These guidelines and suggestions have been developed to support trainers and trainees in the fields of psychotherapy and counselling in deciding together when the trainee is at a stage of readiness to practice.

When a psychotherapy or counselling trainee begins their clinical practice it is important that they feel ready and equipped enough to do so. A range of factors will come into play such as previous experience and learning, as well as discussion with their Principal Trainer. However, there may be benefit to having some formal way of assessing their moment of readiness. Here are some guidelines and ideas.

Rationale:

In order for students to begin to see clients in any setting it is advised there is some way to assess their fitness to practice.

• This is a protection for the trainee practitioner, potential clients while maintaining the standards of the profession.

• If the trainee is considering entering into a placement with another organisation this ensures that the trainers can complete a ‘Statement of Readiness to Practice’ for the placement organisation.

• Once students have successfully been assessed as ready to practice, they are eligible to join the UKCP as a trainee member should they wish to do so.

• This experience introduces the trainee to the self-assessment process through sharing their work and experience for ongoing assessment. In turn this contributes to maintaining the organizations standards while building the robustness of the trainee psychotherapist.

• The purpose of the process is to affirm the trainees preparation, practice and build confidence of the individual.

Procedure:

These are suggested methods of making this kind of assessment and are offered as guidelines not requirements.

Criteria:

It is suggested that the trainee demonstrates the ability during training and during skills practice of the ability:

• To build rapport

• Develop a relationship of trust

• Understand the special character, implications and responsibilities of the psychotherapeutic relationship

• The ability to show warmth, compassion and understanding

• To recognise difference and diversity

• To show respect and embrace the TA philosophy of I+U+

• To demonstrate an appropriate level of competence using TA psychotherapy with a client

• To understand the limitations of confidentiality

• To demonstrate self-awareness and ability to self-reflect

• To demonstrate awareness of boundary issues and dual roles • To have an awareness of how to use supervision effectively

• To be a member of UKATA and agreed to abide by their code of ethics and professional practice

• To have read and agreed to abide by the ethical codes of the UKCP and any other relevant professional body.

• To have a commitment to continuing training in TA Psychotherapy

This can be ascertained in a number of ways:

• Through an overall observation during the training as a whole which involves, skills practice sessions, group discussions, group process, self-reflections, peer and self-assessments, assignments and tutorials

• Through a more formal skills practice assessment process in front of the trainer, trainers and trainees of the RTE observing and giving feedback on a skills practice between two trainees, one who is the ‘prospective practising trainee’ and the other who is bringing a real issue as a ‘client.’

Prior to beginning to practice it is recommended that the trainee:

• Has completed all their assignments

• Is in regular therapy with a UKCP registered Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapist •

• Already attends Transactional Analysis supervision within the RTE where they are training (or the equivalent as agreed with the Principal Trainer.)

Prior to beginning to practice it is essential that the trainee has insurance and has a PTSTA/TSTA supervisor.

Adopted by Council 18.03.2019 Version 1