How To Become A Therapist
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the growth of the counseling industry and counseling psychology jobs from 2021 to 2031 is expected to be at a rate of 22%, showcasing the opportunity for individuals looking to start a career as a therapist. Becoming a counselor or a licensed therapist can take around six to eight years of higher education, so understanding how to get started may benefit you as you plan your ideal future career in mental health counseling.
What is a therapist?
“Therapist” is a broad term that defines all mental health professionals offering clinical mental health counseling or therapy and treatment through strategies such as talk therapy, art therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or another form of mental healthcare within the scope of mental health careers and career paths. There are generally a few broad categories of mental health professionals, including the following:
- LCPC: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
- MD: Medical Doctor (reserved for psychiatrists)
- Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy
- PsyD: Doctor of Psychology
- LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- LCMHC: Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- MFCC: Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor
- LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
Each license title may have different educational and licensure requirements and career experiences, although all of the licenses above require a master’s degree program and a graduate degree. Often, counselors and social workers complete a graduate degree program with a master’s level degree, whereas psychologists may have a doctoral degree in psychology. The process can differ on from state to state as well.
Therapist vs. counselor
Counselors and therapists may use both terms to describe themselves. Both professionals complete advanced graduate degree programs and use their expertise in behavioral sciences and strong communication skills to serve their communities and often work in the same types of modalities. They can diagnose behavioral disorders, help manage symptoms of disorders, improve communication skills, and help clients build self-awareness. However, if a therapist is a psychologist with a doctorate, they may have some differences from a counselor in how much they’re paid, the duties they have in their practice, or their abilities in the psychological industry.
Many psychologists do not work as therapists but in a niche field like neuropsychology, forensic psychology, or research. Some may go on to be philosophers or professors at a university. Psychologists who offer therapy and have a license to practice are called clinical psychologists.
How to become a therapist
There are several types of mental health professions you can choose from after attending school and receiving your degree. Understanding the job description of may help you decide if you are interested in learning how to become a therapist.
There are often strict requirements in the US to practice as a licensed professional to ensure ethical standards are met and that therapy is high quality with standardized training and measured outcomes. This means that therapists require licensure in order to practice. Licensed therapists have a unique responsibility. These professionals are often tasked with understanding the human condition and formulating a compassionate and effective treatment plan for clients experiencing mental health issues, distressing symptoms, and challenging life events.
A therapist can diagnose and treat various mental illnesses and specialize in many modalities. For example, you could become a marriage and family therapist, or you could specialize in helping people who struggle with substance misuse. There are many types of therapy, and you may need to have additional education or experience to practice a specific one.
Therapists meet with clients in person or online either through non-public practice or mental health centers. Therapy sessions are often tailored to the individual’s needs, with routine follow-ups and adjustments whenever necessary. According to Indeed, the average salary for a clinical psychologist in 2023 is $108,710 annually. Some types of therapy, such as marriage and family therapy, may pay more or less money than other types of therapy. For example, family therapists make a median annual wage of $56,570, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Knowing information such as this may drive your decision on whether to become a family therapist or another kind of mental health professional.
Therapist duties and responsibilities
There are various responsibilities you might confront as a therapist, including the following:
- Implementing integrated behavioral health principles, procedures, and philosophies
- Following ethical guidelines outlined by the American Psychological Association (APA)
- Providing intervention, education, and counseling services
- Observing and assessing client's symptoms
- Offering clinically appropriate treatments based on assessment and diagnosis
- Documenting therapeutic outcomes, diagnoses, and treatment options
- Participating in structured case consultations and supervised conferences
- Engaging in staff development opportunities to ensure professional growth
- Earning and maintaining licenses, certifications, and program performance courses
As a therapist, you may also try to keep a flexible schedule, offer community resources to clients, and keep your practice safe and client-centered.
While many therapists may work with a wide variety of patients, there are many career options and different areas that a therapist may specialize in after completing a master’s program including:
- Marriage and family therapists – these therapists specialize in marriage and family therapy or counseling and work with couples and their families to improve communication and interpersonal relationships. Family therapists may offer family therapy done as a group.
- Child therapists – a child therapist specializes in working with young children and may use strategies that are more developmentally appropriate.
- Addiction therapists—these therapists work with individuals experiencing substance abuse. Substance abuse issues impact many aspects of a person’s life and an addiction therapist can provide strategies for managing addiction.
- School-based therapists – some therapists practice therapy in a school setting and provide in-school counseling to meet the mental health needs of students. A school-based therapist may need to collaborate with other professionals to provide support, such as occupational therapy or speech-language pathology, when providing strategies to reduce symptoms of mental health disorders. For schools with autism-specific programs, school-based therapists may be trained in using applied behavior analysis with students.
Therapist educational requirements
According to the American Counseling Association, a master’s degree or higher is required to become a therapist within the US. Many providers start as a psychology major, receiving an undergraduate degree in sociology, psychology, or human sciences. In graduate school, for master’s programs, you can take a clinical social work or clinical psychology path. After graduate school, you might decide to get a PsyD or Ph.D. for further learning.
How to become a therapist: Receiving a license
Once you have completed your clinical experience hours, all testing requirements, and received your license in the mail, you can select the therapist career that best fits your licensing, specialty, or career goals. Below are five options.
Clinical social worker
Clinical social workers are therapists trained in social work. These providers often have a master’s degree in social work (MSW). Social workers often provide therapy, community resources, case management, and referral.
A variety of mental health counselors
Mental health counselors can work in various specialties and require a master’s degree or higher. These providers often provide talk therapy. A few types of counselors include the following:
- School counselors
- Career counselors
- Pre-marital counselors
- Couples counselors
- Group counselors
- Individual counselors
Psychiatric nurse practitioner
Psychiatric nurse practitioners obtain a nursing degree before working in psychiatric nursing. Afterward, they may take additional courses in psychiatric training to be able to offer mental health care in medical settings like hospitals and inpatient mental health centers.
Clinical psychologist
A clinical psychology degree is a doctoral credential requiring significant mental health and therapeutic methodologies training. Professionals in this field may focus more on providing mental health support, diagnosis, and analysis instead of working in research or education.
Psychiatrist (MD)
It may benefit professionals to be engaging, professional, approachable, and organized in their practice. Critical thinking skills can also be valuable. Networking with other professionals, completing higher learning courses, and keeping your license up-to-date can help you provide research-backed comprehensive treatment to your clients. Becoming a therapist is a serious commitment, so taking your job seriously and understanding the importance of ethical care can also be crucial.
Counseling options
If you’re looking for support as you consider your educational or career path, talking to a professional might benefit you. Licensed therapists have gone through the process of becoming therapists and can counsel you as you start your journey. You can try online therapy if you’re looking for a convenient and affordable way to find this type of support.
Takeaway
There are many types of psychotherapists and many options when looking to work in the mental health field. To get started, consider speaking to a career counselor or provider to discuss your goals and worries and start adapting a plan that fits your educational and career values.
Is it hard to become a therapist?
Wondering how to become a therapist at all? Becoming a therapist isn’t difficult, but it does require some steps and a number of years before you are able to practice. You need a formal education, often with a master’s degree. Then, you need to complete supervised clinical experience for a certain number of hours. Finally, licensing requirements in your state may require you to pass a licensing exam.
Does a therapist need a master’s degree?
Yes, typically to one of the steps on how to become a therapist is getting a master's education level, which involves practicum and writing academic papers.
How long does it take to become a therapist?
Before you can begin practicing as a therapist, you will likely need six to eight years of education and training, which can include a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and supervised practice.
Where can I find out how to become a therapist?
To find out what the specific requirements are for becoming a therapist in your state, as well as what type of education to pursue, you can start with an online search. Visit websites for universities and colleges that offer therapy-related programs. You can also visit the therapist’s licensing board website for your state or websites for professional therapist organizations.
What kinds of work do people do when they practice therapy?
Most therapists do clinical work, helping clients with issues related to mental health on a day to day basis, hoping to impact their lives in meaningful ways. They do this by devising treatment plans with their clients. Some work as therapist therapists, supporting colleagues in their field. Sometimes a therapist may work as a supervisor or as an assistant professor, not practicing therapy directly, and instead supporting the professional learning of other therapists, whereas other trained therapists may work in a related field.
What kind of therapist makes the most money?
Many therapists find that they earn the highest salaries working in own practices. Other types of roles in which therapists earn high salaries are industrial-organizational therapy or psychiatry.
What kinds of therapists are there?
The work setting can vary greatly for a therapist, depending on the type of work that they do, ranging from school psychologist to own practice. Some of the various types of therapists are child therapists, addiction therapists, behavioral therapists, couples therapists, and marriage and family therapists.
What kinds of mental health issues does a therapist work with?
Therapists work with a wide variety of mental health issues that their clients deal with. They include issues as varied as a behavioral disorder, emotional challenges, interpersonal issues, social issues, substance use disorders, bipolar disorder, or PTSD.
What is the difference between a therapist and a psychologist?
Therapists and psychologists are both mental health professionals who support clients with mental health issues, but they have different levels of education. A psychologist typically has a PhD degree in psychology, while a therapist has a master’s degree in psychology or clinical social work.
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