[Should mental health nurses be trained to provide psychological therapies? if so, in what circumstances and, in which practice settings, and with what support would this be most effective and appropriate?]

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Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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Introduction

The practice of psychotherapy (or just “therapy”) is a combination of science and art, and a skillful clinician can help people make adaptive changes and healthier choices, minimizing distress and dysfunction. Clinical and counseling psychotherapists receive specialized instruction and supervision in various types of therapy as an integral part of their graduate training. Once they complete their training and obtain a license to practice, they are uniquely qualified to apply existing theoretical principles and therapeutic techniques, as well as develop new methods and approaches designed to help people sort out problems and overcome roadblocks in their daily lives. There is no one “correct” method of therapy, in part because people are so complex to begin with, but also because varying settings, circumstances, presenting problems, client characteristics, and clinician personalities all interact to influence what might be effective. Regardless of therapeutic orientation or method of service delivery, a practicing psychologist who is well trained, thoughtful, and creative can have a very meaningful and lasting impact on clients' lives, and enjoy a very rewarding career where the presenting problems and resultant solutions can be simply mind-boggling (e.g., Kottler & Carlson, 2003a).

Educational and training requirements for psychotherapists were less rigorous in the past, while today doctoral level training is the expected norm. Earlier approaches that emphasized individual psychotherapy have now given way to differentiated and highly focused approaches that are based on theoretical and research foundations. In particular, cognitive-behaviorally based programs for sex offenders and violent offenders, which emphasize victim empathy and address cognitive distortions and denial, appear promising.

Psychotherapy and Ethics

Why do psychotherapists need a set of ethical principles and an ethics code? Several assumptions are relevant to answering this question. First, there is an assumption in psychotherapy that there is an imbalance in power between the psychologist and the client or patient. Some psychotherapists call the recipients of their services clients whereas others use the term patients. I will use client for the remainder of this chapter. People seeking psychotherapy assume that their psychologist has special expertise they themselves do not have. This differential knowledge level can lead to feelings of inferiority on the part of the client. Second, people who seek psychotherapy tend to feel more vulnerable than the average person and therefore have the potential to become victims more easily than they might under ordinary circumstances. “Our ethics acknowledge the great responsibilities inherent in ...