What does a clinical therapist do?
A Clinical Therapist works with patients to help identify, examine, and treat mental health and emotional issues or disorders. They counsel individuals or groups regarding psychological or emotional problems, as well as observe clients to detect indications of abnormal physical or mental behavior.
Clinical therapist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real clinical therapist resumes:
- Provide clinical consultation to consumers and clients regarding manage care services and other benefits available to them through their EAP programs.
- Provide direct treatment services such as individual/group therapy and intervene in crisis situations when patients exhibit acute psychiatric symptoms.
- Direct patients to designate residential or supportive living options, community base placement/ treatment or other resources as necessary.
- Provide training for federal and public organizations regarding the psychological aspects of veterans having experience combat or military sexual trauma.
- Work closely with a license orthotist/prosthetist to obtain orthotics for children who require them.
Clinical therapist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Clinical Therapists are proficient in Social Work, Patients, and Crisis Intervention. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Dexterity, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Clinical Therapists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Social Work, 26%
Collaborated with treatment team of psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, and rehabilitation counselors to develop individualized treatment plans.
- Patients, 12%
Provided individual and family therapy for patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, and sensory processing issues.
- Crisis Intervention, 8%
Facilitated group therapy sessions*Instructed group lectures*Responsible for treatment planning and documentation*Crisis Intervention
- Mental Health, 4%
Provide outpatient therapy to a wide variety of clients informed by evidence-based clinical best practices in community-based mental health centers.
- Discharge Planning, 4%
Determined appropriateness of placement options with written clinical strength-based assessments including treatment recommendations and discharge planning.
- Community Resources, 3%
Provide community resources to address barriers of children and families to assist with family stabilization and reunification.
Most clinical therapists use their skills in "social work," "patients," and "crisis intervention" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential clinical therapist responsibilities here:
Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a clinical therapist to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "like other healthcare providers, physical therapists should have strong analytic and observational skills to diagnose a patient’s problem, evaluate treatments, and provide safe, effective care." Additionally, a clinical therapist resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "oriented and trained newly assigned social workers to the unit. "
Dexterity. Another essential skill to perform clinical therapist duties is dexterity. Clinical therapists responsibilities require that "physical therapists must use their hands to provide manual therapy and therapeutic exercises." Clinical therapists also use dexterity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "work hands on with community resources, dfcs, foster care placement agencies. "
Physical stamina. clinical therapists are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to clinical therapist responsibilities, because "physical therapists spend much of their time on their feet, moving to demonstrate proper techniques and to help patients perform exercises." A clinical therapist resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "determined preliminary diagnosis from dsm iv criteria due to trauma from physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. "
Time-management skills. A big part of what clinical therapists do relies on "time-management skills." You can see how essential it is to clinical therapist responsibilities because "physical therapists typically treat several patients each day." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical clinical therapist tasks: "complete clinical assessments, treatment notes, treatment plans, and treatment discharges within structured productivity deadlines. "
Compassion. Another common skill required for clinical therapist responsibilities is "compassion." This skill comes up in the duties of clinical therapists all the time, as "physical therapists spend a lot of time interacting with patients, so they should have a desire to help people." An excerpt from a real clinical therapist resume shows how this skill is central to what a clinical therapist does: "provide psychotherapeutic services to children, adolescents, and adults in a compassionate environment. "
Resourcefulness. Another skill commonly found on clinical therapist job descriptions is "resourcefulness." It can come up quite often in clinical therapist duties, since "physical therapists customize treatment plans for patients." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day clinical therapist responsibilities: "provided client and family support, clinical assessment and psychoeducation to promote mental health wellness and resourcefulness. "
The three companies that hire the most clinical therapists are:
- Regional West51 clinical therapists jobs
- CVS Health36 clinical therapists jobs
- Care New England Health System31 clinical therapists jobs
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Compare different clinical therapists
Clinical therapist vs. Behavioral health technician
A behavioral health technician participates in treating patients with behavioral problems caused by mental health issues. They are primarily responsible for monitoring the behavior of the patient, following the guidelines of treatment from a mental health professional, and regularly reporting any progress or problems. Moreover, a behavioral health technician must also carry out administrative tasks, which include producing reports and assessments, answering inquiries and correspondence, maintaining schedules, and keeping records. Furthermore, it is essential to give emotional support to a patient, providing them with a safe and healthy environment at all times.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between clinical therapists and behavioral health technician. For instance, clinical therapist responsibilities require skills such as "mental health," "discharge planning," "psychosocial assessments," and "clinical services." Whereas a behavioral health technician is skilled in "behavioral health," "cpr," "vital signs," and "substance abuse." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Behavioral health technicians earn the highest salaries when working in the non profits industry, with an average yearly salary of $36,944. On the other hand, clinical therapists are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $54,686.The education levels that behavioral health technicians earn slightly differ from clinical therapists. In particular, behavioral health technicians are 43.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a clinical therapist. Additionally, they're 2.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Clinical therapist vs. Mental health technician
A mental health technician's primary responsibility is to provide care and assistance to patients with mental health issues. Their tasks mainly revolve around administering scheduled and prescribed medication, monitoring vital signs, assisting during therapy sessions, and assessing patients' progress and behavior. They may also have administrative support tasks such as processing necessary documentation, preparing reports, managing schedules, and even reaching out to patients' guardians and families. A mental health technician may also build a healthy rapport with patients, giving them guidance and positive influence.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, clinical therapist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "discharge planning," "community resources," "psychosocial assessments," and "clinical services." Meanwhile, a mental health technician has duties that require skills in areas such as "vital signs," "cpr," "patient safety," and "direct patient care." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Mental health technicians earn a lower average salary than clinical therapists. But mental health technicians earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $31,278. Additionally, clinical therapists earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $54,686 annually.In general, mental health technicians achieve lower levels of education than clinical therapists. They're 44.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 2.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for clinical therapists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Cheryl Stenmark Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Director, Industrial/Organizational Psychology Masters Program, Angelo State University
Clinical therapist vs. Mental health nurse
A mental health nurse is responsible for assisting with the diagnosis and treatment plans of patients with mental health complications. Mental health nurses handle high-quality nursing care under mental health professionals' supervision within a hospital or mental health institution. They support in performing therapeutic activities, administering medical examinations, and counseling patients to know more about their conditions. A mental health nurse also does administrative tasks as needed, such as organizing and updating patients' information on the database, processing treatment payments, and responding to the family's inquiries and concerns.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a clinical therapist is likely to be skilled in "psychosocial assessments," "clinical services," "mental illness," and "substance abuse treatment," while a typical mental health nurse is skilled in "psychiatric mental," "pmhnp," "medication management," and "cpr."
Mental health nurses make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $113,936. On the other hand, clinical therapists are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $54,686.mental health nurses typically earn lower educational levels compared to clinical therapists. Specifically, they're 33.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Clinical therapist vs. Marriage and family therapist
Marriage and family therapists are health professionals who are licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders of married couples and families. These therapists are required to treat patients with issues such as child and adolescent behavioral problems, depression and anxiety, and marital conflicts. They must observe the interaction of people within units while evaluating and resolving their issues with relationships. Marriage and family therapists must also guide their clients to go through transitional crises such as divorce or death.
Types of clinical therapist
Updated January 8, 2025
