My journey toward becoming a psychotherapist

Reflections on a long career

Abstract

As the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists (NZAP) celebrates 75 years as an association, the author, a psychotherapist of long-standing and considerable experience as a practitioner in Aotearoa New Zealand, reflects upon her journey to becoming a psychotherapist. She considers the influences that have impacted upon her in this journey, and the qualities essential, in the author’s view, to the practice of psychotherapy. The article is a reflection on lessons learnt throughout her career, in the hope that this may be of benefit to other practitioners, whether beginning or well-seasoned.