The Psychotherapeutic Professions in Romania
Geanina Cucu-Ciuhan
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Pitesti, Romania
I. The Current Situation of Psychotherapeutic Professions in Romania
1. Identity of the psychotherapeutic professions.
Training in psychotherapy in Romania
1. Initial training:
a. university training in psychology (for psychotherapy is also included training in medicine, educational sciences, social work, philosophy and theology)
b. master programs in mental health counseling or psychotherapy in universities or formative programs in mental health counseling or psychotherapy made by the professional associations
c. supervision
2. Continuous training: programs of continuous training, conferences, workshops etc.
Based in Bucharest, the Romanian College of Psychologists is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in Romania. The purpose of the College is to represent and preserve the interests of Romanian practicing psychologists both on national and international level. The law ‘213/May 27, 2004’ is the legal frame for the organization functioning. Through this law, for the first time in Romania, psychology is recognized as a science and profession and as a means of promoting health, education, and human welfare. The law establishes the major structural units of the Romanian College of Psychologists: the National
Agreement, the Council of the College, the Executive Committee, and the President of the
College.
There are several committees functioning in the Executive Committee:
• Practicing committees: the committee of clinical psychology and psychotherapy; the
committee of work psychology; the committee of educational psychology, and vocational
counseling; the committee of defense, public order and national security.
• The methodological committee.
• The committee for deontology and discipline.
The recognized psychotherapeutic professions are those established by international
standards. These psychotherapeutic professions are organized in several categories, each
category with several schools:
• Cognitive-behavior psychotherapies (rational-emotive and behavioral psychotherapies,
cognitive psychotherapies, behavior psychotherapies);
• Psychodynamic psychotherapies (psychoanalytic psychotherapies, analytic
psychotherapies, brief dynamic psychotherapies);
• Ericksonian psychotherapies (Ericksonian psychotherapy, Ericksonian hypnoses);
• Brief psychotherapies (brief solution psychotherapy, the constructivist-collaborative and
narrative orientations); • Humanist-existential-experiential psychotherapies, systemic and transpersonal
psychotherapies (gestalt therapy, logotherapy, psychodrama, experiential psychotherapy,
Certification for practicing psychotherapists is made considering the international standards of the field: the first level is that of probationer psychologist in psychotherapy (or supervised psychotherapist), the next level is specialist psychologist in psychotherapy (or psychotherapist), and the final level of certification is principal psychologist in psychotherapy.
There are typical training requirements for professional practice for each of these levels:
1. Probationer psychologist in psychotherapy (or supervised psychotherapist): the standards of certification in this level are 1800 hours of classes, seminars, practice, and theoretical study in the areas of clinical diagnosis and evaluation, clinical or medical psychology, counseling and psychotherapy, psychiatry/psychopathology, health psychology/psychosomatics, and developmental psychology. This knowledge is acquired by a degree in psychology or in another similar field, or by a master degree in psychology. A number of 500 hours of theoretical and practical training in a specific psychotherapeutic school (during master degree studies or in a professional association) is a part of this criterion. Personal individual or group analysis and development in the specific psychotherapeutic association represent another minimum 150 hours.
2. Specialist psychologist in psychotherapy (or psychotherapist) requires: practice psychologist in psychotherapy competences, professional certification from a professional association recognized by the Clinical Committee of the College, and 25 credits as a result of participation in courses, workshops, conferences, publications. There are 3 years of psychotherapeutic training in a specific school.
3. Principal psychologist in psychotherapy or supervisor psychotherapist requires: specialist psychologist in psychotherapy competences; professional certification as a supervisor psychotherapist from a professional association recognized by the Clinical Committee of the
College (24 hours of theoretical or practical study in the supervision area, and 50 hours of co- supervision with a certified supervisor); performance of professional activities through courses, publications; 50 credits of continuous professional training through courses, workshops, conferences, and publications.
2. Relations among the psychotherapeutic professions.
There is a permanent interaction among the psychotherapeutic schools. This interaction can be easily noticed in the structure of the Committee of clinical psychology and psychotherapy, which is made by representatives of all the presented schools. Above all, the legal frame of the psychology profession ensures equality and fairness though the ethical and deontological code promoted. This Deontological Code applies to psychologists' activities that are part of their scientific, educational, or professional roles as practicing psychologists. Areas covered include the clinical, counseling, and school practice of psychology; research; teaching; supervision of trainees; development of assessment instruments; conducting assessments.
3. Relation of the professions to the health care and/or social service systems.
The Romanian College of Psychologists represents the public authority for the psychology profession at the national level. The Romanian College of Psychologists works closely with The Ministry of Public Health. The Psychology Committee is a part of the
Specialized Committees in the Ministry of Public Health. Beside the Specialized Committees there are the Therapeutic Strategy Committee and the National Transparency Committee in the structure of this ministry. These committees were established to coordinate the specialized activities, to elaborate the therapeutic strategy and the basic medical services for the population in the social health service systems. The President of the Therapeutic Strategy Committee or the
Secretary of the Therapeutic Strategy Committee coordinates the activity of the specialized committees.
II. Future Prospects of the Therapeutic Professions in Romania
4. Factors instigating change in the psychotherapeutic professions.
5. Basic skills to be required for training and practice in the psychotherapeutic professions:
The ‘skill-sets’ that are required of persons who provide professional ‘mental health’ and/or ‘personal helping’ services:
- psychological evaluation described by the specific form of psychotherapy; o psychological intervention (described by the specific form of psychotherapy)
. of optimization, personal development and self-knowledge;
. in psychological, psychopathological, and risk situation problems;
. in health keeping (education for health, primary prevention etc.) and in confrontation with
the disease condition and with the existential impasse (treatment, secondary prevention,
tertiary prevention, recovery etc.);
. of optimization of couple processes, family, group, organization and collectivities. o research: . in the limits of his competencies o education and training:
. Can organize courses and workshops within the limits of his competencies and the level of
his specialization.
Levels of specialization: a. Level of psychologist probationer in psychotherapy
There are 2 sub-levels:
- Probationer in supervision
- Probationer autonomous a.1. Psychologist probationer in supervision
- 1800 hours of theoretical training witch will obligatorily include knowledge in the fields of: psychological assessment and clinical evaluation, clinical psychology and medical psychology, counseling and psychotherapy, psychiatry and psychopathology, health psychology and psychosomatics, developmental psychology.
These 1800 hours are covered by:
- The degree in psychology or in an assimilated field, with the completion of studies with the
university courses mentioned above.
- 500-800 hours of theoretical and applied training in a specific form of psychotherapy,
realized at master level or from professional associations accredited by the CPR.
- Minimum of 150 hours of self-knowledge and personal development organized by
professional associations accredited by the CPR. a.2. Psychologist probationer autonomous - After the first year of practice in supervision, the psychotherapist takes an exam at the CPR
and becomes autonomous. b. Level of psychologist specialist in psychotherapy
- Competences as probationer psychologist in psychotherapy
- Training in professional associations accredited by the CPR o Minimum of 100 hours of self-knowledge and personal development organized by
professional associations accredited by the CPR o 300-600 hours of clinical supervised practice with clients/patients, organized by professional
associations accredited by the CPR, in medical institutions or private practice. o 150 hours of supervision of the clinical practice organized by professional associations
accredited by the CPR.
- The total period of training will be of 3 years
- 25 credits of continuous learning obtained by attending courses, workshops, conferences,
publications
b. Level of psychologist principal in psychotherapy
- Competences as specialist psychologist in psychotherapy
- Training as supervisor
- 24 hours of theoretical and applicative courses in the field of the supervision
- 50 hours of co-supervising with an recognized supervisor
- Performing professional activities as courses, publications etc.
- 50 credits of continuous learning obtained by attending courses, workshops, conferences,
publications.
6. Relation of psychotherapy research to the psychotherapeutic professions.