MODALITY CRITERIA and REQUIREMENTS
Section and Institutional Member Organisation
Standards of Education and Training
1. Family, Couple, Sexual & Systemic Section
2. Policy adopted by Section : April 2009
There are two main approaches practiced within the Section:
Systemic psychotherapy, whilst often actively intervening in client systems, strives to
maintain a collaborative approach, respecting differences of culture, race, gender,
sexual orientation etc. Therapists may work in teams, using live consultation or as sole
practitioners.
Sexual and relationship psychotherapy as practiced more specifically by BASRT
trainees and registrants, works at a psychodynamic or behavioural level with individuals
or couples where issues of sexuality, gender identity or sexual dysfunction are foremost.
Therapists in this Section recognise that contemporary relationship configurations are
very varied in terms of how people define the concept of family and how they form
relationships of significance. We aim to provide an accessible service across the public,
voluntary and independent sectors.
Part A. Section Criteria (send to the Senior Regulation Coordinator by 12th
January 2009)
1.5 An Enhanced CRB check is required; renewable every 3 years.
2.1 The minimum curriculum of theory & practice must include the following:
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2.1a A critical awareness that an individual’s problems cannot
adequately be understood without considering the wider relevance of
the families and groups that form each individual’s past and present
context.
2.1c A model of change which enables people to identify and decide
where change would be desirable and which can facilitate the process
of establishing new and more fulfilling patterns.
2.1d Theoretical models and therapeutic practices which address the
wider relational system; aiming to identify and explore the patterns of
belief and behaviours in roles and relationships (including sexual
relationships) which seem to have become set over time.
2.3 Supervised practice of psychotherapy:
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2.3a The Section requires that trainees have the opportunity to
develop their self- awareness and self-reflexivity in a variety of
settings. These learning contexts will include the supervision process
and personal and professional development groups and may include
personal therapy and consultation. Most of this work should be
undertaken within the domain of a training course. The Section
recognises the particular value of live supervision methods and gives
these hours a greater weighting than those gained through indirect
methods of supervision. It also recognises the richness of the group
experience of supervision especially when trainees can observe other
trainees and take an active part in the therapy, discussion and
learning.
3.2 Hours of formal face-to-face teaching over four years must be no less than
450 hours (excluding clinical practice.)
6.3 Continuing Professional Development for registrants.
Required hours of supervised practice or consultation for registrants.
For the first 3 years post qualification, psychotherapists must have consultation
for a minimum of 1.5 hours per month. This would usually be face to face and
with a supervisor who is registered, or eligible for registration with UKCP.
Following 3 years of post qualified practice, psychotherapists are required to
undertake 12 hours consultation per year at a maximum of 2 monthly intervals.
Some of this consultation may be with a supervisor from another psychotherapy
modality but a significant proportion must be from a supervisor who is registered
or eligible for registration with FCSS Section of UKCP.
When supervision is conducted in a group setting there must be sufficient time
for all the group members to present and receive supervision to their own work.
The FCSS Section recognises the creative possibilities of other forms of
supervision as new technological methods evolve e.g. electronically
communicated forms of supervision and video conferencing.
Ongoing commitment to training and acquaintance with changes in the modality
and related contexts.
All psychotherapists should have an individual CPD plan which is regularly
reviewed within the supervision process. The minimum requirement is
attendance at the equivalent of 2 days training per year. This training must be
directly relevant to practice as a psychotherapist. Registrants are also expected
to keep up to date with developments in the field which should include reading
and possibly involvement in the work of relevant professional committees and
organisations.
Psychotherapists with more than 3 years of post qualified practice may count
their contribution to the profession in the form of committee membership as part
of their personal CPD plan (no more than 10%.)
Additional requirements for psychotherapists in the first 3 years of post qualifying
practice may be specified by the registering member organisation. This is in
recognition of the value of guidance in the early years of practice. Part of this
guidance will be to support the development of an effective approach to CPD.
For psychotherapists with more than 3 years of post-qualified practice CPD
should be assessed over a 3 year cycle. This takes account of the occasional
need to have “lean times” due to illness, pregnancy or other life events.
In exceptional circumstances individuals may find themselves unable to fulfil the
requirements in the way that they are set out. Disability or geographical isolation could
be reasons for this. In this eventuality organisations must negotiate with the registrant
and agree a CPD plan equivalent to that laid out in this document.
Part B. Section Documentation (fully in use by 30th September 2010)
1. policy
2. procedure
3. forms etc where relevant
4. …
Part C. Other Section Requirements