Does the length of training determine the effectiveness of counselling practice?

The length of training has little to do with the outcomes of psychotherapy and counselling. Those with considerably less training are just as effective, or even more so, when compared to those with advanced specialised degrees, such as in psychotherapy, clinical psychology or social work. The publication of innumerable articles and studies over at least a forty-year period, often by research psychologists, supports this contention. This paper explores the evidence that concludes there is equivalence in effectiveness between paraprofessionals and professionals, and in some studies, evidence of superior client outcomes for paraprofessionals. The importance of the therapeutic alliance in determining outcomes for clients is underscored.