How can psychiatrists offer psychotherapeutic leadership in the public sector?

Objective: This article reviews the forms that psychotherapeutic leadership can take for psychiatrists attempting to optimise outcomes for individuals receiving treatment in the public mental health sector. It explores a range of roles and functions that psychiatrists can take on as psychotherapy leaders, and how these can be applied in clinical, administrative and research contexts. Conclusions: Psychiatrists need to play an increasing role in clinical, administrative and academic settings to advance service provision, resource allocation, training and research directed at psychotherapies in the public health sector.