A Complete Resource for How to Become a Therapist

A person who is wondering how to become a therapist should first determine what type of therapy work he or she would like to specialize in. There are numerous options available including physical, recreational,  occupational and speech therapy, to name just a few. However, the term “therapist” usually refers to someone who does mental health counseling. Therapists specialize in helping individuals who have mental disorders, although they also provide counseling and assistance to those suffering from severe stress or trauma. Therapy is not an easy line of work but it can be a fulfilling job for those who enjoy helping others.

Getting the Right Education

A person who wants to become a mental health therapist will need to start by getting a bachelors (B.A, BS. B.S.W.) degree  Good majors to choose from include social work, psychology, counseling and human services. If you’re not sure if you want to go on to obtain a graduate degree, you should consider a bachelors in Social work;  this degree will give you the best advantage in getting a job.  People who obtain a bachelors in one of the social sciences can often get a beginning job in the field which could allow them to, not only pay for their graduate degree but,  gain valuable experience along the way.

However, if you want to become licensed , it will be necessary to obtain a Master’s Degree  Being licensed has several advantages. It increases the likelihood of obtaining a job since services might be reimbursable by insurance companies. It will also allow you to work independently if you want to be your own boss.

An aspiring therapist should work towards obtaining a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling, psychology or social work.  These courses are offered by a variety of universities and can even be taken online. Your study might include courses in individual, family and group therapies. You will also learn how to diagnose mental health disorders. An advantage of attending a university rather than  taking an online course is that a regular university can offer practicum experience. Practicums and internships allow one to put book learning into practice.  The practical experience provided by practicums will enable one to  decide which type of therapy might be the best fit for his or her particular personality or career goals. A person who studies for a Master‘s degree over the internet should take the time to find internship opportunities that enable him or her to gain the practical experience needed in order to become a well-rounded therapist.

Studying Online vs. Studying on Campus

There are advantages and disadvantages to studying physical therapy online. As was noted above, a person who studies online will miss out on the practicum courses offered by the university. It should also be noted that a person who studies full time on campus will complete a course faster than a person studying online part-time.

On the other hand, many people do not have the time or money needed to study on campus. Such individuals should find an online university that offers an accredited course in counseling and make sure the course contains study material for the type of counseling that they would like to study. A person studying online will also need to be aware of all the course requirements and homework/assignment deadlines set down by the university.

Becoming Licensed

Besides obtaining a Master’s degree, a person will also need to have a certain amount of experience in order to become a therapist. The exact requirements vary from state to state, so one will need to look up state requirements for the state where he or she intends to practice therapy. Nearly all states also require that a prospective therapist pass an examination to be licensed.  Each specialty  (e.g. counseling, social work etc.)  has their own  a standardized examination.  You might want to inquire as to what percentage of your university’s students pass the licensing exam on the first try.

Therapists specializing in psychology will need a LPC license while those specializing in social work will need a LCSW license. The requirements for obtaining and keeping any license vary from state to state, so it is important for one to be aware of the requisites in the state that he or she is working in. Some states require that mental health professionals continue their studies in order to keep their license. Doing so is always a good idea, even if one lives in a state where this is not legally mandatory. Being aware of new advances in psychology and mental health can help a person improve his or her skills and provide top of the line help to the people that he or she is counseling.

Finding Employment

Finding employment should not be overly difficult, especially for a person who has had some experience. The United States Department of Labor is forecasting that there will be a great need for therapists in the near future and therapists will be in high demand. A therapist who has just graduated may want to start by working at a hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation facility or some other established medical or government institution. While the pay may not be as high as one might like, one can still earn a decent salary and better yet, gain valuable experience in dealing with people from various walks of life.

Once a person has gained some experience, he or she may want to branch out and set up a personal practice. Alternatively, one can work at an institution or hospital part time and have his or her own private practice on the side. The exact job that one takes on will depend not only on job prospects available in the city but also on the type of therapy that one wants to do. Some therapists specialize in counseling individuals of a certain age while others specialize in a certain form of counseling, such as drug counseling, trauma counseling, etc.

In Summary

A person who is looking for a fulfilling job that is in high demand should seriously consider becoming a therapist. As a therapist, one will have the opportunity to meet with many different types of people and help them improve their lives in a tangible way. The requirements for becoming a therapist of any sort are to obtain a Master’s degree, gain the minimal amount of experience as required by law and then pass the state license exam in the state where one will be working. One should then not only find a job as a therapist but also continue studying on the side in order to gain further training and keep abreast of advancements in the challenging field of therapy.