How Many English Classes do Therapists Really Need?
If you’ve been considering improving your English to work as a psychologist, you might be asking yourself a few practical questions.
How much time will I have to dedicate to this? How often should I have classes?
When will I start to see results?
You might even be thinking, “Am I supposed to go to weekly classes for years on end?”
These are all completely valid questions. Learning the English you need to work with therapy clients involves making a real commitment. Before deciding if it’s the right time for you to do so, it’s important to know what you’re getting into.
And before I answer those questions, there are a few important things you should know.
General English versus English for Psychologists
In a language school or academy, courses go on for years. The objectives are very general. The idea is that you keep slowly progressing, going from one CEFR level to another (A1-C2).
But I don’t teach general English—this is English for psychologists. I work with people who have an upper-intermediate or advanced level of English. By definition, the courses I offer are more focused and specific. So I don’t expect students to work with me year after year unless they absolutely want to, and we both feel our work together is genuinely productive!
But isn’t improving your English a life-long journey?
It is! It’s like practising a sport- if you want to maintain the same level, you’ve got to do it consistently. That doesn’t mean that you have to go to classes or get a personal trainer your whole life though. You can get a personal trainer for a few months to reach a specific objective and learn how to train more effectively.
Similarly, one of my objectives when working with therapists is to help them become more independent and empowered English learners. We experiment with different ways of learning outside the classroom so that they are fully involved in their learning process.
So, how many classes do I need?
The ideal frequency and number of English classes vary according to each person’s needs, objectives, level, and personal circumstances.
After all, therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, so why should helping therapists be any different?
That’s why before I start working with any student, I always offer them a free consultation. (If you’re interested, you can book one here, after August 2024!) This allows us to explore their concerns, set objectives, and evaluate their level.
If a student already has clinical experience in English and just wants to practice certain very specific situations, the likelihood is that I’ll offer them quite a short program (around four classes to begin with, and then check in to see if they need more support). If a student wants to work in English but feels very anxious and wants plenty of preparation beforehand, it can take them a year to even reach a comfortable level where they are willing to take on that challenge.
However, this is a (very general) idea of what it often looks like:
Phase 1: Weekly Classes Weekly 60-minute classes are the standard option for most English classes, and those tailored to mental health professionals are no exception. In my experience, this is especially important during the first months of a program or course, especially if a student is preparing to work with English-speaking clients.
There are five main reasons why I would personally recommend working on a weekly basis:
o Regular speaking practice is crucial, especially when your objective is to use English with the great precision and fluency that therapy requires. We know that pianists and football players must train very regularly to maintain their skills, but when it comes to language, we somehow tend to forget this!
o Doing frequent role-playing and discussion activities in English is a little like exposure therapy. Having a safe space to regularly face this fear allows us to normalize the situation and reduce anxiety around it. This, in turn, can increase feelings of confidence and self-efficacy.
o Because regular English classes lead to faster progress, they often boost motivation and interest too. Seeing how far you’ve come, week by week, makes you likelier to want to continue working hard to keep improving.
o Attending classes weekly helps to establish a frequent study or revision routine. You are given homework every week, which means that you get into the habit of listening to and reading content tailored to psychologists. This allows you to grow your vocabulary and comprehension skills faster. At the same time, because you have a gap between your classes, you take advantage of spaced learning, which is more effective for retention and memory.
o Classes are a great opportunity to check in to see what is working and what isn’t. Meeting regularly allows me to monitor your progress and adjust my approach based on how things are progressing.
How long should I have weekly classes?
Most of the time, I suggest starting with one term to see how things go (a 12-class program). During this time, students gain a deeper understanding of their language strengths and limitations. They experiment with several ways of improving their English skills, gaining insight into what works and doesn’t work for them. Their range of vocabulary grows quite significantly, as does their fluency. They also slowly start to speak more accurately.
After this time, we check in to discuss their progress. If they want us to continue working together, I am happy to offer them a program extension to build on and deepen the work we’ve done together. Alternatively, if they feel empowered to continue growing their English independently, we conclude the program.
Phase 1 Alternative: Bi-Weekly Classes Bi-weekly classes can be an effective way of preparing to have therapy sessions in English when you don’t have much time ahead of you. In some circumstances, it may make sense to condense a program (for example, do a 6-week program in 3 weeks). For example, you may have advertised your services as an English-speaking psychologist and want to quickly build up practice before you get your first client. I would only recommend doing this when you are fully confident that you have an advanced level of English (a C1+), and you just need role-playing practice.
Phases 2 and 3: Bi-Monthly Classes Once a psychologist has taken on several English-speaking clients and has grown more confident with them, they may decide that bi-monthly classes are a better fit for their language needs.
The key is that they are using advanced English on a daily (or near-daily) basis. This means that they already get the speaking practice they need to express themselves fluently, and they don’t need that from our classes. Our classes can then be reserved for more specific, advanced purposes, like dealing with the language difficulties they have with their therapy clients.
Phase 4: Occasional Consultations
When students are comfortable working with their English-speaking clients, there is no need for us to have consistent classes. However, my door is always open in case they want to role-play a situation they find particularly challenging or deal with a very targeted language point.
As I mentioned, the journey to becoming proficient in English as a clinical psychologist is unique to each individual.
By tailoring the frequency and number of classes to fit your specific needs and goals, you can make meaningful progress without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you start with weekly classes to build a strong foundation or opt for bi-monthly sessions to refine your skills, the key is to stay committed and engaged in the learning process.
If you’re ready to take the next step, I’m here to help. Book your free consultation, and let’s learn more about your unique needs!
If you want useful free tools, tips and resources, you can sign up for my newsletter here.
