California
Depth-Psychotherapists
Association
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Things to think about:
Readings in Depth and Archetypal Psychology
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The "California Depth Psychotherapists Association" is composed of individual psychotherapists, psychotherapist interns, and institutions with a predominantly non "Family Systems" theoretical orientation. The Association has an open membership. Anyone can join.
Background:
Excluding Social Workers, there is only one license at the Master's Degree level for any and all psychotherapists in California. This is the "MFT" or Marriage and Family Therapist license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Science (BBS).
Until recently, MFT's had to live with the label of "Counselor," which was sharply distinguished from a "Psychotherapist." Psychiatrists treated certain pathologies, Clinical Psychologists treated certain pathologies, and MFCCs were "Counselors" (not psychotherapists) specializing not so much in psychopathologies, but in relationship issues with couples and families where the unit of treatment was generally greater than one.
A few years ago CAMFT
(the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) managed
to push through legislation granting the title "Psychotherapist" to the
MFCC license. Then CAMFT got this "Counselor" business dropped. Now the
title is MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist).
Family Therapy vs. Depth Psychotherapy:
The term "Psychotherapy" is general. The term "Family Therapy" is a bit more specific. In their book Counseling the Culturally Different, Theory and Practice (1990 John Wiley & Sons), the authors observe:
"Two primary approaches have been identified in family counseling, although there are a number of vairations. Ont of these, the communications approach is based on the assumption that fmily problems are communication difficulties...The structural approach also considers communication to be important but it especially emphasizes the interlocking roles of family members."
When we refer to "Family Therapy" on this web page, we are referring to a group of theoretical orientations that include a genre of thought found predominently in communications theory, systems theory, brief therapy, structural psychology, the work of Haley and Minuchin.
For the most part, Depth-Psychotherapy has a different take on the nature of the Psyche and it's activities. When we refer to "Depth-Psychotherapy" on this page, we are referring to a group of theoretical orientations that include a genre of though found predominently in the psychoanalytic tradition, the work of C.G. Jung, the work of James Hillman.
The Problem
The problem is that the Depth-Psychological approach to the psyche is entirely under represented in California at all levels. CAMFT is not the answer here. They are firmly entrenched in Family Therapy views. The BBS, though itself numb to theoretical orientation, is instrumental in shaping California psychotherapy by constructing licensure criteria based on current standards in the State -- predominantly Family Therapy.
The Solution
The California Depth-Psychotherapist Association (CDA) is building an alternative to CAMFT...plain and simple. If there is enough interest (i.e., if enough people join this group), we will create a discussion list, a bulletin board for posting events, and a legislative lobbying activity to create a voice in Sacramento. Already I have spent a year in an attempt to eliminate the predominantly Family Systems MFT Oral Examination.
What to do
The CDA is new. So far, it is no more than a web site under construction. There are no donations required, or dues at this point. Anyone who would like help with web construction or the effort to eliminate the Oral Examination is more than welcome.
Please e-mail me directly at mstaples@sbcglobal.net.
Check back on this web periodically. I will be adding a page soon describing the situation with the Orals (a lot of information you won't get from CAMFT or the NASW-CA).
Michael Staples
Contact:
Michael Staples
e-mail:
mstaples@sbcglobal.net
Phone:
707 935-1629