Singapore University of Social Sciences

The “Person-of-the-Therapist” (POTT) is based on the premise that within the therapeutic relationship is a personal process that occurs between therapist and client. The essence of the POTT training model is the idea that therapists are capable of developing an expertise in how they proactively use themselves (signature themes, family-of-origin, personal/ clinical experiences, etc.) in the therapeutic process to enhance the effectiveness of their efforts. The students have to take responsibility not only for their psychological issues but also for their personal biases about morality, values, and philosophy of life. The students’ progress through three stages during the course of their training. In the first class presentation, they look to identify their signature themes. The next two class presentations, they seek to put the signature themes in the context of their clinical work. Focusing on the goals of the POTT training, the instructor(s) help the students to harness these new understandings and behaviours, and their improved self for the betterment of their clinical work.