[Future psychotherapists? Vocational plans and motivation for choosing psychotherapy as a career in german psychology students].

BACKGROUND

in Germany psychology students can be seen as the major personal resource in psychotherapy. Nevertheless there are few studies on their vocational plans and their interest in psychotherapeutic training.

METHOD

480 psychology students completed a self-developed questionnaire on their career expectations.

RESULTS

90% of respondents report interest in clinical work and psychotherapeutic training. Most frequently they mention improving therapeutic competencies and career options as pros and current training requirements as cons. Their theoretical orientation (38% behaviour therapy, 19% psychodynamic therapy) is associated with their psychotherapeutic knowledge, study conditions and respondent's characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

psychology students consider working and training conditions for psychologists and psychotherapists, when thinking about their future career.