The Core Competencies:
Domain 13: Prevention & Education
A European Psychotherapist is competent in: -
- §13.1: Prevention & education with clients
- 13.1.1: Awareness of repetitive / dysfunctional patterns in patient/client's history: which involves – being aware, from the patient/client's psychodynamic and psycho-social history, of particular repetitive patterns that can be or have become dysfunctional; being aware of the possibility that some of the presenting symptoms may cover a dysfunctional or repetitive pattern (or a personality disorder or an addiction, etc.) that needs to be addressed in order to prevent further distress; being aware of the background aetiology of many of the psychological and mental health issues and disorders; being aware of known and researched ways of assisting the patient/client with their issues and of prevention of problems; etc.
- 13.1.2: Education of patients/clients to avoid repetition: which involves – working with the patient/client to understand all aspects of their issues or problems; working with the patient/client to experience any suppressed or underlying emotions that might affect their issues or problems; encouraging them to read up about their own particular issues or problems; recognising that their own patterns, issues or problems may be similar to other people's and yet also unique to them; presenting a normalisation perspective, rather than a pathological one, where appropriate; promoting both general and specific awareness and introspection; exploring both their difficulties and problems, as well as promoting positive self-esteem and individual well-being; encouraging resilience to any of the symptoms of mental health & psychological issues; helping and supporting patient/clients to change any dysfunctional behaviour patterns, and adopt more beneficial ones; emphasising support and/or prevention strategies, especially when working towards discharge or ending the therapeutic relationship; etc.
- 13.1.3: Help to promote change in patient/client and/with their immediate family & social environment: which involves – helping the patient/client to recognise those aspects of their family structure, friendships, habitual patterns, and work & social environment are supportive or dysfunctional; exploring new and different attitudes and belief systems about themselves and others and seeing whether these could be beneficial; helping them to promote and consolidate a succession of positive changes and behavioural patterns; supporting them to inform - and educate - those around them about these changes; encouraging them to develop a better and more supportive psycho-social and familial network to support and reinforce these new changes; etc.
- §13.2: Prevention & education with others
- 13.2.1: Awareness of aetiology of mental health problems: which involves – understanding how peoples' thoughts, feeling and behaviours are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others; understanding how and why people might develop mental health problems; how rigid or pathological attitudes, adverse or detrimental social and/or political conditions, environmental or individual disasters, can consolidate into abusive or problematic influences; realising how detrimental everyday social factors - such as religion, alcohol, poverty, tradition, institutionalisation, industrialisation, negative social attitudes, power structures, belief systems, groupings, and the media, etc. - can be to individuals and communities; etc.
- 13.2.2: Promote psycho-social education: which involves – being sufficiently informed, willing and able to communicate, give public talks, go into schools, or speak out (when appropriate) and explain basic mental health issues in simple and understandable terms; working with other professionals, especially nurses, allied health professionals, social workers, etc., to promote awareness of common problems, 'normalisation' of these and to help identify people with problems or issues much earlier; helping to de-pathologise and de-stigmatise common mental health problems; openly condemning behaviours, systems, institutions, practices and attitudes that are clearly abusive and/or harmful to peoples' mental health; etc.
- 13.2.3: Actively engage in projects designed to reduce or prevent mental health problems: which involves – understanding the need for mental health professionals to be active environmentally, socially and politically; supporting, promoting or assisting appropriate local, national or international groups, voluntary organisations and charities dedicated to positive environmental, social, psychological and/or political change; actively engaging in the prevention of mental health and psychological problems and in the promotion of more positive changes; etc.
Footnote:
[1] All these Core Competencies should be read in conjunction with the relevant sections of the EAP Statement of Ethical Principles (see Appendix 6 (see here) or the EAP website (see here)
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