Question For Nurse Psychotherapists

[ILoveIceCream]

Hi!

I was wondering if there is any difference in scope of practice between a psych CNS practicing psychotherapy and a psych NP practicing psychotherapy?

Also, is there any difference (beside educational preparation) between nurse psychotherapists and other masters level psychotherapists (ie. MFT, LCSW etc..)?

Thank You!

[ILoveIceCream]

Thanks for your comment, traumaRUs.

Do you suppose there is much difference in training between a psych CNS and a psych NP in regards to psychotherapy? I've heard that some psych CNS programs are more psychotherapeutically oriented whereas some psych NP programs might be more psychopharmacotherapeutically oriented.

Also, Siri wrote: "The psych CNS and NP go beyond the level of the MFT/LCSW for they (the former) also provide primary health care in many situations." Does this mean that APN psychotherapists can do everything their MFT/LCSW counterparts can do--and more?

I understand APN's can do a lot, but are there any limitations on their psychotherapeutic interventions that MFT/LCSW's might not have? For example, I don't think MFT's need to have a collaborative agreement with a supervising practitioner, whereas NP's and CNS's certainly do in many states.

Thanks!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Hmmm - good question and one I'm not qualified to answer. Hopefully someone with more expertise in this area will be along soon.

[deb18]

Thanks for your comment, traumaRUs.

Docan do--and more?

I understand APN's can do a lot, but are there any limitations on their psychotherapeutic interventions that MFT/LCSW's might not have? For example, I don't think MFT's need to have a collaborative agreement with a supervising practitioner, whereas NP's and CNS's certainly do in many states.

Thanks!

Hi. I am a psych np who graduated with the CNS in community psychiatric and mental health. I took the required courses so I was able to qualify for the psych np licensure in this state. I do both therapy and meds. I have a collaborating ( supervising) psychiatrist with whom I practice. Another psych cns in the area only does psychotherapy and does not have to have a collaborating physcian since she does not engage in med management. I basically do what the LCSW's do in my office with the addition of med management. I have had extensive therapy courses, have had classes (but did not finish) that lead up to a doctorate in family relations which included many of the same courses the MFT's had. I am certified in EMDR and also do TFT in my practice. I know a few MSW's who have found by going back for their RN they are able to be more lucrative than just having the MSW. Hope this helps. deb

[Psychaprn]

Psych.Np's are board certified in either Adult Mental Health or Child and Adolescent Mental Health. They can do Psychotherapy and are trained to do so if they select this as a supervised clinical practicum in grad school. APRN's can provide meds and therapy if they desire, med management is more lucrative, however.

Others who provide psychotherapy-Psychiatrists, psychologists and Social workers-all master's prepared or higher. Counselors provide counseling-not therapy. Psychiatrists are MD's who focus on the brain and it's disorders. Psychologists strengths are in therapy and psychological testing. Social workers focus on couple's and family therapy. NP's focus on the mind-body connection, the environment, social issues-the whole person. They are usually interested in all aspects of care-primary, secondary and tertiary. They teach and focus on health education-physical and psychosocial. There are also differences among disciplines in the type of therapy provided-i.e pychodynamic, systems etc.

[Therapist4Chnge]

I know a few MSW's who have found by going back for their RN they are able to be more lucrative than just having the MSW. Hope this helps. deb

It is definitely more $ and I think would inform the therapy side more completely.

I am certified in EMDR and also do TFT in my practice.

I don't want to side-track this discussion, but I wanted to suggest doing some research into the validity of both of these methods. Often times people don't realize that neither has proper peer-reviewed clinical support to show independent effectiveness for either method (in regard to outcome studies). The little research out there is home cooked an not accepted from the vast majority of clinical professionals. It is generally accepted that any therapeutic change is caused by the relationship between the pt and the therapist, and not because of the methods above. The pro-EMDR studies do not take this variable into account, but instead lump it all together and claim success. I'd be very wary to practice something that is not empirically supported by research and is not accepted by the majority of clinical professionals.

-t