What is a Certified Nurse Psychotherapist-CNP
Certified Nurse Psychotherapist – CNP
Pursuing a career in the field of psychotherapy is not just for Doctors, Psychologists, Registered Psychotherapists, and Social Workers. Nurses can perform the controlled act of psychotherapy provided that they have the skills, knowledge, judgement and supervision to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy.
What is a Certified Nurse Psychotherapist – CNP
The services are performed by nurses who are properly registered to practice as a nurse with the appropriate governing regulatory body of a province, or territory in Canada. Or registered to practice as a nurse in the United States. The services are performed by registered nurses, registered practical nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, and registered nurses in (Quebec) and registered nurse in the United States.
(1) are in good standing with each American or Canadian nursing regulatory body with which they are currently registered to practice; (2) have obtained a certificate of completion in nurse psychotherapy offered by the College of Health Studies or have obtained a certificate of completion in counselling and psychotherapy from a post-secondary program, which integrates the Certified Nurse Psychotherapist- CNP entry to practice competencies and standards of practice from the Nurse Psychotherapist Association and consists of the following: a minimum of 750 theory hours in counselling and psychotherapy skills, 100 hours of clinical supervision in counselling and psychotherapy provided by an experienced nurse psychotherapist in a health care or mental health setting, and 450 hours of hands on practical experience performing counselling and psychotherapy services to clients in a health care or mental health setting; and (3) have malpractice insurance with their respective nursing association in which they are currently registered to practice in Canada and the US.
What exactly does a certified nurse psychotherapist CNP do?
A Certified Nurse Psychotherapist does the same work as any other educated psychotherapist, are using psychological and counseling methods to assist in behavior and mental health challenges. Usually the nursing curriculum incorporates some form of health counseling within the definition of nursing practice.  Psychotherapy can be done with individuals, families, and groups provided the nurse has obtained additional skills, knowledge, training, and supervision in psychotherapy. Certified Nurse Psychotherapists – CNP are licensed nurses who provide counselling and psychotherapy services in various clinical settings including; hospitals, mental health clinics, psychiatric centers, and private practices.
Services offered include, and are not limited to;
Conducting psychological assessments , examinations, providing counselling,, psychotherapy services for work related stressors, depression, anxiety disorders, drug addictions, substance abuse disorders, drug rehabilitation, eating disorders, mental health services, psychological counselling of staff, individual, couples, adults, children, marital, group psychotherapy, mental health screening, operation of a wellness or mental health clinic, in addition to counselling and providing support for grief and bereavement.
What is the controlled act component of psychotherapy?
Not all psychotherapy falls under the controlled act. If all five of the following criteria are met, it is the controlled act:
- You are treating a client
- You are applying a psychotherapy technique
- You have a therapeutic relationship with the client
- The client has a serious disorder of thought, cognition, mood, emotional regulation, perception or memory
- This disorder may seriously impair the client’s judgment, insight, behaviour, communication or social functioning
As with any procedure, nurses continue to be accountable for having the knowledge, skill and judgement to perform this controlled act safely.
What should nurses keep in mind if they are thinking of becoming a certified nurse psychotherapist?
Nurses need to understand their reasons for wanting to become psychotherapists. Psychotherapy is not about fixing the client, but a collaborative approach between a clinician and client to assist coping with mental health challenges.
It is not solely health counseling for issues like nutrition, stress, or weight control. It is not nurse coaching. Psychotherapy is integrated with theoretical frameworks that are used by the psychotherapist to help with challenges.
What are the greatest challenges to being a certified nurse psychotherapist CNP ?
Challenges includes: training, time, cost, building a practice, obtaining referrals, and ongoing maintenance of competencies.
Additionally, reimbursement issues play into the challenges of practice as many insurers do not cover nurses for psychotherapy.
What are the greatest rewards?
There are many rewards to being a Certified Nurse Psychotherapist – CNP, including watching as behavior changes and mental health improvements are accomplished by the patients or clients, a client learning more about their medication, diagnoses and psychotherapy treatment, Navigating and advocating the health system for the client with respect to the role of the Certified Nurse Psychotherapist – CNP in assisting the client or patient in maintaining optimal mental health.