What are the qualifications of a therapist?

Certain psychologists can practice with just a master's degree in the field, but these positions are limited, and a school psychologist is one example of this.

Clinical experience is a required qualification for most therapists. This means they must complete a certain number of supervised hours (usually 1000 or more) in an internship capacity. Generally, they will work under a licensed therapist or act as a therapist with the supervision of a licensed therapist.

There are many different kinds of therapists, such as cognitive behavioral therapists, interpersonal therapists, mindfulness-based therapists, recreational therapists, child therapists, family and marriage therapists, and occupational therapists.

These specialized fields usually require specialized education and experience in these areas. For example, if you want to become a behavioral therapist, you should study behavioral psychology and obtain at least a master's degree. You then need to get experience working with specific populations, like children with ADHD or adults struggling with substance abuse.

Depending on the type of therapy, the timeline to become a therapist can be eight to 15 years; this includes education and clinical experience.