Sign In
Join Now

7 Steps To Become A Licensed Therapist

So, you want to be a therapist? Here are some of our best tips to making that dream a reality. What does a therapist do exactly? Therapists help people overcome obstacles and problems in their day-to-day life in non-judgemental ways. To be a therapist requires a large amount of empathy and compassion. You will also need strong organizational skills and to be committed to patient confidentiality. Throughout sessions, detailed notes are taken that cannot be shared with the public. Your clients will trust you have their best interests at heart and will be protecting the sensitive nature of the conversations. Therapists can work either one-on-one with clients or in larger groups. There are a variety of specialties (relationships, family issues, addictions, etc) a therapist can go into, and it is different for everyone or can be a combination. A therapist is a full time job typically during normal working hours. Although, it is not uncommon for them to remain on call for emergencies and phone sessions. Since this is a job dealing with people in sensitive or difficult situations, the day-to-day operations can be very different.

Therapists can be self-employed, employed by a hospital, or a private practice. This gives you the flexibility to be your own small-business owner or have the support of a larger institution. Members of any age group can require therapy, so there is a fairly diverse client-base. If you earn a specialization, you may gear your practices to children, adults, the elderly, etc. Otherwise, you can work with all age groups. The goal of therapy is to help your clients make healthy life decisions and create a safe space for them. A common misconception is that this is done by offering opinion-based advice, but rather a good therapist relies on verified strategies and techniques to alter behavior. They encourage clients to reach conclusions on their own rather than try to answer problems and questions for them. There is also a strict code of ethics for a therapist t0 abide by in order to keep his or her license.

The 7 Steps:

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

The first step is to have the proper undergraduate education. You can major in related fields such as: psychology, social work, education, sociology, etc. If none of these appeal to you that’s okay, but you will need to fulfill undergraduate psychology requirements before applying for a master’s program. Taking an introduction to psychology, psychology of personality, or an abnormal psychology class may be very helpful when applying for graduate school.

2. Earn a Master’s Degree

There are several paths one could take in obtaining a master’s degree. There are a variety of curriculums that grant different professional titles. Master’s degree programs in counseling or marriage and family therapy teach students how to treat individual people and groups. Graduates from these kinds of programs may receive one of the following titles: Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. All of these programs include fieldwork experience and have a lengthy time commitment.

3. Obtain a Provisional Licensure

Before obtaining a license, a graduate is required to complete two years of supervised clinical experience. State requirements vary, but most applicants need to have some sort of fieldwork experience and a contract agreement to practice therapy under the supervision of a qualified therapist. Keep in mind, provisional licenses may have a time limit after which therapists must apply for full licensure.

4. Complete Work Experience

Fieldwork experience training may be anywhere from 1,500-4,000 hours. A licensed and approved therapist must supervise a certain amount of those hours and may be required to report on your progress. Make sure to check the state and county licensing requirements to ensure you are following the rules in your jurisdiction. Your license could be delayed if you fail to complete certain tasks.

5. Pass State or Professional Examinations

Most states will require candidates to pass an exam before earning their full licensure. Certain states oversee their own exam and others accept scores from the Association of Social Work Boards Clinical Examination, the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination, or the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards exam.

6. Obtain State Licensure

You must hold a state license in order to practice. States have their own regulations, but most will require applicants to have completed an approved education program, all clinical fieldwork experience, and passed an approved licensure exam.

7. Meet Continuing Education Requirements

Most states require licensees to complete continuing education requirements and renew their license every two years. The types of courses that must be completed and what type of continuing education completes the requirements is determined on a state-by-state basis. This is a huge benefit because it encourages new knowledge and experience you can directly implement into your practice.

Conclusion

Becoming a licensed therapist is no easy feat, but can be done if you have the passion and drive to do it. With so many avenues to explore, you can make your experience becoming a therapist as individualized as you would like. Once you decide which education path and practice is best for you, discuss your options with an academic advisor at the school of your choice. You will want to make sure you are meeting requirements and taking all the necessary classes to ensure your success. Perhaps have specific questions about the degree and state licensing requirements ready to go. Try inquiring about the students who have graduated from the program you are interested in and where they are now. Since there is a large amount of education requirements for this job type, make sure you are choosing higher education options that meet your particular needs. Once you have all of the information at your fingertips, you will be able to enter this profession confidently. From there, you will be able to help people be the best versions of themselves and create healthier lifestyles!

Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Pinterest
WhatsApp
Email

Read more interesting stories

Uncategorized
Sean McCormick

Make ADHD Your Superpower

This article aims to teach you how to utilize a practical framework to advocate for the support you need from coaches and other support providers; 

January 30, 2022