FAQ's
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP) requirements are consistent with European and Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP) requirements. The criteria by which eligibility for accreditation shall be judged involves four aspects:
- Training requirements
- Practice as a psychotherapist
- Supervision of practice
- Continuing professional development
- Insurance
For others, it is a more elusive but pervasive sense that something is wrong and they feel ready to address it. These things are often beyond the remit of friendships and kindness from those that care for us. .
We know what is acceptable to one may not be acceptable to another so we make choices about who we speak to about certain issues which fragments the picture for us and our friends. There are also differences in levels of trust and reliability with friends and because they don’t want to hurt us, friends may also avoid painful truths.
Importantly, the client is always in control of where and what they will discuss in therapy and are not dragged or pushed off topic as with well-meaning friends and family, a feature that seems simple but is actually complex and important.
The therapist makes a concerted effort to fully attune to the clients unique story and experience and does not make assumptions. This is a complex skill. The therapist does not approach the client with a preconception about how and why things are happening. Your therapist will believe your story, people don’t usually pay out good money to tell lies.
Boundaries distinguish the balance of power between client and therapist and are essential to any effective and ethical work to be carried out. These boundaries are not usually seen relationships with friends and family where power struggles are common.
All professional therapists adhere to codes of professional conduct for their respective professional groups and this includes ethical responsibilities including, within legal limits, a client’s absolute confidentiality. This sets the scene for consistent behaviour and values among therapists, something that can’t be expected of friends or acquaintances. IAHIP code of professional conduct https://iahip.org/code-of-ethics.
Through integration, it becomes possible for people to face each moment openly and freshly without the protection of a pre-formed opinion, position, attitude, or expectation.
On average, most people attending counselling weekly, although different therapists will have different policies and approaches. It’s best to speak to your therapist about your individual needs. People that attend counselling regularly tend to have better outcomes in therapy than those that attend sporadically.