THE NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHOTHERAPISTS
Te Roopu Whakaora Hinengaro

Welcome . Haere mai

The New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists welcomes all new enquiries for membership. 
This document invites you to consider whether joining our organization is something that best suits your interest in psychotherapy.  

If you have not yet spoken to an NZAP member or contacted the local or regional group we invite you to speak with someone who is already in the Association. Our members welcome your enquiries and can support you in your own geographical area while you proceed toward membership.

WHO MAY APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP?
Anyone who practises or is beginning to practise psychotherapy and has formal training in psychotherapy or has equivalent training to be approved by the regional interviewing panel. The NZAP is an inclusive organisation and membership is based on concern for competent, safe and ethical practice. Many pioneering practitioners and theorists have enriched and expanded the profession, and the Association recognises this wealth of learning and experience as the basis of psychotherapeutic knowledge.
The process of achieving and maintaining membership is linked to a demonstrated, continuing commitment to the values and competence required of professional psychotherapists.

To become a provisional member a practitioner: (From the Information of Enquirers information sheet)

• practices psychotherapy or is beginning to practice psychotherapy.
  
• will have formal training in psychotherapy or have had equivalent training to be approved by the regional interviewing panel. (Note: equivalent training may include culturally based knowledge and skills and/or counselling training that is approved by the panel).
  
• will have by the time of acceptance as a provisional member, already completed client contact hours which should total at least 200 supervised hours over at least two years.
  
• will have a commitment to the ethics and clinical practice of psychotherapy. This will include some knowledge of, and familiarity with psychotherapy and psychotherapists as well as a motivation to pursue this vocational choice and join with colleagues in the profession

• will have experience in supervision that enables the enquirer to make good use of an NZAP supervisor.
  
• will be expected to attend professional supervision regularly and to have been a client in psychotherapy.  (Being continually open to the personal work in psychotherapy is an intrinsic aspect of our commitment).
  
• will be engaged in peer professional support. Evidence of support from a supervisor must be supplied, along with evidence from an NZAP branch and/or national or overseas professional bodies. (The local or regional NZAP branch or supervisors group can appoint a person to meet enquirers and offer support).
  
• will discuss with the panel information about current health and personal or family issues pertinent to the practice of psychotherapy.
  
• will abide by the NZAP Code of Ethics and discuss any criminal convictions or professional complaints with the panel.

How do you apply?

An Initial Enquiry form may be obtained from the Association’s Executive Officer.
This is intended to establish an applicant’s general suitability.

THE PATH TO PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Initial steps

• The enquirer contacts NZAP.
• Whe the person enquires initial information is sent out.
• The enquirer sends notification to NZAP that they would like an application form to be sent to them.
  (A Code of Ethics will be sent to you along with the application form)

Application form

• Application papers and a copy of Association’s handbook are sent out.
• The enquirer sends back the application form, a current curriculum vitae and two referees' reports.

Regional panel

• If the responses on the application form meet NZAP requirements the enquirer becomes a candidate for provisional membership
• The candidate is notified of a date to meet with the regional panel and given the names of the panel members. The candidate informs the chair of the regional panel if there are any difficulties with the selected panel members.
• The enquirer meets with the regional panel.
• The panel makes a recommendation to the NZAP Council that the candidate be accepted as a provisional member.
• And/or: The panel may make recommendations which the candidate can take to their supervisor and/or the local supervisors group.

Contact with local members

•  In keeping with the decision to recommend the candidate to be accepted as a provisional member and/or any other recommendations made by the panel, the candidate is encouraged to make connection with local or regional NZAP members.
• If the candidate is recommended to the NZAP Council for acceptance as a provisional member by the panel the candidate establishes a supervision contract with an NZAP member (Note: provisional members may have additional supervisors).
• Membership fees are paid.

THE PATH TO FULL MEMBERSHIP

•  If the candidate is beginning the path to full membership the NZAP Council must first approve the recommendation made by the panel. Provided fees are paid and a supervision contract is in place the enquirer then becomes a provisional member.
• The local or regional supervisors' group monitors and supports the provisional member towards full membership.
• The therapeutic study and work practice description are prepared and forwarded for marking. Details of the requirements for these presentations are available in the NZAP Assessment Policy and Procedures Handbook.
• When the therapeutic study and work practice description are accepted the provisional member proceeds toward the final stage which consists of a meeting with a national panel. Details of the final accreditation process are available in the NZAP Assessment Policy and Procedures Handbook.
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