Psychotherapy training in Italy

In Italy there are two ways of becoming a psychotherapist: schools specialized in psychotherapy for doctors of medicine or psychology and post-graduate schools specialized in psychiatry reserved for doctors of medicine. The former course has been established by private schools (using different theoretical approaches) recognized by the Ministry of University Education and Scientific-Technological Research (“Ministero dell’Istruzione Università e Ricerca scientifica e tecnonologica”, MIUR), the second one by university schools of medicine. Teachers must be professors from Italian and foreign universities or have some specific and proven experience as psychotherapist. Private schools with the same theoretical approach can associate and constitute national and international societies in order to train and qualify teachers and supervisors. Specialized courses take at least four years comprising 2000 or more hours of theoretical and practical education. In order to gain diagnostic and intervention experience, trainees must attend at least 100 hours of apprenticeship in institutions and public or private services accredited by MIUR. According to the applicable law personal psychotherapy of each trainee is not compulsory but many schools expect the trainee to complete this course before graduating. Although by passing the final examination the candidate gains some qualification as a psychotherapist, he/she has not completed his/her training; in fact, when taking into consideration client and therapist subjectivity, technical abilities are not sufficient to be able to effectively help patients. Key words: Italian psychotherapy schools, psychotherapy training