Pre-requisites for Imago Clinical Training and subsequent AIRTA Membership

In order to enrol in the 12 day Imago Clinical training and then apply for Trainee membership to AIRTA, the applicant/trainee would meet the 3 points outlined below. Once the Member has completed the 12 day training and completed all requirements associated with certification and has become certified (see ‘Imago Clinical Training course requirements’ below), they would then be able to proceed to full Clinical AIRTA Membership.

1. FACE TO FACE TRAINING REQUIREMENT

The applicant/trainee would have completed the following:

  • A minimum two year training which holds a minimum 200 hours of face to face training which is counselling and/or psychotherapy specific training OR,
  • A minimum undergraduate or postgraduate qualification in Social Work or Psychology OR,
  • A qualification in Psychiatry.

2. Clinical hours of supervision and client contact

The applicant/trainee would be required to have undertaken:

  • A minimum 50 hours of supervision which relate to 350 hours of client contact and this would be confirmed in writing by the training institute and/or supervisor/s.

 3. Professional registration, practice and insurance

The applicant/trainee would:

  • Be a current member of a recognised counselling or psychotherapy, psychology or social work association which requires annual hours of supervision, client contact and professional development for professional registration.
    N.B. ACA level 2, 3 and 4 would meet this requirement, as long as requirements in point one above (face to face training) have been met.
  • Currently be practicing clinically
  • Hold current professional indemnity insurance with a minimum indemnity of $2,000,000
  • Have completed the initial training above or be currently in training in a course that meets the above requirements.
    N.B. The trainee can be in training for their initial qualification while concurrently enrolled in the Imago Clinical Training, but would not be accepted into AIRTA/IRI until they have met regional requirements for completion of their initial qualification.
 

Imago Clinical Training course requirements

  • Attend all 12 days of training
  • Attend (preferably with current partner) ‘Getting the Love you Want’ Couples workshop as a participant
  • Participate in training exercises and small group work
  • Complete assigned readings
  • During Modules 2 and 3, present video tape samples of their work with couples for supervision
  • Complete 6 months post-training supervision: one supervision session per month, either individual or group
  • Execute an ‘Understandings and Agreements’ contract through IRI
  • Complete 3 and 6 month reports following the training, as outlined by Clinical Instructors
  • Serve as clinical support staff in a ‘Getting the Love You Want’ Couples Workshop within 1 year of completion of course requirements
  • Submit 1 videotape of their work with couples, for assessment, after completion of the 6 months supervision

Footnotes to pre-requisites for BCT Australia and Recognition of Prior Learning

  • Gestalt Therapy Training, William Street Family Therapy training, Art Therapy training and Transactional Analysis training can all lead to clinical membership of PACWA, or PACFA
  • RADIX training – Mind Body work – is agreed as acceptable training
  • Some organisations have increased their hours of practice for clinical membership to 950 hours of client contact, which relate to 125 hours supervision. It has been agreed by Trainers and the AIRTA panel, that 350 hours of supervised counselling is sufficient for the Imago Clinical Training.
  • ASSERT (Sexology training) standing on its own cannot be accepted unless the applicant has demonstrated 2 years of Clinical experience post training and meets the 350 hours client contact, which relate to 50 hours supervision.
  • Some people who wish to do the Educational Track are considered individually on their particular project and this needs to be assessed. These participants must demonstrate that they intend to use their training in a very professional way. The Educational Track is definitely not a back door entrance to a Certification as an Imago Therapist. It was decided that Educational Track participants are acceptable in an Imago Clinical Training group with a maximum of a 1/4 -1/5 ratio in the training group. Brenda Rawlings and Peter McMillan have noted that that the ratio is usually much less than that and that current program has no one in the current course is of concern.
  • People may make application for training who present as unclear, then it is agreed that Brenda Rawlings and Peter McMillan will consult with the AIRTA committee around the uncertainties.
  • It is difficult to police what an individual practices once having attended the training, and it is recommended that it is better to be stringent with the above prerequisites.

Recognition of Prior Learning

In cases where the applicant has no formal training such as in Point 1 or has completed training many years ago, but has completed various ‘adhoc’ counselling and/or psychotherapy specific trainings, then the applicant can be admitted as long as they have significant clinical hours of both supervision and client contact i.e. in excess of 150 hours of supervision, which relate to in excess of 1200 hours of client contact. These hours would be confirmed as counselling/psychotherapy specific hours by a recognized supervisor via letters or supervisors declarations.

Submitting an application for Membership to AIRTA

To complete a Trainee Membership application the applicant/trainee would send:

  • Completed Registration Form
  • Confirmation of points 1, 2 and 3 above
  • Confirmation of enrolment in the 12 day training via a letter from Brenda Rawlings or Peter McMillan (Imago Institute for Relationships) or from another IRI (Imago Relationships International) registered Clinical Trainer.

To complete a Clinical Membership application the graduate would send:

  • Completed Registration Form
  • Confirmation of points 1, 2 and 3 above
  • Confirmation of certification as Certified Imago Therapist via a letter from Brenda Rawlings, Peter McMillan (Imago Institute for Relationships) or from another IRI (Imago Relationships International) registered Clinical Trainer.