4 answers
Destiny
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
1
Question
Updated
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What are the pros and cons of being a therapist?
What is the salary for becoming a therapist?
What licenses and certifications do you have to have?
How long does it take to study to become a wonderful therapist?
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4 answers
Noah Godwin
Student
55
Answers
Kirtland, OH
Updated
Noah’s Answer
To become a therapist, you will need to have a master's degree and a certain number of internship/practicum hours that varies by state. On average it will take you 6-7 years from the time you get out of high school to become fully licensed.
Salary will vary quite a bit but in general, therapy is on the lower end of career pay. A starting salary around $40,000-$50,000 is pretty normal and it's possible to make more or less than that depending on the job and where you're located. You can also go into private practice which has the opportunity to make much much more but at the cost of basically running your own business.
If you think you want to be a therapist, you shouldn't worry too much about where you get your bachelor's or even where you get your master's degree. It isn't like finance where job candidates are super competitive. And once you get your masters people won't even care where your bachelor's was from. Sometimes even online or accelerated colleges can be a good fit for aspiring therapists.
Good luck!
Salary will vary quite a bit but in general, therapy is on the lower end of career pay. A starting salary around $40,000-$50,000 is pretty normal and it's possible to make more or less than that depending on the job and where you're located. You can also go into private practice which has the opportunity to make much much more but at the cost of basically running your own business.
If you think you want to be a therapist, you shouldn't worry too much about where you get your bachelor's or even where you get your master's degree. It isn't like finance where job candidates are super competitive. And once you get your masters people won't even care where your bachelor's was from. Sometimes even online or accelerated colleges can be a good fit for aspiring therapists.
Good luck!
Theresa Olguin
DBT Therapist, Director of DBT Training and Certification
23
Answers
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Updated
Theresa’s Answer
There are so many pros - the work is incredibly rewarding. I go home every night aware of the positive impact I am having on my community. Cons (which can end up being a pro) are that if you have experienced trauma that has not been resolved, you will encounter it while you sit with other’s suffering. This will likely require that you do your own therapy. However, I learned the most about how to be a therapist by being a client!
Once you’ve gotten your masters degree and independent license after two years, it takes about three years of delivering therapy to become an effective and competent therapist (this is how long it took me to master DBT). You may be able to increase the timeframe by participating in your own therapy and developing a regular mindfulness/meditative practice. If you specialize in something like DBT it is possible to make more money because it requires a lot from you. The salary you make will be relative to where you live. Where I live the range is 40,000 to 80,000.
Best of luck to you!
Once you’ve gotten your masters degree and independent license after two years, it takes about three years of delivering therapy to become an effective and competent therapist (this is how long it took me to master DBT). You may be able to increase the timeframe by participating in your own therapy and developing a regular mindfulness/meditative practice. If you specialize in something like DBT it is possible to make more money because it requires a lot from you. The salary you make will be relative to where you live. Where I live the range is 40,000 to 80,000.
Best of luck to you!
Aisha Taylor
Mortgage Closing Specialist
363
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Aisha’s Answer
Typical therapist salaries range widely – from $30,000 to $100,000. For a therapist (who are not a psychiatrist or a psychologist), salaries depend in part on education and training, as well as clinical specialization. Individual therapists may make anywhere from $30,000 per year to over $100,000.
https://www.allpsychologyschools.com/mental-health-counseling/salary/
Aisha recommends the following next steps:
Jim Casey
Director of Operations
21
Answers
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Updated
Jim’s Answer
Hey Destiny!
Two things are fundamental...one you have to really like school, as far as classes, work, and the lifestyle of being a student as you will need to do a 4-year degree program and then, usually a Masters's program for 1.5-3 years, if you go full time...Some people work while continuing their education.
Secondly, you have to really like working with and helping people. That is where the main reward comes from it certainly won't be the pay LOL.
As your education evolves you may gey be exposed to different counseling environments, or afterward through your first few jobs until you find a "nitch" or specialty you really feel fits you.
There are many types of counseling/therapy programs that need good people. Some will let you have a supportive role before you have a Master's degree, but really land "being a professional" you need credentials. Credentials can be local or National and every state has different rules, so it will be dictated by where you live. (You can google your states requirements)
As you grow in whatever field you enjoy and increase your education, experience, knowledge, and credentials; your salary will grow too. And you should be able to make a comfortable living and reap the internal rewards of helping others. be patient, it takes time.
Two things are fundamental...one you have to really like school, as far as classes, work, and the lifestyle of being a student as you will need to do a 4-year degree program and then, usually a Masters's program for 1.5-3 years, if you go full time...Some people work while continuing their education.
Secondly, you have to really like working with and helping people. That is where the main reward comes from it certainly won't be the pay LOL.
As your education evolves you may gey be exposed to different counseling environments, or afterward through your first few jobs until you find a "nitch" or specialty you really feel fits you.
There are many types of counseling/therapy programs that need good people. Some will let you have a supportive role before you have a Master's degree, but really land "being a professional" you need credentials. Credentials can be local or National and every state has different rules, so it will be dictated by where you live. (You can google your states requirements)
As you grow in whatever field you enjoy and increase your education, experience, knowledge, and credentials; your salary will grow too. And you should be able to make a comfortable living and reap the internal rewards of helping others. be patient, it takes time.