Are you looking for a rewarding career in which you can genuinely help people and enrich their lives? Becoming a therapist may be an excellent choice for you. While people often assume therapists have to earn a Ph.D. in psychology, there are a few different training and educational paths you can take toward this fulfilling career.
What Do Therapists Do?
The term “therapist” is often a used generically to describe a number of health care professionals who provide mental health services to clients. For instance, a clinical psychologist and licensed professional counselor may both work with a variety of mental health concerns in various settings.
One of the primary differences in therapists is that a psychologist has a Ph.D. while a counselor typically holds a master’s degree.
Some career paths can also take you into a particular specialty. A substance abuse therapist works with people dealing with addiction while a marriage and family therapist focuses on relationship issues. Likewise, a licensed school psychologist works with children in a school system.
A licensed social worker often works in the broader community, though this can have specialties as well. You might choose to focus on families, schools, public health, substance abuse, corrections, or the community in general.
Yet another career option is to study for a degree as a rehabilitation therapist. In this path, you may do a mixture of work with mental health as well as the physical health side. It primarily involves working with people who have disabilities or injuries to help them get the most out of their lives.
These are some of the more common examples and there are additional types of practice that you can pursue. If you have a particular interest, discuss it with an advisor and they can point out all your options.
Assess Your Interests and Goals
While becoming a therapist might be your goal, the steps that you take to achieve it depends largely on the type of therapist you want to become. Therapists work in a wide range of settings and with diverse populations, so start your planning process by considering where you would like to work.
Do you want to work with children? Becoming a clinical psychologist or licensed social worker are good options for reaching this goal. If on the other hand, you are interested in working with families or couples, a licensed marriage and family therapist or mental health counselor may be right for you.
Do you want to help people overcome substance abuse problems? A degree in clinical psychology or mental health counseling might be a good option. As you might quickly realize, there are nearly as many degree options as there are job descriptions for different types of therapists.
By getting a general idea of what you would like to achieve as a therapist, you will be in a better position to select a school and choose a degree option.
Learn About Therapy Degree Options
If your goal is to become a therapist, your first step will probably be to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. However, people with undergraduate degrees in other fields are often accepted into graduate training programs provided they make up some of the prerequisite coursework.
Sociology, education, and health sciences are also good choices for students interested in becoming therapists. While an advanced degree in psychology can open up a wide variety of career options, there are several other program choices that you may also want to consider. The amount of time and training required to complete each degree varies.
Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Psychology
Earning a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in psychology offers perhaps the widest range of career options. Professionals who have earned a doctorate and become licensed psychologists can work with clients in a wide range of settings, including private practice.
Earning a doctorate often takes between four and eight years of study beyond an undergraduate degree.
Master’s in Psychology
In some states, individuals with a master’s degree can become licensed psychologists. Master’s degree holders can also work in a number of different mental health care settings. It is important to check the guidelines in your state to determine what type of services you can provide with this degree.
Master’s Degree in Counseling
If you are interested in working with children, adults, families, or couples, becoming a licensed professional counselor can be a great choice. It requires a master’s degree in counseling.
The 60 credits required to complete the degree can take between two and three years. This is dependent on your schedule and the individual program in which you are enrolled. In many cases, you may also have to complete an additional 12 to 16 credit hours of training to become licensed in your state.
Master’s Degree in Social Work
Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) usually complete two years of coursework beyond the undergraduate degree. It also often involves an internship and supervised experience directly in the field.
Individuals with a master’s in social work are often able to provide therapy to clients in a wide variety of settings and situations.
Master’s Degree in Advanced Psychiatric Nursing
This often-overlooked degree option is a great choice for nurses who have an interest in mental health. Advanced psychiatric nurses are required to have a master’s degree or higher in psychiatric-mental health nursing. This can take anywhere from two to three years to complete beyond the bachelor’s degree.
A Word From Verywell
After you have chosen the educational path that is right for your unique needs and interests, it is important to discuss your options with an academic counselor at the school of your choice.
Prepare a list of questions about the specific degree requirements and state licensing guidelines for therapists. It’s also wise to learn demographic information about students who have graduated from the program. With the right information and some careful thought, you’ll be on your way to a therapy career.
Is it your goal to have a fulfilling career in which you can genuinely enrich people’s lives? Becoming a psychotherapist may be an outstanding choice for you.
But how do you become one? What are the various paths you can take toward this rewarding career?
Let’s hear it straight from experts.
Erica Cramer, LCSW
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, Cobb Psychotherapy NYC
What qualifications do you need to become a psychotherapist?
You need to get your Master of Social Work (MSW) from an accredited university. After you complete your degree, you need to take a standardized test that enables you to get a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
How much do psychotherapists make a year?
It varies depending on their license (LMSW or LCSW), experience, state, certifications, and others factors. An LCSW has more extensive experience, supervision, and testing than an LMSW.
A therapist working for 10 years will have more experience and command a higher salary than a recent college graduate. The amount a therapist working in private practice can charge more in a bustling city where the cost of living is high than one can charge in a rural area where it is not.
Some therapists elect to get post-graduate certifications (such as being trained in a specific modality). A psychotherapist’s place of employment also makes a big difference as they can work anywhere from a public school to private practice. These organizations have different salaries and benefits.
Many psychotherapists have full-time, salaried positions, while others have per diem jobs where they get paid based on the number of clients they see.
Do psychotherapists make good money?
It varies based upon the above factors.
What degree should I get to become a psychotherapist?
A Master of Social Work.
What should I major in to become a psychotherapist?
Most people who know they want to be psychotherapists major in psychology. However, you can major in anything and then go to graduate school for psychotherapy.
What do you need to study to become a psychotherapist?
As a graduate student, you need to study social work.
Can a counselor call themselves a psychotherapist?
No. Not unless they have the appropriate education, testing, and training.
What makes a good psychotherapist?
Someone who is a good listener, empathetic and open-minded. This person may have gone through certain life experiences that allow them to effectively help their clients.
They got into this field because they truly want to help people and make a difference in their lives.
What job does a psychotherapist do?
A psychotherapist’s primary job is to help people. This can involve different things for different people. Some people merely need a person to actively listen to everyday problems; while, others people need their therapist to help them process years of trauma.
A therapist’s responsibility is to know who they are qualified to effectively treat and what is outside the scope of their expertise.
How much education is needed to become a psychotherapist?
An undergraduate degree plus a two year graduate program. The graduate program is a combination of classes and field world.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
Yes. Counseling involving guiding people and giving them advice. Therapists aim to get at the roots of their client’s problems and implement permanent changes in their life.
What are some very early steps one should take to become a psychotherapist?
Volunteer. Volunteering is a way to learn if you enjoy help people and what types of people you enjoy helping. It will give you insight into if this is the career and who it would be most beneficial for you to serve.
What’s the difference between a psychotherapist and a therapist?
There isn’t any difference between a psychotherapist and a therapist.
What graduate degree programs qualify a person to become a psychotherapist?
A Master of Social Work.
What do those abbreviations mean after a psychotherapist’s name?
LMSW stands for “Licensed Master Social Worker,” and LCSW stands for “Licensed Clinical Social Worker.”
How long does it take to become a psychotherapist?
It takes two years to become a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and an additional three years and 2,000 supervised client contact hours to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Being an LCSW, allows you to open your own practice. To maintain your LCSW, you need to complete continuing education courses.
How do you become a psychotherapist without a degree?
You cannot become a psychotherapist without a formal degree.
Can you be a psychotherapist with a master’s degree?
Yes. You need a Master’s in Social Work to become a psychotherapist.
Is it hard to become a psychotherapist?
It is extremely different, but if it is something that you really want it is worth it.
Can you become a psychotherapist with an experimental psychology Ph.D.?
I am not sure.
Why isn’t a degree in psychology required to become a psychotherapist?
A lot of people that I have met (including myself) decide to become psychotherapists later in life. Having another career before being a psychotherapist is extremely beneficial.
It allows you to have real-life experience that can translate into your work with clients.
What’s the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Both a psychologist and psychiatrist went to medical school. A psychologist is similar to a psychotherapist, and they listen to people’s problems. However, their education and the way they are trained varies. Some psychologists specialize in diagnostic testing and do things like diagnosing learning disabilities.
A psychiatrist may listen to people’s problems as well but usually just prescribed medication.
This is called medication management. A client does not need to meet with a psychiatrist every week for this service, depending on where they are in the process of their medication.
Is a psychotherapist a good job?
It is a very rewarding job if you enjoy working with different types of people, learning about their lives, and doing your best to help them. A psychotherapist is not just a position where you sit back at a comfortable desk and browse the internet.
It is a role where people are disclosing their innermost thoughts, feelings, and insecurities with you. You are guiding people through the most exciting and difficult times in their lives. You are helping them make life-altering decisions (if they will accept a position at this company or ask their girlfriend to marry them).
Being a psychotherapist is an extremely important role and must be taken with the utmost seriousness.
What is the most efficient way to become a psychotherapist?
Attend a graduate program and take a standardized test.
How many years does it take to become a psychotherapist?
It takes two years to become an LMSW and an additional three years and 2,000 supervised client contact hours to become an LCSW. Being an LCSW allows you to open your own practice. To maintain your LCSW, you need to complete continuing education courses.
My most important piece of advice to those whose hearts pull them to the field of Psychology is to just do it!
There will be struggles and obstacles in any career pursuit, so don’t let that deter you! Almost every day, I find myself crying, so grateful that I get to go to work.
I often find myself, out of nowhere, offering up a prayer of gratitude that I get to be a part of people’s journey towards consciousness. People talk about retiring, but I never will.
Here are a few practical considerations:
Pick a graduate school that has a philosophical orientation that you agree with
My University had two schools where it was possible to get a degree, one with a Humanistic Existential philosophy, and the other with a more traditional one.
I used to sit in that other school for some classes, my mouth open in horror at the way they approached the work. I’d have to quickly remind myself to shut my mouth! I had to pass this class!
Make it easy on yourself
Get organized. Don’t try to save the world with your Master’s or Doctoral thesis! Mine was simple, only 66 pages, front to back, yet the University staff who reviews all dissertations said it was one of the best she had seen!
Be patient with yourself
Expect to be a terrible therapist when you begin! For the first year, when people would hand me a check, I’d want to give it back and say, “I’ll try to be better next week!”
Stay in supervision post-graduation
Keep learning! Everything you struggle or suffer with will help someone else, someday. You never know where this profession will take you.
My husband and I wound up writing a book. And, based on that book, I wrote a curriculum that was introduced into a high school and used for seven years, now. It is being considered for a national program to introduce emotional education to children.
The curriculum has also been introduced as a workshop at a men’s medium-security prison in Ohio, as well as 3 other prisons. It was received with enthusiastic participation and gratitude for the focus on their own personal learning.
An inmate, who is a workshop facilitator, told me, “This is changing the culture of the whole prison.” More prisons are considering offering this workshop, based on this success.
Joy Johnson, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Therapy With Joy
When I graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work, someone asked me what I wanted to do. My response: “Well, I definitely don’t want to be a therapist!”
However, it’s really hard to find a paying job as a BSW. My original goal was to work in the medical or international development fields, but I quickly realized mental health jobs were my best bet until I was ready to get my masters.
My first job was as a direct care worker in a psychiatric residential treatment facility for children and teenagers. It was both the hardest and most rewarding work I’ve ever done and changed the course of my life.
During my master’s program, I pursued medical social work internships, but inevitably missed working closely with clients on a more long-term basis, and dove back into intensive mental health roles once I graduated with my Master of Social Work.
My first 4-5 years in the field were intense. This is quite literal, as many of the positions you will find and be eligible for as an unlicensed or provisionally licensed social worker are at “intensive” levels of care.
I worked with clients in their homes, traveling hours to remote locations, tracking down clients with active mental health and substance abuse issues when their family had not seen them in days, stepping over holes in their floors, assessing children with active hallucinations, etc.
This work is not for the faint of heart, but you’ll learn more about what it means to be human and how to meet people where they are in a complicated system than you could ever imagine.
A couple of years ago, after a difficult work incident, I realized I had to make a change. I still wanted to be in this field and help my clients, but I also wanted to be present in my own life and be able to show up for my family and friends.
I spent 6 months working a job that I didn’t have to take home with me – I didn’t have to worry that children were in unsafe environments or that a client could call at any time of night in a crisis that I would be responsible for managing.
I spent those 6 months resting and beginning to build my own private therapy practice, setting the boundaries I needed and learning from supportive colleagues who graciously offered their advice and resources.
My practice has been fully supporting me for 2 years now. I’m incredibly thankful for the experiences I’ve had that led me here and the privilege I have to hold space for my client’s deepest and most meaningful stories every day.
After all of that, if you are still thinking this psychotherapy thing is for you, here’s my practical advice about what you need and how to get there…
To become a masters-level psychotherapist, depending on your state, you’ll need to get a masters degree
This could be in social work, counseling, or marriage & family therapy, or other related field approved by your licensing board). You have to pass a licensing board exam, apply for a provisional license and complete 2-3 years of experience in the field under supervision from a fully licensed clinician.
Since I’m an LCSW, I’m a bit biased, but I always recommend folks wanting to be psychotherapists go the social work route.
It’s easier to get your hours for licensure, as the requirements are less restrictive than other masters-level licenses (like an LPC, LMFT, or LMHC) and there tend to be more entry-level social work positions available.
Community work is incredibly valuable to our work as therapists, as it gives us a different point of view and the ability to better understand all the facets of life that are affecting our client beyond just what we see in the therapy office.
Social work really teaches you how to meet people where they are, no matter what environment you end up serving clients in.
The one downfall to a social work graduate program is you may not get as much specialized training in therapy modalities as a counseling program. However, much of the practical training comes in internships or your initial jobs after school.
If you want to be a psychotherapist as an LCSW, look for entry-level and direct-care mental health jobs – these positions will typically provide you with training in common therapeutic modalities, like CBT, and all the experience you could need!
Be committed to doing your own work with a therapist, a supervisor, and doing research through reading and training in your own time, as well, if your graduate program did not provide extensive psychotherapy training.
As I mentioned, the years during and right out of grad school can be tough. I felt my share of burn out and overwhelm. I think it’s problematic to think that young social workers and therapists need to “pay their dues,” but I do see my experience in those years as invaluable.
It’s been a long journey in learning how to set boundaries and take care of myself since, but learning to do that is always an essential part of your job as a therapist.
Some advice I would give to my younger provisionally licensed self:
Be mindful of burn out and stand up for yourself
“No” is a powerful word and your agency typically can’t afford to lose you if you’re doing good work.
Find a supportive supervisor and be willing to pay them (yes, even on your minuscule salary)
They will be worth their weight in gold in learning how to set boundaries in a high-crisis environment that often asks you to be available at all hours.
Related: How to Ask Someone to Be Your Mentor
Get your own therapist
If you want to be a therapist, it’s really important that you work through your own triggers, a family of origin issues, and core beliefs that will inevitably come up when you’re faced with your clients’ issues.
Your supervisor can sometimes help with countertransference issues, but it is also really important to know what it’s like to be a client and to actually experience the therapeutic process for yourself.
Alongside your supervisor, find supportive co-workers to check in with often
Your friends and family will likely have a hard time understanding your work and how it begins to change you. That’s ok. Build a strong, supportive self-care team. A few of my co-workers from the early years are still some of my best friends today – no one will ever understand what I went through in those years as they do.
Remember that it’s ok to make a change
As a social worker, there’s a long list of roles and environments you can work in. It’s ok to take a break from the intensity and work in non-crisis levels of care or even move to another field of social work altogether.
Or heck, take a break and work a job that you don’t have to take home with you. You can always come back when you’re ready.
Begin to practice mindful self-compassion ASAP
I didn’t find this until I began my private practice in the last few years. I wish I had these tools as a brand new therapist. Those of us that choose this career tend to be especially hard on ourselves, as we want to help our clients as much as we can.
Learning to accept the limits of our work and the limits of ourselves as normal humans is necessary to maintain a healthy therapy career long-term.
Here are my ideas on how to become a psychotherapist.
- Ask yourself why you want to become one, that is, what’s your motivation.
- Consider what population you’d like to treat (general, eating disorders, addictions, children, adults, families, etc.) and in what setting (inpatient, outpatient, ER, private practice, community health, etc.).
- Speak with as many psychotherapists as possible and find out what they like and dislike about their jobs and learn about their experiences.
- Decide what discipline you’re interested in: social worker, licensed mental health counselor, psychologist, marriage and family therapist and check out education programs. Speak with program alumni if possible to learn about their experiences in their field.
- Get into therapy yourself. I know therapists who haven’t gone and I would never refer anyone to them. If you’re going to be a psychotherapist, you need to know yourself inside and out (or be open to this prospect) to be of use.
- Read books about what makes for good therapy, while recognizing that it’s going to take several years for you to learn your trade and many more to become a savvy professional.
I always had an idea that I would go into mental health, but in my 20s I had a lot of energy and a strong desire to sing and dance on stage. So I moved to NYC after getting my undergraduate degree in psychology and performed professionally for 10 years in musical theater.
Then, as my life changed and my desires for myself changed, I realized it was time to explore my passion for wellness, healing, intervention, and social justice.
The most logical place for me to integrate my interests was in a graduate program for social work
It was a vigorous education that involved 3 days/week in the field working directly with clients, and 2 days/week in the classroom studying the research, theories, and methods of various interventions, for 2 years full time.
My first-year internship was split between two high schools. In the Fall semester, I was at a “failing” high school which had a very low graduation rate and a very high dropout rate. The second semester was at a different school with a similar population of students, but a much better-run school.
The difference was eye-opening. From the principal on down, the difference in morale among teachers, staff, and students at each school was astonishing and has informed my own work in supervising graduate students when I eventually became a field supervisor.
My second-year internship was with an HIV/AIDS organization, one at the apex of integrating mind/body modalities, nutrition, and counseling. There I also worked on the needle exchange program, collaborated with a nutritionist to lead yoga, nutrition, and mental health support group, and did intakes for people who were newly diagnosed with HIV.
In both internships, I was deeply supported by my supervisors and professors. I was learning how to implement evidence-based counseling skills and the theories behind them, and finding my voice as a young psychotherapist.
Before I went into private practice as a psychotherapist, I worked for several years at a residential building for people who had been chronically homeless. I was working with people who had active psychosis, active substance abuse, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses.
It was a very demanding work. That is where I developed my boundaries, and a deep sense of compassion and curiosity for some people who may not be the most likable, but were also deeply suffering.
Over the years, with my training and experience, I steadily developed into a psychotherapist: someone who has compassion, who cares, who is boundaries, who will challenge my clients wherever necessary, and who will enthusiastically support my clients’ growth.
Trudi Griffin, MS, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor, Revive & Shine, LLC
The keys to being a psychotherapist are education and licensure and each state has requirements for both
I became a therapist as a second career which required getting a second undergraduate degree in psychology, taking the GRE, going to graduate school, applying for certification and licensure and then interning with a supervisor.
Again, each state has its requirements, but it typically takes at least two years after graduate school to become fully licensed. However, while it’s easy to become one, it takes more work to become a good one.
The education provided in most graduate schools includes a general overview, but it’s through internships, supervised experiences, and specialized training that someone becomes an effective change agent.
Rachel Benson Monroe
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
You should have the innate desire to help others
I decided to become a psychotherapist because I wanted to help heal human beings and in doing so, attempt to make a positive social impact on the world. I benefited from attending therapy myself, and family and friends remember me saying I wanted to work in counseling as young as 10 years old.
I had an inherent passion for nurturing, caring, analyzing, and exploring, and many people in my family were in healthcare or counseling professions, so it was a natural fit. In undergrad, I majored Gender, Sexuality and Feminist studies where I learned about the psychology of gender inequality, gender-based violence, and how social psychology affects systems of oppression.
I wasn’t quite sure how to make a career out of that, so after college, I explored another passion- fitness. I loved being a personal trainer very much, yet I found myself ill-equipped to manage the complex and nuanced emotions and life experiences of my clients in a meaningful way.
They were dealing with eating disorders, PTSD, abusive relationships, and much more. I felt called to help with more than just the fitness and physical health aspects of their lives and knew I would need more training.
I found a program that incorporated mind-body medicine as I have always been passionate about the deep connection between our mental and physical selves. I embarked on a 3-year course of full-time study, with 2 years of clinical internships. Then, I worked full time in the field under the supervision of a licensed professional for 2 years and passed my licensing exam.
After that, I was able to practice as a licensed clinician and began a private practice in addition to my work at a community mental health agency. Since then my career as a psychotherapist has brought me across multiple settings and continues to be a journey of exploration, growth, and learning. I feel very honored to use my skills to help guide others.
I strongly believe we each hold wisdom within ourselves- my job as a psychotherapist is to support and illuminate the wisdom of my clients. To witness the human experience is an honor and a privilege.
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