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sophia
Student
Yukon, Oklahoma
1
Question
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what kind of degree do I need to be a therapist for kids
I want to be a therapist for kids but I need to know what colleges I should attend and what degree I need for it.
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3 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Sofia !
To become a Child Therapist, you would go for your Bachelors Degree in either Psychology, Child Development, Social Work or Counseling. You would then go for your Masters Degree in either Social Work, Psychology or Counseling that focuses on child and adolescent therapy.
In your state of Oklahoma, after completing your Masters degree, you must pass two examinations. The first is the National Counselor Examination, a 200-question multiple-choice test administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors which assesses knowledge and skills in counseling The second test is the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination, a state-specific exam that evaluates your understanding of Oklahoma’s laws and ethical standards for professional counselors. You must pass both exams before being approved for Licensed Professional Counselor candidacy.
Next, in Oklahoma, you must complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience over a period of no more than five years, with at least 350 hours of direct client contact for every 1,000 hours accrued. Once you have met the education, examination, and supervision requirements, you can apply for full Licensed Professional Counselor licensure through the State Board of Behavioral Health.
You would be working with one population from infants (with family involved) to age 18. You may want to research how sustainable focusing on one population is in your town or city. If you take the path to be a clinical therapist - Social Worker or Psychologist, you can work with all populations and your employment opportunities will be much larger. You would still be qualified to work with children if you take a more generalized path and not focused on one population. Just something to consider for future possible optimum income.
When you choose what Major you will want, do an online search for colleges that offer that program. I suggest visiting your high school Guidance Counselor and discuss the details of what you're aiming for. Planning a career in the mental health field needs a lot of detail in order to take the most beneficial academic path. You'll want to aim for a career in mental health that will afford you the most work (and versatility) and that usually means working with all populations. Just something to consider. Talk it over with your guidance counselor.
Best wishes in all you do !
To become a Child Therapist, you would go for your Bachelors Degree in either Psychology, Child Development, Social Work or Counseling. You would then go for your Masters Degree in either Social Work, Psychology or Counseling that focuses on child and adolescent therapy.
In your state of Oklahoma, after completing your Masters degree, you must pass two examinations. The first is the National Counselor Examination, a 200-question multiple-choice test administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors which assesses knowledge and skills in counseling The second test is the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination, a state-specific exam that evaluates your understanding of Oklahoma’s laws and ethical standards for professional counselors. You must pass both exams before being approved for Licensed Professional Counselor candidacy.
Next, in Oklahoma, you must complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience over a period of no more than five years, with at least 350 hours of direct client contact for every 1,000 hours accrued. Once you have met the education, examination, and supervision requirements, you can apply for full Licensed Professional Counselor licensure through the State Board of Behavioral Health.
You would be working with one population from infants (with family involved) to age 18. You may want to research how sustainable focusing on one population is in your town or city. If you take the path to be a clinical therapist - Social Worker or Psychologist, you can work with all populations and your employment opportunities will be much larger. You would still be qualified to work with children if you take a more generalized path and not focused on one population. Just something to consider for future possible optimum income.
When you choose what Major you will want, do an online search for colleges that offer that program. I suggest visiting your high school Guidance Counselor and discuss the details of what you're aiming for. Planning a career in the mental health field needs a lot of detail in order to take the most beneficial academic path. You'll want to aim for a career in mental health that will afford you the most work (and versatility) and that usually means working with all populations. Just something to consider. Talk it over with your guidance counselor.
Best wishes in all you do !
Don Holland
Member Service Representative/Food Runner
244
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Don’s Answer
Hello Sophia,
To be a child therapist you will usually need a bachelors degree, a masters degree, you will need to obtain state licensure, you will need clinical hours and in some cases you might need a PhD. There are many colleges that you could attend for this including University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, The University of Tulsa, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of California-LA and University of Washington. Keep working hard and best of luck to you when it comes to your goal of being a child therapist!
To be a child therapist you will usually need a bachelors degree, a masters degree, you will need to obtain state licensure, you will need clinical hours and in some cases you might need a PhD. There are many colleges that you could attend for this including University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, The University of Tulsa, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of California-LA and University of Washington. Keep working hard and best of luck to you when it comes to your goal of being a child therapist!
Christy Wood
Sr. Talent Acquisition Partner
1
Answer
Greenville, South Carolina
Updated
Christy’s Answer
Hi Sophia,
It's great that you're considering further education beyond your Bachelor's degree. Whether you aim for a Master's or Doctorate, it's important to plan ahead. You'll be in school for a while, so try to minimize student loans to set yourself up for financial success later. You might start at a local community college for your Associate's degree, which covers the first two years of general credits. Study hard and check if your state offers financial help for your Associate's degree. After that, you can transfer to a local university to complete your Bachelor's degree. If you choose to pursue a PhD in a clinical field, some hospitals offer tuition assistance in exchange for a commitment to work for them afterward. I hope this advice helps, and I wish you the best of luck!
It's great that you're considering further education beyond your Bachelor's degree. Whether you aim for a Master's or Doctorate, it's important to plan ahead. You'll be in school for a while, so try to minimize student loans to set yourself up for financial success later. You might start at a local community college for your Associate's degree, which covers the first two years of general credits. Study hard and check if your state offers financial help for your Associate's degree. After that, you can transfer to a local university to complete your Bachelor's degree. If you choose to pursue a PhD in a clinical field, some hospitals offer tuition assistance in exchange for a commitment to work for them afterward. I hope this advice helps, and I wish you the best of luck!