Cradling the chrysalis - E. Mary Sullivan

Addressing the underlying philosophy and rationale for the training of psychotherapists, this book asks how training can prepare prospective psychotherapists and counsellors for a task whose practitioners cannot even agree as to whether it is a science or an art, an impersonal clinical interaction or a profoundly humane, even spiritual, encounter?;The authors argue for an understanding of psychotherapy training as a process which closely parallels that of therapy itself. The book does not prescribe a theoretical approach but is unusual in taking an integrative approach which looks beyond theory to the underlying qualities and processes in training which support the development of competent and creative counsellors and psychotherapists who are fully equal to the challenge of working with clients.;In an atmosphere of increasing professionalisation and regulation, it is important to consider afresh questions about the content of training curricula; criteria regarding personal qualities and professional capabilities of prospective applicants for such programmes; the aims and objectives of the training itself and ultimately on what basis it is decided that an individual is qualified to practise in this field.