Educational requirements for a psychotherapist
A psychotherapist must have a doctorate in order to practice professionally. This educational standard is often supplemented by licensure, certification and practical training. Psychotherapists counsel patients and try to bring their feelings and behavior into a healthier environment.
Important Information
The therapist talks with patients to help them understand and change their feelings and behaviors. Psychotherapists work in health care settings, businesses, schools, clinics, private practices, and government agencies. Educational requirements for a therapist vary from state to state, but in many states a doctoral degree is the minimum requirement.
Education Requirements
Each state requires a degree, usually a doctorate, in clinical psychology, counseling, or clinical social work, preferably with an emphasis in psychotherapy. Master’s and doctoral programs require students to complete two years of supervised clinical practice. Psychotherapy training programs at the doctoral level emphasize psychotherapy research, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, psychotherapy, and medicine.
Ph. Educational requirements for a psychotherapist usually include a written exam, an oral examination, supervised clinical work, and a dissertation. Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in psychiatry and also practice psychotherapy. However, most psychotherapists are not doctors.
Certification and licensing information
Prospective psychotherapists must pass the Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) exam. The test covers psychotherapy methods, psychological research methods, and assessments. Each state requires psychotherapists to obtain a state license before practicing. Some states also require prospective psychotherapists to complete a residency with a licensed psychotherapist. Depending on the state, psychotherapists may be required to take continuing education courses to keep their license current.
Career Information.
The demand for psychotherapy continues to grow because people are living longer and mental health problems are easier to diagnose. Job opportunities will be greatest for applicants with a Ph.D. in psychotherapy from a top college program in the field. Jobs for clinical, counseling and school psychologists, which include licensed psychotherapists, are projected to grow by 15 percent between 2018 and 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ( www.bls.gov ). According to the BLS, the average annual salary for all clinical, counseling and school psychologists in 2018 was $85,340.
Job duties.
Psychotherapists may work as licensed professional counselors, marriage and family counselors or clinical social workers. They treat patients with a variety of mental and emotional conditions, including stress, bipolar syndrome, depression and obsessions. Some psychotherapists specialize in group counseling for children and adolescents. During sessions lasting 30-60 minutes, psychotherapists explore patients’ dreams, fantasies, behaviors and thoughts. The therapist may specialize in one or more types of psychotherapy, including humanistic constructivist, cognitive, humanistic integrative, hypnopsychotherapy and psychoanalysis.
If you are interested in human behavior and enjoy helping others solve their problems, then a career as a psychotherapist may be right for you. An analysis of the nature of the job, the work environment, salary statistics, and educational requirements can help you decide if you should pursue this career.