Additional Information
There is no standard educational pathway for mental health therapists.
Some have certificates or diplomas, while others hold a PhD. The focus of
their studies might be social work, counseling, psychology, addictions or
other related topics.
Therapist Trisha Swinton says it's best to get a master's degree. This
is especially true if you want to work in private practice.
"I knew I wanted to do private practice, and I don't think it's doable
without getting a master's," says Swinton. She has a master's in community
counseling with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy. She also has a
master's in special education. Getting a master's degree also helps you get
licensed.
"You can do a private practice without your license, but I think you're
more marketable with your license because then you can also bill insurance,"
says Swinton. She is a licensed professional counselor and a licensed marriage
and family therapist.
Becoming a licensed therapist or counselor typically involves supervised
work experience and exams.
You can find work doing counseling with just a bachelor's degree, but
your options will be more limited.
"People (with a bachelor's degree) are often providing counseling and support
services. However, the counseling and support at the BSW level is different;
it tends to often be more front-line work than the MSW level, which is more
focused on therapy," says therapist Nicole Gillis-Copping.
If you think this might be an area that interests you, get out into your
community. Volunteer at a hospital, a retirement center or anywhere that will
get you involved with people.
"That's actually crucial," says Gillis-Copping. "If you don't have volunteering
on your resume, it's kind of like, 'Huh, why don't you have any volunteering
work?'
"I got in by doing almost two years of volunteering at a crisis center,
and the volunteering training was actually quite amazing," says Gillis-Copping.
"[T]hat was a good route in and it helped me really understand how you can
get into the field and all the different areas you can actually work in."s