After graduation, my first step will be to begin the registration process with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Here is a link to their website:
My next step will be securing gainful employment to begin paying off my student loans!
Further Training
In order to practice independently as a psychotherapist in Ontario (which is my long-term goal), according to the CRPO, one must have 1000 hours of supervised practice. In the short-term, that means that, ideally, I will find a position in which supervision is included, such as an intake worker at a counselling agency, or working under a psychologist/psychotherapist at a counselling centre. Another option is to pay a psychologist/psychotherapist for supervision each week.
Furthermore, at this point I feel I would benefit from further training, in more specialized areas.
Mindfulness: One area in which I would like to gain more experience in is mindfulness. From taking the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, I have seen first-hand how effective mindfulness can be in counselling. Here in Toronto, there is the Mindfulness Clinic which offers seminars and training for psychotherapists. Here is a link to their site: http://www.themindfulnessclinic.ca/
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: As I already have some theoretical knowledge of DBT from my Interventions presentation, this is an approach I would like to gain further training in. The Hinks-Dellcrest Centre in Toronto is a treatment, reseach and training facility. They offer a DBT training program:
http://www.hincksdellcrest.org/Home/Our-Institute/Treatment-Approaches/Dialectical-Behaviour-Therapy.aspx
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: As I only had the chance to 'dip my toes in' to CBT during my practicum, I would like to gain further training in this modality as it is effective with common client issues such as anxiety and depression. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto offers training programs in CBT for professionals:
http://www.camh.ca/en/education/about/AZCourses/Pages/cbt_si.aspx
In order to practice independently as a psychotherapist in Ontario (which is my long-term goal), according to the CRPO, one must have 1000 hours of supervised practice. In the short-term, that means that, ideally, I will find a position in which supervision is included, such as an intake worker at a counselling agency, or working under a psychologist/psychotherapist at a counselling centre. Another option is to pay a psychologist/psychotherapist for supervision each week.
Furthermore, at this point I feel I would benefit from further training, in more specialized areas.
Mindfulness: One area in which I would like to gain more experience in is mindfulness. From taking the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, I have seen first-hand how effective mindfulness can be in counselling. Here in Toronto, there is the Mindfulness Clinic which offers seminars and training for psychotherapists. Here is a link to their site: http://www.themindfulnessclinic.ca/
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: As I already have some theoretical knowledge of DBT from my Interventions presentation, this is an approach I would like to gain further training in. The Hinks-Dellcrest Centre in Toronto is a treatment, reseach and training facility. They offer a DBT training program:
http://www.hincksdellcrest.org/Home/Our-Institute/Treatment-Approaches/Dialectical-Behaviour-Therapy.aspx
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: As I only had the chance to 'dip my toes in' to CBT during my practicum, I would like to gain further training in this modality as it is effective with common client issues such as anxiety and depression. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto offers training programs in CBT for professionals:
http://www.camh.ca/en/education/about/AZCourses/Pages/cbt_si.aspx
Looking in to the Future
I have an image of myself sitting on my front porch with my husband beside me, and our children and dogs playing in the yard in front of us. The sun is beaming down, and there is a sense of security and achievement.
I have an image of myself sitting on my front porch with my husband beside me, and our children and dogs playing in the yard in front of us. The sun is beaming down, and there is a sense of security and achievement.
The possibilities of what lies ahead for us feels boundless, much like the sky in this picture. I imagine at this point in my life, I will be working as an independent psychotherapist, possibly in my own practice, or along with other psychotherapists. I have the freedom to create my own schedule, and have a keen sense of fulfilment that I am truly helping my clients.
At this point, I suppose my future goals could be somewhat more clear. However, I have learned from experience that the rigidity of having concrete expectations of where life will take you can sometimes lead to major disappointments. I therefore am dreaming broad, and will be open to where this journey will take me.
At this point, I suppose my future goals could be somewhat more clear. However, I have learned from experience that the rigidity of having concrete expectations of where life will take you can sometimes lead to major disappointments. I therefore am dreaming broad, and will be open to where this journey will take me.