal development in psychotherapymaintain personal development in psychotherapyDevelop and monitor personal qualities as a professional psychotherapist, ensuring resilience, the ability to manage complex and unpredictable behavior and taking appropriate action when required.work with healthcare users under medicationwork with healthcare users under medicationWork with healthcare users who are using prescribed medications and other drugs.provide a psychotherapeutic environmentprovide a psychotherapeutic environmentCreate 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 of the p...formulate a case conceptualisation model for therapyformulate a case conceptualisation model for therapyCompose 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 and co...respond to healthcare users' extreme emotionsrespond to healthcare users' extreme emotionsReact 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 th...manage healthcare users' datamanage healthcare users' dataKeep 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, wr...use psychotherapeutic interventionsuse psychotherapeutic interventionsUse psychotherapeutic interventions suited to the different stages of treatment.conclude the psychotherapeutic relationshipconclude the psychotherapeutic relationshipConclude the process of the psychotherapeutic relationship, making sure that the patient's needs are met.work with patterns of psychological behaviourwork with patterns of psychological behaviourWork 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 me...communicate in healthcarecommunicate in healthcareCommunicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.encourage healthcare user's self-monitoringencourage healthcare user's self-monitoringEncourage 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 ...identify mental health issuesidentify mental health issuesRecognise and critically evaluate any possible mental health/illness issues.diagnose psychiatric symptomsdiagnose psychiatric symptomsRecognise and diagnose the common medical, neurologic and primary psychiatric symptoms such as delirium, dementia, violent episodes, self-injurious behavior, etc.handle patient traumahandle patient traumaAssess the competences, needs, and limitations of people affected by trauma, referring the patients to specialised trauma services where appropriate.advise on healthcare users' informed consentadvise on healthcare users' informed consentEnsure 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.use psychoeducationuse psychoeducationWork with patients and their families through psychoeducation.work on psychosomatic issueswork on psychosomatic issuesWork with body and mind issues such as the spectrum of human sexuality and psychosomatic ailments.comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.listen activelylisten activelyGive 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 cus...manage personal professional developmentmanage personal professional developmentTake responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional developmen...adhere to organisational guidelinesadhere to organisational guidelinesAdhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.counsel clientscounsel clientsAssist and guide clients to overcome their personal, social, or psychological issues.monitor therapeutic progressmonitor therapeutic progressMonitor therapeutic progress and modify treatment according to each patient's condition.perform therapy sessionsperform therapy sessionsWork in sessions with individuals or groups to deliver therapy in a controlled environment.work in a multicultural environment in health carework in a multicultural environment in health careInteract, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.record the outcome of psychotherapyrecord the outcome of psychotherapyKeep track of and record the process and results of the treatment used in the psychotherapy process.support patients to understand their conditionssupport patients to understand their conditionsFacilitate 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 their...promote mental healthpromote mental healthPromote 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.interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.organise relapse preventionorganise relapse preventionHelp 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 diffi...provide treatment strategies for challenges to human healthprovide treatment strategies for challenges to human healthIdentify 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.ensure safety of healthcare usersensure safety of healthcare usersMake 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 condit...develop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipdevelop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipDevelop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.keep up with current trends in psychotherapykeep up with current trends in psychotherapyKeep 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. Stay...apply context specific clinical competencesapply context specific clinical competencesApply 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 ...discuss the end point of therapeutic interventiondiscuss the end point of therapeutic interventionIdentify a possible end point of therapeutic interventions with the patient in accordance with their original goals.use techniques to increase patients' motivationuse techniques to increase patients' motivationEncourage the patient`s motivation to change and promote the belief that therapy can help, using techniques and treatment engagement procedures for this purpose.conduct psychotherapy risk assessmentsconduct psychotherapy risk assessmentsConduct 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. Facilitat...decide upon a psychotherapeutic approachdecide upon a psychotherapeutic approachMake an informed choice about which type of psychotherapeutic intervention to apply when working with patients, according to their needs.accept own accountabilityaccept own accountabilityAccept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.promote psycho-social educationpromote psycho-social educationExplain mental health issues in simple and understandable ways, helping de-pathologise and de-stigmatise common mental health stereotypes and condemning prejudicial or discriminatory behaviours, syste...
Optional (30)
geriatricsgeriatricsGeriatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.paediatricspaediatricsPaediatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.rehabilitationrehabilitationThe methods and procedures used to help an ill or injured person restore lost skills and regain self-sufficiency and control.sexual disorderssexual disordersThe range of sexual disorders such as sexual aversion disorder, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, and vaginismus and the effects of medication on sexual function.pedagogypedagogyThe discipline that concerns the theory and practice of education including the various instructional methods for educating individuals or groups.psychoanalysispsychoanalysisThe types of psychoanalytic theories and techniques that relate to the unconscious mental processes.educate on the prevention of illnesseducate on the prevention of illnessOffer 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 their environment and healt...inform policy makers on health-related challengesinform policy makers on health-related challengesProvide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.employ cognitive behaviour treatment techniquesemploy cognitive behaviour treatment techniquesEmploy cognitive behavioural treatment techniques for those whose treatment involves cognitive re-training, addressing dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviours and cognitive processes and conten...apply hypno-psychotherapyapply hypno-psychotherapyHypnotise a patient to create subconscious change in the form of new responses, thoughts, attitudes, behaviours or feelings.address side effects of menopauseaddress side effects of menopauseAddress side effects of menopause such as fatigue, body temperature changes, mood swings, depression and weight gain. Search for symptoms of health problems that can be caused by menopause, such as he...apply systemic design thinkingapply systemic design thinkingApply the process of combining systems thinking methodologies with human-centred design in order to solve complex societal challenges in an innovative and sustainable way. This is most often applied i...deal with emergency care situationsdeal with emergency care situationsAssess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.help healthcare users develop social perceptivenesshelp healthcare users develop social perceptivenessProvide strategies and support to healthcare users with social difficulties. Help them understanding others` verbal and non-verbal behaviour and actions. Support them in developing better self-confide...provide health educationprovide health educationProvide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.diagnose mental disordersdiagnose mental disordersFormulate 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...apply caseload managementapply caseload managementManage a number of patients within a given amount of time, striving to provide optimum health services.collaborate to discuss treatment plans in psychotherapycollaborate to discuss treatment plans in psychotherapyDiscuss, if appropriate, treatment plans and progress with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses and other professionals.work on the effects of abusework on the effects of abuseWork with individuals on the effects of abuse and trauma; such as sexual, physical, psychological, cultural and neglect.promote inclusionpromote inclusionPromote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive envi...use foreign languages for health-related researchuse foreign languages for health-related researchUse foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.apply organisational techniquesapply organisational techniquesEmploy a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and s...carry out psychiatric assessment of childcarry out psychiatric assessment of childEvaluate the child or young person's problems with attention to physical, genetic, developmental, emotional, cognitive, educational, family, peer, and social components and use the information to dete...work with healthcare users' social networkwork with healthcare users' social networkGet involved with the friends, families and other relevant actors important for the client or patient being treated, under the conditions of confidentiality and transparency.apply systemic therapyapply systemic therapyConduct 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.use foreign languages in patient careuse foreign languages in patient careCommunicate 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.work in multidisciplinary health teamswork in multidisciplinary health teamsParticipate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.apply psychoanalysisapply psychoanalysisConduct psychoanalysis on patients, focusing on unconscious forces that can have a negative effect on their psychological well-being.psychomotor therapypsychomotor therapyPsychomotor observation and therapy in adults, children and persons with an intellectual disability meant to tackle the psychiatric problems of a person.record healthcare users' billing informationrecord healthcare users' billing informationRecord the healthcare user`s information for the billing of provided medical services.
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Quick Facts
ISCO GroupLegal, social and cultural professionals
Essential Skills70
Core Skills0