Preserving the Integrity of Psychotherapy: Let’s Not Throw It Under the Bus

Abstract

This paper delves into the evolving landscape of psychotherapy and counselling in Australia. Using personal experiences in the field, the author addresses concerns surrounding the conflation of these two disciplines and discusses shifts in training approaches, the influence of practitioners lacking proper psychotherapy training, and the dilution of both professions within health care settings due to a lack of national standards. Through the lens of psychosynthesis, the paper delineates the distinctions between psychotherapy and counselling and emphasises the importance of depth work in addressing complex psychological concerns and severe psychopathology. Additionally, it highlights the role of the therapeutic relationship and the nuances of transference in psychotherapeutic practice. The paper concludes with a call to uphold standards that safeguard client wellbeing, advocating for clarity in terminology and a future in which individuals receive support from rigorously trained psychotherapists.