What training as a therapist really involves

I think many people imagine that training to become a therapist is mostly about reading books, learning theories, and writing essays. And of course, that is part of it.

But it is only part of the picture.

Training to be a therapist is also deeply personal. In many ways, it is unlike most other professional training because it asks you to turn inwards, as well as towards the work itself. It involves years of reflection, self-awareness, challenge, and ongoing learning. And it's a process that can be uncomfortable at times - not unlike therapy.

In my own case, I trained for four years before becoming fully qualified. Since then, I’ve completed a further two years of additional training, alongside regular continuing professional development, supervision, and ongoing learning throughout my career.

And honestly, I’m glad the training is rigorous. I’m glad it takes time.

Because when you sit with a therapist, you probably don’t just want someone who has read books or passed exams. You want someone who has spent time reflecting honestly on themselves. Someone willing to notice their blind spots, sit with discomfort, be challenged, and keep learning.

Therapy asks clients to be brave and vulnerable. I think therapists should be willing to do that work too.

There’s a phrase often used in therapy training: we can only take our clients as far as we have taken ourselves. While no therapist is perfect, I think there is something important in that idea. Proper training is not simply about gaining knowledge. It is about developing the emotional awareness, ethical understanding, and reflective capacity that we need to have in order to support another person and join them in their inner world.

One of the difficulties in the UK is that counselling and psychotherapy are unregulated. This means that, technically, anyone can call themselves a therapist, regardless of the level of training or experience they have. That can feel confusing when you are trying to work out who feels safe to trust.

One of the simplest ways to navigate this is to look for a therapist who is registered with a recognised professional body such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, UK Council for Psychotherapy, or the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. I'm a Registered Member of the BACP, and I have also completed professional Accreditation, which means that I have 'achieved a recognised standard of professional excellence and ethical practice'.

These organisations require therapists to meet recognised training and ethical standards, attend regular supervision, and continue their professional development throughout their career.

Not because therapists should be perfect.

But because when you begin therapy, you need to be able to trust that the person sitting opposite you takes that responsibility seriously.