Janmohamed et al examined the impact of training arrangements in one large scheme on senior house officers’ expectations of meeting College guidelines for psychotherapy training (Psychiatric Bulletin, March 2004, 28, ). In September 2003, clinical tutors across the West Midlands assisted with an audit of training opportunities and part II MRCPsych candidates’ actual compliance with current guidelines. It showed that logbook records of psychotherapy experience were often inaccurate. Where availability of supervision was relatively good, this did not guarantee good take-up.

Thirteen candidates could be fully assessed against the current guidelines for supervised practice (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2002). They were most likely to have received supervision for brief individual psychodynamic psychotherapy and least for group psychotherapy. Supervision experience in cognitive-behavioural therapy was more common than in brief integrative or supportive therapy (which the current guidelines also require). Four trainees were effectively prevented from getting near the total requirement because they did not receive family therapy experience when rotating to posts in child psychiatry. Most trainees had not managed to see the recommended ‘long’ case, and this requirement alone prevented three from meeting the guidelines in full. The only two who did fulfil them had both undertaken a full-time 6-month placement in psychotherapy within the previous year.

Janmohamed et al reported high support among trainees for rotational psychotherapy posts when protected time is already provided. When, as here, this protection is not well established, dedicated full-time or half-time psychotherapy posts remain a reliable means of ensuring current guidelines are met.