PSYCHOTHERAPY IN THE NORTHERN DEANERY
WHY PSYCHOTHERAPY
Psychotherapy is integral to psychiatry. Without a psychological
understanding of mental illness, psychiatry becomes reductionist and sterile.
Recently there has been an upsurge of interest in psychological therapies and
at least at Primary care level, therapies have been made much more
accessible. The challenge is to make psychological therapies accessible to
those suffering from complex difficulties who have often been severely
traumatised or neglected. The Core business of the specialism,
Psychotherapy, is not only direct contact with patients, but also support and
training of mental health workers to maximise engagement and therapeutic
contact and to establish a psychological literacy in mental health
professionals. Medical Psychotherapists through their medical training are
able to span mind and body not only appreciating the effect each has on the
other, but to hold an integrative and holistic position.
The Subspecialty training in psychotherapy covers three models,
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Systemic
Therapy. Trainees chose one of the first two to major in, whilst also gaining
experience in the other two models.
WHAT CAN A TRAINEE EXPECT FROM THE PROGRAMME?
The training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy takes place at the Regional
department of psychotherapy in Newcastle and is a four year training. This
allows the trainee to enter an external training with the North of England
Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists. NEAPP is only one of two
accredited trainings outside London which confers membership of British
Psychoanalytic Council.
Cognitive therapy Training takes place in the Newcastle Cognitive
Behavioural Therapy Centre, a national centre of excellence.
The Cognitive therapy centre run a one year University accredited nationally
known Diploma course. Later in their training, trainees are encouraged to
teach on the course.
Both trainings equip the future consultant with an in-depth knowledge of the
major psychotherapy modality, a wide experience of working with a broad
range of complex cases, expertise in teaching, supervision and facilitating,
extensive management experience covering the place of psychotherapies in
the modern NHS and how to run a service and opportunities for research in
leading areas of the field e.g. RCTs in psychotherapy. Trainees are
encouraged to take part in the on-call rota.
WHAT ARE THE CAREER PROSPECTS?
The place of Medical Psychotherapy in mental health services has been
redefined recently, alongside the role of the psychiatrist. As an arcane ivory
towered specialty, medical psychotherapy is extinct, but as an integral part of
mental health services, it should be thriving. In the North East, there has been
very littl expansion of consultant posts, but there is recognition that the
medical psychotherapists, have a unique and valuable contribution to make to
training junior psychiatrists and other mental health professionals and to the
management of some of the most complex and challenging mental health
difficulties in a variety of settings.
There are potentially, vast areas which medical psychotherapy could
contribute to, perinatal services, adolescent services, forensic services, liaison
psychiatry. Currently both modalities contribute to the regional Affective
Disorders service, the eating disorders Service, Personality Disorders,
Forensic services, Early Intervention in Psychosis and generic CMHTS and
Inpatient wards. There is a national dedicated psychological service for
Doctors and Dentists, based at the regional department of psychotherapy and
a newly developed Trauma centre in the Newcastle CBT centre.
In the last five years, there has been a small expansion in the Region with the
development of part time CBT consultant posts in South Tyneside and the
Trauma Centre at the Newcastle CBT Centre and a part time psychodynamic
consultant post in Durham. The future may lie in dual training with another
subspecialty which may enhance career prospects. The school of psychiatry
is developing this.
PSYCHOTHERAPY HAS….
 In depth knowledge and experience of psychological therapies and the
opportunity to work in depth in both long term and short term, in
individual couple and group settings
 Excellent opportunities to teach, supervise and facilitate in order to
create a first class psychologically literate workforce
 The fascinating art of integrating the biological social and psychological
 Opportunities to shape and integrate psychological services in the
north east