How to Become a Therapist in USA in the USA: A Step-by-Step Guide
In the United States, becoming a therapist is a rewarding career path that requires dedication, training, and practical experience.
Knowing the procedures can help you navigate your career path, whether you want to work in clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, or licensed clinical social work. The basic steps to How to become a therapist in USA are outlined in this guide.
What Does a Therapist Do?
In the USA, becoming a therapist is a rewarding career choice that calls for commitment, training, and real-world experience. Knowing the procedures can make your path easier, regardless of your career goals—be it clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, or licensed clinical social work.
The basic steps to become a therapist in USA are outlined in this guide.
A therapist can take on a variety of roles depending on their area of expertise. Whether you work in a hospital, mental health facility, substance abuse treatment facility, or private practice, your daily responsibilities will differ.
Therapy is commonly used to address mental health issues, marital and family issues, substance abuse issues, and bereavement. Your area of focus has an impact on your work environment, patient types, and educational path.
A marriage and family therapist (MFT), for instance, might provide long-term care to individuals, couples, and families.
While mental and emotional health disorders remain the focus of MFTs, they also pay close attention to the roles and dynamics within clients’ families.
Top Skills for Therapists
Communication: Effective communication is essential for any therapeutic endeavor. The majority of therapy sessions include exploratory and educational dialogues with clients, so you must be able to effectively communicate concepts and information.
Empathy: Lastly, the success of a therapist depends on their capacity for empathy and understanding. For some clients, opening up to a therapist requires an emotional risk that can be painful and challenging. Furthermore, complex topics and scenarios can come up in therapy sessions.
Critical Thinking: “To improve a patient’s mental health, it should be observed how the patient reacts to treatment, and the potential causes of these reactions should be considered in light of the patient’s overall life experiences. Critical thinking can help in analyzing the behavior, ideas, and reactions of others to improve their mental health.”
Problem-Solving: Therapists who have strong problem-solving abilities, such as those who apply critical thinking, can customize treatments for each client.
Adaptability and creativity are essential when helping people with mental health issues because different treatments may not work for different people.
Cultural Competence: To effectively communicate with people of different ages, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences, therapists must be proficient communicators.
Therapists who have received training in cultural competency may establish stronger connections with patients whose backgrounds are different from their own, enabling them to offer more pertinent support and make patients feel more at ease in the therapeutic setting.
How to Become a Therapist in USA
Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree: One place to start looking into master ‘s-level programs in mental health counseling is the website of CACREP, as many states mandate that graduate degree programs pursued by aspiring licensed therapists adhere to the organization’s model. Over 860 accredited counseling programs are offered by CACREP.
Obtain a Master’s Degree From an Accredited Program: It is crucial to familiarize yourself with and abide by the regulations of the state in which you intend to practice because state-by-state variations may exist in the requirements for clinical experience.
However, to obtain your therapist license, you will normally need to finish two to three thousand hours of supervised counseling experience after graduating from a master’s program, according to the American Counseling Association.
Take a State Licensure Exam: Every state has a comprehensive exam that applicants for licenses as licensed therapists must pass. The National Counselor Examination, given by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), is the most widely used of these exams.
The state board directory of relevant contact details, available licenses, state-by-state information on required exams, and exam registration and schedule details are all available on the NBCC website.
Take a Jurisprudence Exam if Required by Your State: Aspiring counselors must pass a jurisprudence exam in several states, which assesses their familiarity with state laws impacting counseling practice as well as the policies and procedures of licensing boards.
States like California, Colorado, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin require new license holders to pass a jurisprudence exam.
Therapist Salary and Career Growth
The BLS reports that therapists make, on average, $60,800 annually. Therapy is a comparatively stable profession in the United States due to the increasing demand for therapists.
Between 2022 and 2032, the BLS projects that MFTs will grow by 15%, which is five times faster than the expected growth for all occupations in the nation.
FAQ of How to become a therapist in USA
Q1. What is the duration of training to become a therapist?
A. Aspiring therapists can choose from more than 860 master’s and doctoral programs that have been accredited by CACREP.
They can take anywhere from 18 months to 7 years to complete, depending on your goals (master’s or doctorate), existing credits, area of specialization, and whether you want to enroll part-time or full-time. Completing the exam and the supervised counseling requirement may require an additional year or two.
Q2. How can I start my private therapy practice?
A. The first step towards becoming a private practice therapist is obtaining a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. After that, you’ll require a master’s degree in counseling with a focus on the kind of therapy you want to provide.
After graduation, you must pass a thorough licensing exam like the National Counselor Examination and complete supervised experience (the majority of states require 2,000–3,000 hours).
Q3. What is the salary of a therapist?
A. Salary ranges for licensed therapists depend on several factors, including experience level, employer, and area. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median yearly salary for therapists specializing in substance abuse, behavioral disorders, and mental health is $48,520External link:open_in_new in 2021.
This figure is higher than the median wage for all workers, with the highest-paid individuals earning over $77,980.
The BLS reports that the government, hospitals, individual and family services, outpatient mental health centers, and residential mental health and drug abuse facilities are the highest-paying sectors for mental health therapists.
Marital and family therapists’ median pay in 2021 is expected to be $49,880, with the highest 10% making over $96,520.
