What is a Therapist?
What is a therapist?
Therapists are mental health professionals who are trained to provide emotional support through talking through issues.
What post secondary education is needed?
“A bachelor's or a master's degree in the field of counseling, therapy, mental health, psychology or a related social service discipline is required” (jobbank)
Where to find hiring opportunities?
Some places that offer jobs for therapists include: Hospitals, mental health clinics, etc.
Opening a private business is also an option
What does their schedule look like?
Therapists who work independently have a freer and more flexible schedule. The average number of clients per week is 20, leaving lots of free time for themselves
How big is the therapy industry?
In the US alone, there are over 198,800 therapists and the market size is valued at about $47 billion. Women make up over 70% of therapists
What are the different types of therapy?
5 major types:
Psychodynamic- therapy that focuses on changing behaviours/feelings/ thoughts by finding the unconscious meaning and motivations
Cognitive- works with clients to change their thoughts
Behavioural- adapts a client’s behaviour through desensitizing (used to treat phobias)
Humanistic- helps clients make good choices and reach their fullest potential (client centered)
Integrative/holistic- treatment based on individual clients; not tied to one approach
How much does education cost?
Tuition for a master’s degree in psychology in Canada ranges from $8,000-$23,000
How do you get hired?
Being hired as a therapist requires having at least 2 years of supervised work as well as gaining experience
How long is the average work week?
Full time therapists can work 40 hour weeks, but it is dependent on how many client a therapist gets per week and how long each session is
How popular is the job?
Mental health awareness has been raising in the past years and in the US, about 20% of adults are in therapy. Therapy is more common amongst women, but is starting to become more widely popular
What is the most common type of therapist?
The most common type of therapy is psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy
What is their yearly income?
$64,384 - $77,883
What connections are good to have?
Having connections to people who have seen you work and can give you good references is helpful. It is hard to find jobs with no prior experiences or people to vouch for you
Where is their place of work?
Therapists can work at community centers, hospitals, mental health facilities, or in private practice settings. Some therapists also offer online services
What does the job market look like?
The employment of therapists has grown 14% since 2021. More people are looking for help with mental health and the job market for therapists is only growing.
What is the role of a therapist?
Therapists are there to treat mental health disorders and create individualized treatment plans
How steady is their income?
Depending on whether or not they work independently. Therapists with a large network or joined with a company will experience a steadier income whereas an independent therapist with entry level experience might have a less steady flow of income
What specific paths are there?
Having a psychology degree and experience in the field of psychology opens many jobs in the social work industry and other forms of psychology
What does an average session look like?
Therapy sessions usually consist of the therapist asking questions about a client’s current issues and getting background information on the person. They also work to build personal connections with their clients to create safer and more open environments
How long does this job last?
The average age of retirement for therapists is around 70 years old. Therapy is a very long term career and as you get older, you can slow down your work (take less clients)
How do you become a therapist?
To become a therapist you need a degree in psychology as well as supervised clinical work and a certification. Developing soft skills is also critical for working as a therapist (i.e. communication, empathy, active listening, etc.)
What other professional requirements are needed?
Therapists need to be certified -(by taking the National Board for Certified Counselors exam) and usually they need at least 2 years of supervised clinical experience
How do you advance your career?
Ways to advance your career include getting a doctorate in psychology and becoming a licenced psychology working as a clinical psychologist or developmental psychologist
Who do therapists work with?
Therapists work one on one with clients. Kids as young at 7 can start therapy in which case they would go to child specialized therapists, and clients as old as 60 can start therapy
Is it a sustainable job?
Yes, a therapist’s income is relatively steady and they can work for a very long time. There will always be work for therapists because there are always people who need help.