Therapists study a wide variety of topics in college and graduate school, and there is no single college major that every therapist studies. However, all therapists have to have a desire to help others, significant education in psychology and/or counseling, and must be licensed as a therapist in the state where they wish to practice. Some psychology career paths can also take you into a particular specialty. A substance abuse therapist works with people dealing with drug and alcohol misuse while a marriage and family therapist focuses on relationship issues. Likewise, a licensed school psychologist works with children in a school system.

1. Here’s a chart of how long you can expect different programs for therapy students to take (though there can be some variations).
2. We answer all these questions and more in this in-depth guide on how to become a licensed therapist.
3. This knowledge informs their ability to diagnose and treat conditions ranging from depression to schizophrenia.
4. If you are interested in research and academia, then a Ph.D. is the better option.
5. If you are already fully intent on becoming a therapist, you should strongly consider majors like psychology, sociology, social work or human behavior.
6. If you aren’t sure yet which type or specialization you’re interested in, keep in mind that the therapy profession as a whole has a profound impact on public and individual health.

A second common misconception about becoming a therapist pertains to the fact that students often don’t realize that there are multiple paths toward careers related to therapy. Often, I’ll hear students say that they not only want to be a psychologist, but also that they think that they need to get a doctoral degree in psychology in order to do so. In fact, if a student actually wants a career as a therapist, there are multiple master-degree-level paths that quite effectively lead toward this goal.

Get a master’s degree.

Attending therapy as a client is also a valuable way of learning more about the therapy process and working on how to become a therapist any of your own personal issues that could impact your success as a future therapist. After earning your undergraduate degree, the next step is to earn an advanced degree in psychology. An advanced degree can open up a wide variety of career options, with several program choices to consider.

Requirements for Therapy Jobs

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can make a median salary of $48,520 per year 2. However, this is based on having a bachelor’s degree at minimum, whereas plenty of mental health counselors in the top 10 percent earned over $77,980 2. The next milestone you’ll need to complete in order to become a therapist is a bachelor’s degree. However, what you decide to study and the type of degree you eventually earn can vary. While the early stages of your college application and selection process won’t require you to commit to this career path fully, there are certain fields of study that may translate better to your future career as a therapist.

1. It is important to check the guidelines in your state to determine what type of services you can provide with this degree.
2. Psychiatrists must be board-certified and can prescribe medications to patients.
3. For study materials, check out our picks for the best AP Psych prep books and get access to free official and unofficial practice tests.
4. Becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) starts with obtaining a master’s degree in social work.
5. You may also major in a different field, such as sociology, social work, etc.
6. Some programs are a year or a half-year longer than the above times; this is because they include an internship or work placement as part of the degree requirement.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapists specialize in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a therapeutic approach developed to help individuals with emotional dysregulation, particularly those with borderline personality disorder. Choosing a specialty aligns your career path with your interests and allows you to develop expertise in a particular area of therapy. Learn what this trend means and where it came from, when it might come up in clinical practice, and how to help clients find balance between softness and the expectations of life. We recommend speaking with a therapist for personalized information about your mental health. If you don’t currently have a therapist, we can connect you with one who can offer support and address any questions or concerns.

Experience hours take place in a supervised clinical work situation, sometimes called a residency. The number of required hours may vary depending on your state’s regulations and the type of therapy you plan to pursue. This type of therapy encompasses a variety of clinical services whereby therapists use communicative processes to help individuals change unhealthy, unhelpful or detrimental emotional responses, thoughts and actions. Therapists can also provide diagnoses, which can inform their clients’ treatment plans and are required when working with insurance companies. A therapist is a professional trained to provide mental health and behavioral treatment, rehabilitation, and support for those who need it. “Therapist” can be used to describe a broad range of careers, including psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, and even life coaches.

Gaining Clinical Experience

Fortunately, it’s possible to gain insights into these crucial topics by looking at data from the U.S. Here are a few examples of job outlook and the median salary for professions in or related to psychotherapy, based on the most recent available BLS data. These median salaries reflect a nationwide range and medians will vary from state to state.

Earning a doctorate often takes between four and eight years of study beyond an undergraduate degree. By getting a general idea of what you would like to achieve as a therapist and who you’d like to work with, you will be in a better position to select a school and choose a degree option. In my work as a university professor, I take my role in advising students very seriously.

However, certain occupations stand out for especially favorable growth projections. These include substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors; marriage and family therapists; and community health workers. The term “therapist” is often used generically to describe healthcare professionals who provide mental health services to clients. But these professionals can vary greatly in terms of what they do and even where they work.

You must stay informed about any changes in licensing requirements or continuing education needs to ensure ongoing compliance. After you are licensed, you can start your own private practice or work for a mental health clinic or hospital. Grow Therapy can help you build an in-network private practice with all the tools you need, including credentialing, guaranteed billing, marketing, and a peer community. Psychiatric nurse practitioners have a broad scope of practice, enabling them to address a range of mental health concerns.

Some niche focus areas could garner a higher salary due to scarcity while earning a master’s degree or doctor of psychology (Psy.D) can elevate your career and salary. Therapists are most commonly licensed mental health counselors who provide treatment through talk therapy, using psychological methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy or existential therapy. Learn about the field of mental health and identify your personal aptitude for a counseling profession. Read psychology-related books, websites, and blogs, and talk to people in the field. In addition, learning more about yourself and evaluating your reasons for wanting to be a counselor can lead to greater self-awareness–a necessary trait in the therapy profession.

Or, you could be interested in a specific type of psychotherapy, such as CBT, and center your practice on helping clients overcome stress, anxiety, and depression. Perhaps you’d like to cater to neurodivergent individuals or women’s issues. Knowing what you’d like to specialize in can help narrow down your training or education options. Depending on your program and your own interests, you might complete this requirement at a school, hospital, nursing home, private therapist’s office, or a combination. Some people complete the entire requirement at one place while others move one or more times to get broader experience.