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How did you go about becoming a counselor or therapist?

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Joanne’s Answer

Hi Brandon,

It is great to hear that you are interested in excelling your education in counseling. This field is very rewarding and I hope that I can assist you in the the process of applying. I am currently a School Counselor, so if this is the path you wish to take, I may have some insight to share.

Joanne recommends the following next steps:

When applying to be a Counselor - concentration in School, one must already have a Bachelor's degree completed. Some Master's programs will look to see if you have a Bachelor's in a related field such as Education, Psychology, Social work, etc. Some other Master's programs may gear their focus on in-person interviews when choosing candidates to see what strengths the candidate posses that may be beneficial to the counseling program that he/she is applying for.
After obtaining a Bachelor's degree, you then go on to find a Master's program in Counseling, focusing on School. If you wish to be a therapist, your focus in Counseling will differ. Then you will complete the given credits that are needed for graduation. This also varies on the State and school you apply to. A counselor should be appointed to you in school - they will assist you throughout the process. If you are unable to receive adequate guidance, I have found that the professors are very helpful.
Towards the end of your Master's program, you will be expected to complete a certain amount hours (internship). If your focus is on School, you will be placed into a district and work along side a current school counselor. Some Master's programs will have you find your own placement. Through this hands on experience, you will gain knowledgeable counseling tips that you can later add to your own counseling portfolio.
Upon completion of your internship and classes, you then go on to take a state test(s). The test(s) you take depend on the state requirements and the track you wish to graduate in. A counselor/professor on campus can better assist you on which exam(s) must be completed before graduation.
After passing the exam and graduating, you are on your way to send out applications! I hope you found this helpful and best of luck in your counseling journey!
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Hannah’s Answer

Hi Brandon:

Really glad you want to do that! A few of my friends are counselors and therapists. Here's a few things to consider first:

  • What more specifically would you want to be, as the training is different depending on what you're looking for. Family therapist, physical therapist, career counselor. One way of finding out what the options even are, are to (1) look at schools that offer programs and then look at the many different programs they offer; (2) places like US news offer listings of the best programs https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/occupational-therapy-rankings; (3) Psychology Today has a listing of all the therapists, and you can get a sense of what the options are by their titles https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
  • One of the best ways to learn quickly is to talk to people who are already in it! Try contacting an existing therapist and asking them about how they ended up there. Also consider calling a school counselor, at one of the schools that offer therapy certificates, and asking them. The school counselor's job is to help people figure it out!
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