Psychotherapy training in a therapeutic community

Ann Speirs

doi:10.9791/ajpanz.2008.07

Ann Speirs

DOI: https://doi.org/10.9791/ajpanz.2008.07

Abstract

This paper outlines the formal aspects, academic and clinical, of a three year training in psychotherapy offered in a psychiatric hospital which functions as a therapeutic community. The trainee's adjustment to the community is described, with reference to the overlap and intersection with the patient's experience in the community. Consideration is given to individual and group processes within the entire community. Erikson's concept of developmental stages is used, as well as a paper by Baird Brightman,to examine how crises in the training experience are managed by the trainee.

Author Biography

Ann Speirs

As recorded in 2008.

Ann Speirs completed a degree in Russian Studies at the University of Sussex, England, followed by graduate study at the University of Leningrad. She emigrated to New Zealand in 1969. After graduation from the Otago Training in Child Psychotherapy in 1985 she worked for the Department of Social Welfare and then in private practice seeing children, adolescents, families and individual adults. Since 1999 she has worked at The Ashburn Clinic.