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Play therapist vs couples therapist

The differences between play therapists and couples therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a play therapist and a couples therapist. Additionally, a couples therapist has an average salary of $95,051, which is higher than the $92,351 average annual salary of a play therapist.

The top three skills for a play therapist include social work, children birth and cognitive behavioral. The most important skills for a couples therapist are couples therapy, private practice, and adolescents.

Play therapist vs couples therapist overview

Play TherapistCouples Therapist
Yearly salary$92,351$95,051
Hourly rate$44.40$45.70
Growth rate14%14%
Number of jobs23,44923,353
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Master's Degree, 55%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

Play therapist vs couples therapist salary

Play therapists and couples therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Play TherapistCouples Therapist
Average salary$92,351$95,051
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $137,000Between $59,000 And $151,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between play therapist and couples therapist education

There are a few differences between a play therapist and a couples therapist in terms of educational background:

Play TherapistCouples Therapist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Master's Degree, 55%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachBoston University

Play therapist vs couples therapist demographics

Here are the differences between play therapists' and couples therapists' demographics:

Play TherapistCouples Therapist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 11.9% Female, 88.1%Male, 28.6% Female, 71.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between play therapist and couples therapist duties and responsibilities

Play therapist example responsibilities.

  • Manage ventilator and BiPAP's and create or update care plans per patient needs.
  • Organize and perform behavioral therapies for a child with autism.
  • Work with identify pre-school handicap children in order to meet the goals and objectives of their IEP's.
  • Perform occasional psychosocial rehabilitation services.
  • Perform occasional psychosocial rehabilitation services.

Couples therapist example responsibilities.

  • Manage ventilator and BiPAP's and create or update care plans per patient needs.
  • Perform occasional psychosocial rehabilitation services.
  • Perform occasional psychosocial rehabilitation services.

Play therapist vs couples therapist skills

Common play therapist skills
  • Social Work, 21%
  • Children Birth, 17%
  • Cognitive Behavioral, 14%
  • Autism, 11%
  • Therapy Services, 3%
  • Language, 3%
Common couples therapist skills
  • Couples Therapy, 30%
  • Private Practice, 19%
  • Adolescents, 14%
  • Family Therapy, 12%
  • Cognitive Behavioral, 9%
  • Assessment Methods, 8%

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