SPECIALIST LEVEL PROGRAM IN SOLUTION-FOCUSED PSYCHOTHERAPY
GENERAL DESCRIPTION

 Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

The Helsinki Psychotherapy Institute Ltd hosts a three-year specialist level psychotherapy training program in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. The program complies with the requirements of the Health Care Professionals Act (559/94) and with the guidelines of the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs (Terveydenhuollon oikeusturvakeskus, TEO). Successful completion of the program entitles the trainee to apply for TEO registration as a psychotherapist and healthcare professional.

A structured and integrated action learning process ensures the skills needed to operate as a solution-focused psychotherapist and behavioral expert in various contexts.

Solution-Focused Therapy is well-established in Finland and is recognized by TEO as well as The Social Insurance Institution of Finland as an effective brief psychotherapy with individual, group and community work applications. Solution-focused methods are also applied widely in special education, supervision and management.

Participants will attain theoretical and practical proficiency in the philosophy and concrete practices of solution-focused work. The articulated methods and interactive training process provide the participants with capabilities for results-oriented psychotherapeutic work. The program also includes a systematic introduction to solution-focused group therapy. The primary background theories are social constructionism, systems theory and the social psychology of motivation and interaction.

The program:

- 48 seminar days, of which five or six under the guidance of authoritative international experts in outcome research or psychotherapy process
- 100 hours client work supervision
- 80 hours training therapy (a solution-focused guided self-therapy program integrating personal and professional processes)
- Theoretical and applied literature
- Supervised client work
- Diploma work
- Distance learning: exercises, literature summaries, analyses etc. co-ordinated in an e-learning environment.

Senior trainers are qualified by RATKES, the Finnish Association for Solution-Focused Practices. the registered charity for promotion of solution and resource focused applications in health care, social work and education. RATKES is founded 1995 and it is a multiprofessional expert organization with over 1200 members.

Specialty areas:

- Family therapy
- Substance abuse
- Crisis work
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Network therapy

Special needs of the students will be accomodated eg. in the assignment of working groups, optional literature and thesis topics.

Confirmed quality

The program has an ethical committee and a steering committee including student representation. Learning and satisfaction are monitored on a regular basis through personal interviews and a specially tailored quality system.

Requirements:

- Suitable diploma, at or above college level
- Minimum 30 credits of psychology, psychiatry or psychotherapy skills
- A minimum of two years work experience in mental health, special education, family, crisis or equivalent client work
- Adequate English reading skills
- Commitment to the program for its duration

The three-year program commences with a two day seminar. Semesters are from the 1^st of January to the 30^th of June and from the 1^st of July to 31^st of December. The holidays will be mainly from the 15^th of June to 10^th of August and from the 15^th of December to 10^th of January.

Tuition

The fee includes teaching, participation in congresses (or equivalent), self therapy guidance, work counselling and course materials. Participants pay for their own travel, food and other expenses and book purchases when necessary. There are no separate charges for required training therapy or client work supervision. The fee of the program totalling 16400 euros is generally billed in advance. Payment plans are available.

Cancellation any time after acceptance and the discretion period will incur a charge equaling 10% of the prgram fee.

The fee includes approximately 3400 euros in value-added tax (VAT). Entrepreneurs or municipal employers can in most cases apply for a tax return. The fee and other expenses may be tax-deductible for private individuals if the program is justifiable as maintenance of professional skills according to Finnish tax law. 

The Helsinki Psychotherapy Institute Ltd
info@hpi.fi or  +358-40-5678000
www.psykoterapiakoulutus.fi