Did you spend a year as a line psychotherapist at a 650-bed
state
hospital for forensic patients?
Did you spend a year as senior psychotherapist at a county
facility for
substance abusers?
Did you spend two years as chief of therapy at a private, 200-
bed
facility for the mentally and emotionally ill, at which
approximately
half the patients were trying to beat drugs or alcohol?
Are you currently chief of therapy for a for a multi-
practitioner
practice of some 825 patients, about a third of which are
seeking help
for substance abuse problems?


Licensed psychotherapist
Screening as to character and background for each degree earned
On-going screening by faculty while in educational system
Interviews and screenings for required years of internships,
plus,
at the same
time, supervision by a licensed professional.
Close professional and personal supervision by a licensed
therapist for two years
of employment before being allowed to apply for licensure
Licensure background check, submission of recommendations by
licensed
practitioners
Four hour written examination on state laws
Five hour written examination on diagnosis, procedure and
practice

My wife went through this before becoming licensed. Her final
internship was as a
psychotherapist at a 600-bed high security state psychiatric
hospital where, on a
daily basis, she was exposed to more danger than your average
soldier.

My wife worked for a year as psychotherapist in a Florida 600-
bed
state
mental institution for forensic patients. She saw and treated
numerous
sexual deviants who do a bit more than expose themselves. Such
"treatment"
is part of being in the mental health professions.
She is a licensed, practicing
psychotherapist and often tells me I am the sanest person she
sees
each