10 Professional Competencies - Domain 1

 

 

 

The Different Domains: Domain 1

These domains of professionally competent activity have to be considered within the general framework that constitutes the professional activity of a European psychotherapist.[1] These domains operate for each of the three main categories of Competencies (Core, Specific & Specialist). All these domains indicate the areas in which a European psychotherapist is competent:  

  1. Domain 1: Professional, Autonomous & Accountable Practice:This means that psychotherapists are able to demonstrate that: they have the competency to work in a professional manner, independently and autonomously and to accepted professional standards (codes of ethics & practice and under an agreed complaints procedure); as well as being a member of a professional team (where appropriate), working collaboratively with other professionals; and in a manner which is recordable and accountable. Psychotherapists must also be able to demonstrate: that they can provide an appropriate environment for psychotherapy; that they can monitor and evaluate their own caseload and practice appropriately, getting additional support or mentoring if needed and using supervision and feedback appropriately; that they are able to maintain their own professional development, keeping themselves involved and up-to-date with professional matters and engaging in appropriate on-going (continuous) professional development (CPD); they can monitor and take care of any personal development issues. [2]
      • §1.1: Establish a professional practice
        • Behave professionally
        • Build an independent practice or become a member of a professional team
        • Work according to accepted professional standards
        • Record information appropriately
        • Liaise with other professionals
        • Recognise difficulties in others in the professional environment
        • Monitor, evaluate and reviewcaseload
        • Maintain their fitness-to-practice in a number of ways
      • §1.2: Provide an appropriate environment
        • Provide a safe working environment
        • Provide a psychotherapeutic envionment
        • Make clear arrangements
      • §1.3: Engage in Quality Assurance
        • Routinely evaluate practice
        • Review practice
      • §1.4: Maintain Professional Development
        • Maintain appropriate Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
        • Practice professional qualities
        • Reflect on self and professional work
        • Incorporate research knowledge findings
      • §1.5: Maintain Personal Development
        • Develop the personal qualities that make a good professional psychotherapist
        • Engage in appropriate self-development
      To view the more detailed Core Competencies within this Domain, click here.

  2. The Psychotherapeutic Relationship:
  3. Exploration, (Assessment, Diagnosis & Conceptualization):
  4. ‘Contracting’ (Developing Goals, Plans & Strategies):
  5. Various Techniques & Interventions:
  6. Management of Change, Crisis and Trauma Work:
  7. Completion and Evaluation:
  8. Collaboration with Other Professionals:
  9. Use of Supervision, (Peer) Intervision and Critical Evaluation:
  10. Ethics, Standards & Sensitivities:
  11. Management & Administration:
  12. Research:
  13. Prevention & Education:

To look at the description of any of the other domains, please click on the domain name.
To see the descriptions of all the domains together, click here.

Working Group on Professional Competencies: committee@psychotherapy-competency.eu