Psychotherapy, Coaching🇬🇧

Nearly all practicing psychologists in Denmark are Danish, trained in various branches of the Danish national universities, and are members of the Danish Psychologists’ Union.  Many are either authorised by the government’s board of psychologists (psykolognævnet) or are going through the long and rigorous process of attaining that authorisation, typically followed by a specialisation.

The Danish culture is very homogenous and appears to value conformity, predictability as vital elements of security that they define and strive for.  I say much of this because we non-Danes as well as many Danes, seem to struggle and at times be mystified the growing homogeny seen in many examples, such as the evaporation of dialect, the standardisation of language, accepted practices and, in the case of the psychology curricula, content which might well be developed internationally, while “foreign” psychologists, often with Phd’s and other advanced training and experience, even some involved in developing the material that the Danes study, are denied access to membership in the Danish psychologists union without “upgrading” their degree or, in some cases, having to start from the beginning or near-beginning if they, as foreigners are even able  get into the university, despite holding advanced degrees in the field.

In addition to the above factors and more, one must first be a member of the Danish Psychologists Union to be considered for authorisation.  Such membership almost always requires a Danish academic degree, with little or no credit or merit given to the one one has, even if it’s more advanced.

This has also been my experience but not my outcome as I have been a Danish authorised psychologist since 1998 and apparently one of very few in the country whose fundamental and advanced degrees were earned outside Denmark.

The reasons why this is so in my case and not for others who are as well or more qualified than I, and  the broader elements of exclusiveness in this and some other academic and practical skill-areas in Denmark will be addressed in other writings later, as I take more time to reflect and research this issue and its challenges and conflicts with my and others’ shared vision of the psychologist’s role and function as a universal witness to, student of and catalyst for healing of othrs.

In the face of this situation, mixed-messages and confusion can arise about the qualifications of foreign-trained psychologists and other professionals.  The problem is generally less relevant in the private sector than in government healthcare activities, which I’ve learned by having worked extensively in both.

In addressing the question “Why are my qualifications shown here?” The answer is to solidify my selected credentials despite a prevailing double-bind criticism, that if you list them, you might be regarded as bragging and if you don’t, you might be considered less-well-trained than a Danish psychologist, despite the assessment of the Danish Board of Psychologists and others.

It should be said that my reflections and shared ’self-talk’ posted here, are  not meant to provoke for provocations sake, but to try, along with colleagues of many nations and persuasions in Denmark and beyond, to encourage true diversity in a culture that often has branded and marketed itself as tolerant and welcoming, yet in some areas, such as academic psychology, is accepting, training and recruiting candidates who, while possibly reflecting some form of internally-defined “danskhed” / “Danishness,” can be building learning experiences, models and habits in a limited direction that may not reflect the flexibility, curiosity and interest in growth, that is in fact characterised by multi- and interculturality not just among foreigners, but in subsets of the ethnic Danish population as well. 

Danish values and true interculturality, as I understand and experience these terms in my personal and professional life needn’t be mutually exclusive.

As a working musician and composer as well as psychologist, I often visit friends and colleagues at various music conservatories and orchestras here, being refreshed and inspired by diversely trained international students, professionals and virtuosi  studying and performing together in the universal language of music, and wishing, hoping and, where possible, working toward a similar confluence of psychology students and practicing professionals ‘performing’ and celebrating the courage of sister and brother humans as they navigate life’s challenges in the daily unfinished symphony of life.

Wish me/us luck🙏🏽💖