Introduction:

NZACAP was established with a number of objects in mind, including:

-           “The fostering and advancement of the theory and practice of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy with emphasis on the application of psychoanalytic and developmental principles in diagnosis and treatment”;

-           “To promote and maintain professional standards of practice and to uphold and enforce honourable and proper practice”;

-           “To promote an appropriate standard of training, adopting as a basis the National Training Course for Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists while retaining the right to recognise as suitable or to reject as unsuitable any other training course”. 

            (Objects (i), (iii) and (iv) of Clause 2 in The Rules of the NZACAP booklet).

-           New Zealand trained Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists have undertaken a rigorous academic and clinical training, with supervised training cases.  It is also recommended that trainees undertake their own personal psychotherapy and from 2010 this will be mandatory for trainees.

-           For those who have undertaken an overseas training in Child Psychotherapy, the Executive and Membership Committee need to establish equivalency with New Zealand graduates, before following the pathway towards Full Membership. 

These applicants, and applicants with clinical trainings in allied professions (e.g.counselling, psychology, psychiatry) to the equivalency of Masters standards and practising child psychotherapy, may become Affiliate Members and work towards Intending Membership, and then on to Full Membership.  

“While working towards Intending Membership, they may be required to complete further training or other studies such as child or adolescent case study, or mother-infant study, tertiary level training in child or adolescent psychotherapy, personal psychodynamic psychotherapy to attain a necessary standard to allow the member to become an Intending Member.”  (pg. 6 Membership Procedure for NZACAP Inc  (2008 Version) booklet).

-           In the process of developing these guidelines, the Executive, the Membership Committee and representative of the NZ Child Psychotherapy training, have sort equivalency with:

(1)                the current training programme

(2)                the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand requirements for psychotherapists with a specialism in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy.

-           Each applicant’s qualifications and experience will be assessed by the Membership Committee and relevant others as required.  This may include members of the Executive of NZACAP and/or teaching staff of the current New Zealand training programme. Eligibility for working toward Intending Membership will be made on an individual basis.

-           N.B. The Membership Committee and Executive retain the right to make changes in the future to the requirements to be in accordance with any New Zealand training changes and requirements of PBANZ.

Process:

-           Initially we will ask for: -

1)                 Evidence of qualifications and documentation detailing course of study including course content, clinical component and final assessment.  The Membership Committee will be looking for equivalency in academic study, and supervised clinical practice in psychoanalytically/psychodynamically oriented child and adolescent psychotherapy;

2)                 A current C.V.;

and

3)         A criminal history check.

-           If it is appropriate for the applicant to work towards Intending Membership, any additional requirements to            meet graduate equivalency will be identified.

-           Once these requirements along with the specific hours of supervision are met, the applicant can apply for Intending Membership, and then can work towards Full Membership, the requirements for which are outlined in the Membership Procedures booklet.

Equivalency Requirements:

1)         Applicants must be able to demonstrate knowledge of and competence in the following:

-           In-depth understanding of infant, child and adolescent development, including psychological, emotional, social, cognitive and maturational development.  Knowledge and understanding must include psychoanalytic, object relations and child development theories.

-           Applicants should be able to demonstrate a working understanding and integration of theoretical frameworks underpinning Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy.   These may be demonstrated via course outlines, mother-infant observation, case study and viva voce examination.

2)         An applicant may be required to present a child and family case study outlining an assessment, formulation, treatment plan and course of therapy similar to that undertaken by New Zealand trained Child Psychotherapy students, followed by a viva voce examination.

            Costs for marking and viva voce examination will be associated with this.

3)                  Mother-Infant Observational Study

-           Guidelines adapted from the AUT Standards will be provided.

-           The length of study will be a minimum of 18 months, with flexibility around unforeseen circumstances, to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

-           The supervisor of the Mother-Infant Observational Study will be a full NZACAP member and/or an NZACAP approved Mother-Infant Observational Study Supervisor.

-           In terms of costing, there will be a minimum of two markers, with each marker requiring at least 4 hours for marking.  There will also be a final discussion between the markers of at least an hour.  Discussion with or report from Supervisor will be used as part of the marking.

            4)         Clinical Practice Guidelines

There will be a requirement of a minimum of two years supervised clinical practise.

5)                 There is a minimum requirement of nine hundred hours of therapeutic contact.  This would include assessments and therapies provided, couple and family meetings, and liaison with the child’s wider environment – school, G.P., social worker, etc.  Included in the nine hundred hours there must be at least one long term, weekly, individual child psychotherapy case of not less than one year.  A supervisor’s report will be required.

6)                 Over the two years of clinical practise, there is a requirement of one hour of clinical supervision for every 10 hours of practise.

7)                 Supervisors will be a full NZACAP member approved as a supervisor or a supervisor approved by NZACAP.

8)                 Personal Therapy Requirement

120 hours is required.

The preferred modality of therapy would be in the modality the applicant is practising i.e. individual psychodynamic psychotherapy.  Where personal, individual, psychodynamic psychotherapy is not available, or in special circumstances, the candidates will discuss this with the Membership Committee.

9)                 Support for Candidate During the Recognition of Equivalency Process

The candidate is encouraged to maintain contact with full NZACAP members who could provide on-going support throughout the process.  NZACAP is happy to provide applicants with a list of Supervisors available in their area.