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Job outlook for senior therapists in the United States
Senior therapist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior therapist job growth rate is 14% from 2018-2028.
About 9,100 new jobs for senior therapists are projected over the next decade.
Senior therapist salaries have increased 4% for senior therapists in the last 5 years.
There are over 5,470 senior therapists currently employed in the United States.
There are 68,064 active senior therapist job openings in the US.
The average senior therapist salary is $63,963.
Are senior therapist jobs in demand?
Senior therapist job and salary trends over time
Senior therapist jobs over time
Senior therapist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,470 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,561 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 5,729 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 5,352 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 5,138 | 0.00% |
Average senior therapist salary over time
Senior therapist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,963 | $30.75 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $61,808 | $29.72 | --1.0% |
| 2023 | $62,406 | $30.00 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $60,786 | $29.22 | --0.8% |
| 2021 | $61,260 | $29.45 | +1.2% |
Senior therapist jobs by state
Most common states for senior therapists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 184 | 24% |
| 2 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 385 | 20% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 174 | 17% |
| 4 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,057 | 16% |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 494 | 16% |
| 6 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 465 | 16% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 155 | 16% |
| 8 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 887 | 15% |
| 9 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 102 | 15% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,442 | 14% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,150 | 14% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,037 | 14% |
| 13 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 799 | 14% |
| 14 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 191 | 14% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 801 | 13% |
| 16 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,598 | 12% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,497 | 12% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,067 | 12% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 686 | 12% |
| 20 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 504 | 12% |
Most common cities for senior therapists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $53,642 |
| 2 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $68,225 |
Senior Therapist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior therapist experts
San Diego State University
Northeastern State University
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Tiffin University
Springfield College
Colorado State University
Montclair State University
Montclair State University
Morningside College
University of the Incarnate Word
Kent State University
East Tennessee State University
University of Oregon
The University of Findlay
Eastern Kentucky University
Augsburg University
Jackson State University
Utah State University
What general advice would you give to a Senior Therapist?
Nicole Scheiman DrOT, MHS, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CES, CKTP, CEES-Advanced, CSST, CDCS, CORE: Likes: 1. Impactful Work, 2. Holistic Approach, 3. Diverse Opportunities, 4. Client-Centered Care, 5. Creative Interventions. Dislikes: 1. Administrative Burden, 2. Limited Resources, 3. High Stress Environments, 4. Complex Cases, 5. Scope of Practice.
What Senior Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nicole Scheiman DrOT, MHS, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CES, CKTP, CEES-Advanced, CSST, CDCS, CORE: Occupational therapy is a rewarding profession to enter for several reasons: 1. Growing Demand, 2. Diverse Opportunities, 3. Holistic Approach, 4. Focus on Functionality, 5. Opportunities for Creativity, 6. Interdisciplinary Collaboration.
Dion Porter Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Department Chair Coordinator-Online Educational Specialist ProgramsWhat Senior Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dion Porter Ph.D.: The first thing to keep in mind is that in order to receive promotions and salary increases, one needs to always continue to improve themselves, their counseling skills and their overall knowledge and proficiency related to their specific job. Not only do we need to keep practicing self-improvement and growing as a counseling professional, but we also need to remember to continue obtaining the licenses and certifications needed for them to remain qualified to be able to maintain their positions. Finally, we want to consistently and effectively market ourselves and never be afraid to take professional chances and risks that may benefit us and our careers in the long run.
Dianne Ciro Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorSan Diego State University
School of Social Work
What skills stand out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Dianne Ciro Ph.D.: Formal training and/or experience using one or more evidence-based Interventions.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Therapists?
Dianne Ciro Ph.D.: Clinicians need to have keen safety and clinical assessment skills. After COVID, we also learned that it's important for clinicians to navigate and adapt to providing services both in person and through telemental health.
What skills will help Senior Therapists earn the most?
Dianne Ciro Ph.D.: All of the skills outlined above are important for clinicians to be effective in their jobs and earn a good wage.
Dr. Julie Estes
Assistant Clinical InstructorNortheastern State University
Occupational Therapy Program
What skills stand out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Dr. Julie Estes: This would depend, is the OT was a new graduate or a practicing therapist? When looking at resumes from recent graduates, I look for participation in their programs clubs such as the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA), fieldwork experiences, and if they took additional opportunities to get experience through job shadowing outside of the program required fieldwork. When looking at resumes from practicing therapists, experience is also important, but I look to see how much time they have spent at their previous jobs. If the person's resume shows that they have a pattern of changing jobs every 1-2 years, that is a red flag. Continuing education and additional certifications also show that the therapist takes the initiative to hone their skills to benefit their clients.
What soft skills should all Senior Therapists possess?
Dr. Julie Estes: Many soft skills are essential such as:
-Energy and enthusiasm for your field, loving what you do, and wanting to make a difference in clients' lives.
-Strong interpersonal skills and knowing how to relate to people from different backgrounds and cultures.
-Being sincere and knowing how to show empathy and compassion toward clients going through difficult challenges in their lives.
-Organizational skills: knowing how to organize a daily schedule in any setting is essential due to time constraints such as productivity. Allowing time to make sure each client is seen while sometimes working around others' schedules such as physicians, teachers, other therapists. OTs need to be present and provide treatment for each client while not disrupting the workflow of others, such as physicians, teachers, or other therapists.
-Flexibility, being prepared for each day (client, meetings, etc.), but knowing that things can change in an instant and having a backup plan. Going in with a plan A, but knowing you may have to use plan B, C or D. We work with people from all walks of life and stages of life; being okay with knowing that your plan may not go as expected is essential.
-Problem solving, we are professional problem solvers. The Department of Labor's ONet OnLine categorizes occupational therapy as an "investigative occupation." We look at an individual's daily routine, goals, and environment, identify barriers, and plan treatments that help modify, build, or restore daily living skills and independence.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Therapists?
Dr. Julie Estes: -Effective communication and collaboration: OT's work not only with clients but family members, doctors, other professionals such as occupational therapy assistants, physical therapists, and insurance companies in various settings. This job requires that we collaborate with various individuals for the benefit of the clients. Being able to communicate in written and verbal format is a vital component to team success. The ability to explain medical jargon to clients so they understand and proficiently write notes regarding client intervention detailing progress can make the difference in reimbursement and client discharge plans.
-Knowing medical terminology, physical and neurological needs of clients, including protocols for specific diagnoses and treatments, helps in planning intervention while preventing further injury to our clients.
-Good observational skills include looking at clients' complete daily tasks, breaking the activity down to identify barriers, and collaborating with the client to develop an effective treatment plan to help them return to what they find meaningful is our focus.
-Though our job is hands-on, we must also have technological skills for documentation purposes (electronic medical records). With COVID-19, understanding how to see clients virtually has been a learning curve for some.
What skills will help Senior Therapists earn the most?
Dr. Julie Estes: Years of experience, additional certifications, and the ability to work in various settings will help you set yourself up for greater earning potential. Certain settings pay more than others, as well as certain states. Sometimes you have to weigh the pay against the benefits; for example, if you work in a school setting, your income may be less than in a hospital setting, but you have summers off. This is something the person needs to determine on their own what is most important.
Dr. Nathan Tenhundfeld Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Human FactorsUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville
Psychology Department
What skills stand out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Dr. Nathan Tenhundfeld Ph.D.: Strong analytical skills are a must. This includes both logic and reasoning skills, but also data analysis skills. For many jobs, the ability to collect and scientifically evaluate data will be vital, if not an absolute necessity. Similarly, a strong understanding of experimental methods can put a candidate in a great position to be able to help a company evaluate existing programs and chart a path forward for new ones. Finally, I would say that a strong ability to write is critical. Those graduates who are able to effectively and persuasively communicate in writing are setting themselves up for success at any company and allowing the company to leverage them for increasingly important tasks.
What soft skills should all Senior Therapists possess?
Dr. Nathan Tenhundfeld Ph.D.: Students need to be able to read individual and group dynamics in order to act appropriately in any given situation. This includes not only the interactions with one's bosses but also peers and subordinates. Similarly, being comfortable with networking can help any company, but networking skills shine through in interviews.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Therapists?
Dr. Nathan Tenhundfeld Ph.D.: Technical skills like the ability to perform statistical analyses are critically important for most Psychology-related jobs. This allows a candidate to collect and analyze data but also to interpret and understand other existing data. A strong statistical background can also help set a candidate apart from their peers in the application process. This includes understanding when and how to use various parametric and nonparametric statistics to be able to answer questions regardless of the data one is working with.
What skills will help Senior Therapists earn the most?
Dr. Nathan Tenhundfeld Ph.D.: An understanding of a programming language, like Python or Javascript, can be a huge advantage in the job market. It will allow candidates to handle not only large datasets but also do rapid prototyping (in cases of UX work, for example) or even simply design a way in which to collect data for a customer. A student who knows how to code and who can apply those skills in their chosen career field is likely to differentiate themself over the competition.
Jonathan Appel Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, Counseling & Criminal JusticeTiffin University
Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Therapists?
Jonathan Appel Ph.D.: The pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues and needs all across the world. People need social interaction for well-being. The pandemic has contributed to increases in mental health and addictive disorders. Knowledge, training, treatment for psychological well-being has become even more critical as a personal and professional required skill across all fields.
Being able to understand and adapt to the limits of distance work will also be a lasting impact.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Therapists?
Elizabeth Morgan Ph.D.: There seems to be the potential for a number of cross-cutting impacts on graduates from a variety of disciplines related to the coronavirus pandemic, including interruptions in their academic pursuits (e.g., taking more time to finish due to lack of internships, ability to complete coursework due to family obligations or health issues, or a lack of finances to pay for their education).
Once graduated, it is likely that they are encountering a shrinking marketplace for hiring, with companies enacting freezes due to economic uncertainty. Furthermore, more young adults are turning to live with parents, which might make it harder to find a job since they are tied to a residence (or because they may not need to work if parents are subsidizing them).
Related to Psychology in particular, graduates may find an increased need for mental health workers due to lasting effects from workplace instability, social isolation, and health fears. There will likely be enduring changes in the way human services are provided, including increased telehealth practices or services provided via webinars versus in-person programming that might require additional training or acquiring a new skill set on the job.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Therapists to find work opportunities?
Elizabeth Morgan Ph.D.: One potential outcome of the pandemic is that place may matter less as jobs are created and sustained with remote work environments. For example, it might be possible to participate in education endeavors, community mental health, human services in general, or consulting remotely, which render geography less important.
In addition, there will likely be changes in the types of jobs available to graduates in Psychology as employers are rethinking employee productivity in the wake of the coronavirus and need human resources specialists or industrial/organizational psychologists to consult on organizational change. Individuals with training and experience in delivering services remotely may find themselves able to secure some of these new positions; recent graduates will have a leg up in that regard, since they experienced training in a remote environment.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Therapists in the next 5 years?
Elizabeth Morgan Ph.D.: The forced use of technology to connect with others during the pandemic will likely encourage lasting change in education, counseling and human services, business and marketing endeavors, research, and other areas where graduates in psychology end up. This will create shifts in what the jobs look like, what training is needed, and even perhaps, the mental health and well-being of workers in general. As these technological changes are introduced, new graduates will need to learn and embrace them to keep up with the trends, as well as evaluate their effectiveness.
Julie Seidle Ph.D.
Instructor & Research AssociateColorado State University
Department of Occupational Therapy
What technical skills for a Senior Therapist stand out to employers?
Julie Seidle Ph.D.: As a community-based practitioner and employer, I look for a practitioner that has a strong foundational knowledge of OT and the technical skills needed for the practice setting. But I am also looking for someone who has strong interpersonal skills and demonstrates openness and flexibility to an ever-changing practice space. I enjoy working with practitioners who are creative with their skill set and can adjust to a variety of client needs. Practitioners also need to be able to take initiative and work well with all levels of the client system.
How have salaries changed over time for Senior Therapists?
Julie Seidle Ph.D.: Two things come to mind when I think of the discussions I have had related to salaries: cost of education and salaries reflecting the level of education needed to practice. As the level of education required to enter the field has risen, so have the costs of becoming a practitioner. Many practitioners then find that their salaries in the field do not necessarily rise to reflect their level of education. Both of these issues have the potential to negatively impact the strength of our field and need to be included in continued conversations around addressing and improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within the field.
What experience really stands out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Dr. Michael Hannon Ph.D.: The kinds of experiences that really stand out on resumes are those that demonstrate their added value. School counselors, like all school personnel, are tasked with providing evidence that students are better as a result of their work with them. School counselors must show how the range of school counseling services provided (e.g., individual counseling, small group counseling, career development interventions, individual advising, etc.) help students experience success. I encourage those looking for jobs to meticulously document the processes and outcomes that inform why they implement their programs and services. That way, potential employers clearly understand the value new school counselors will add to the school community and support student wellness.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Therapists?
Dr. Nancy Chae Ph.D.: More than ever, there is a critical need for school counselors to support students, families, and school personnel in response to the known and unknown effects of the pandemic--academically, socially, and emotionally. Graduates of school counseling programs will be expected to serve as trained mental health professionals who will lead and advocate as systemic change agents, transforming the future of education and mental health for our children and families. Future school counselors will benefit from learning about the potential effects of trauma as a result of the pandemic, and will need to be prepared to engage in crisis counseling, grief and loss counseling, and trauma-informed care.
Graduates may also be expected to educate parents/guardians and teachers about mental health crises, grief, and trauma to promote a wrap-around approach of proactive and responsive services for students. Graduates also need to be aware of the growing cultural diversity of students and families in schools today. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted historical disparities and inequities in education, including access to rigorous academic and extracurricular experiences and college and career readiness opportunities. Future school counselors must be prepared to work with, learn from, and advocate for diverse students and value the strengths of their cultural backgrounds and experiences, while also identifying and dismantling the barriers that affect students' and families' access to educational programs and mental health services.
Stacie Hays
Associate Vice President of Career Services & Professional DevelopmentMorningside College
Career Services Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Therapist job market given the pandemic?
Stacie Hays: I think one of the biggest trends we will see is an increase and continuation for remote work or work from home opportunities. Specifically, I think the pandemic has allowed employers to really see and understand that you don't need someone in the office to succeed with work tasks. I think this will cause employers to increase their searches for the right candidate, not only the local candidate, or one that is willing to relocate. This opens up opportunities in a way that perhaps we have not seen before.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Therapists to find work opportunities?
Stacie Hays: I'm a huge proponent of utilizing labor market research in searching for jobs. One site I'm particularly fond of is Careeronestop. Here you can search for occupations, get a report, and learn more about job demand. You can also see each state's job demand for certain occupations, which makes it easy to see what state's would have more need for students with those specific majors. I'm also a fan of searching for your local state's workforce development system, as well as chamber of commerce sites or LinkedIn to determine what employers are part of that community's economy. Overall, I recommend using lots of job search websites and then going back to your favorites when you start job searching in earnest.
Dr. Maria Felix-Ortiz Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and ChairUniversity of the Incarnate Word
Department of Psychology
What experience really stands out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Dr. Maria Felix-Ortiz Ph.D.: A good cover letter! Unfortunately, many applicants forget the importance of submitting a cover letter for the resume and HR usually skims a cover letter to see if the applicant's skills match the skills described in the job advertisement. Use the language of the job description to describe skills you may bring to the work! Beyond this, applicants can impress those hiring with an internship or research assistantship where the student has worked for two or more semesters, with skills in a second language and culture OR being very "fluent" in technology, with a substantial study-abroad experience, and/or some sort of research product (e.g., a poster, a paper accepted to a journal).
What skills stand out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Dr. Andrew Wiley Ph.D.: Graduates from the special education program at Kent State demonstrate adaptive expertise. The "expertise" is in specially designed instruction and interventions in academics, life skills, social skills, communication - whatever the special educational needs of students with disabilities may be. The "adaptive" refers to the ability to collaborate with other professionals to solve problems. What stands out on resumes is expert training in both research-based special education practices and the ability to function within a team. Kent State's special education program provides both.
Jamie Brown Ph.D.
ProfessorEast Tennessee State University
Department of Counseling and Human Services
What experience really stands out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Jamie Brown Ph.D.: Community involvement and activism can set a potential candidate apart from other applicants.
What Senior Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Julie Alonzo Ph.D.: Cultural competency, knowledge of social emotional learning, and familiarity with the tenets of Response to Intervention (RTI) are all skills that will help enhance educators' competitiveness. If a graduate needs to take a gap year, there are many ways to ensure that they continue to develop these skills. They might serve as a mentor to an at-risk student (many schools have active mentor programs), teach in an after-school tutoring program (these can be set up for remote or in-person instruction), or work on improving their knowledge of the different languages spoken by families in the community where they are hoping to work. Enhancing one's knowledge of anti-racism teaching practices will help make a graduate more effective as an educator as well as more competitive in the job market.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Therapist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Julie Alonzo Ph.D.: With so much uncertainty about the future, many school districts and institutes of higher education imposed hiring freezes in the spring of 2020 and started the 2020-2021 academic year without the influx of new hires that we would typically see at the start of a new school year. The approval of vaccines with demonstrated efficacy against COVID-19 should, hopefully, prompt a return to a more normal job market in the coming spring. The job market will likely be quite competitive, with new graduates vying for open positions with those who were not offered positions in education last spring.
Given the challenges that schools have faced during the pandemic, I believe we will see an increasing need for culturally-competent, highly-skilled educators who can think critically and allocate limited resources creatively. Schools across the country are likely to struggle with budget shortfalls, as high unemployment rates reduce states' tax bases and as other high-priority needs compete for the limited money available. Thus, finding jobs might be more challenging than in the past.
In terms of the skills that will be needed to be competitive in the job market, the pandemic and resulting move to remote instruction for many in education will increase the demand for educators with expertise in developing literacy and numeracy, particularly in the early grades (K-5). Those with an understanding of how to use student performance data to screen for students at risk, to identify their areas of need, to provide instructional supports to meet those needs, and to monitor the progress being made so that instruction can be adjusted on a regular basis will be in high demand.
In addition, disparities in access to educational technology and the resulting disproportionality in "learning loss" as a result of the move to remote instruction for students from different demographic backgrounds will increase the demand for educators who have experience working with students from low-income families and those experiencing homelessness, as well as demand for educators who have demonstrated their ability to work effectively with students from different ethnicities.
With the continued focus on increasing the diversity of the educator workforce to better match demographics in the United States, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Southeast Asian educators will continue to be in high demand.
What experience really stands out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Dr. Robin Walters: In our field, several things stand out for social workers - first of all, it is essential to have volunteer experience. This indicates that you are willing to go above and beyond in your service to others. This is the hallmark of our profession, and we all are motivated to do this without reward and recognition. Field experience is also essential - our program here requires over 500 hours of field experience during a student's four years with us. This is far beyond our accrediting body needs; however, we see great value in having this as a goal. They have to experience two different placement types; this allows them to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. All of this adds to the value of their degree at the University of Findlay and prepares them for what is beyond the general expectation to have experience going into the field.
Camille Skubik-Peplaski Ph.D.
Professor and Occupational TherapistEastern Kentucky University
Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
What type of skills will young Senior Therapists need?
Camille Skubik-Peplaski Ph.D.: I teach my students that the experience that stands out most on a resume is the experience that best matches the job posting. A summary is only a selected snapshot of your experiences. Choose to display the experiences you have had with what the job posting is looking for.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Therapists to find work opportunities?
Camille Skubik-Peplaski Ph.D.: It depends on what they want to do. Look at the job postings or graduate school applications you wish to apply for. Of course, there are universal skills that are used across jobs/graduate programs. For example, communication skills (e.g., writing, oral), collaboration, leadership, critical thinking, etc... However, it is also essential to find opportunities to develop or observe skills in people that have the job you want. If you're going to apply to a physical therapy program and have a gap year, reconsider taking a year off to travel and look for a job that puts you in a setting that will help you observe the ins and outs of being a physical therapist. Be a sponge and soak up everything you can about the business.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Therapists in the next 5 years?
Camille Skubik-Peplaski Ph.D.: I think wearable technology used by fitness and health care professionals to observe, monitor, and encourage behavior change among clients will become a more everyday practice. Learn how to use the data provided by wearable technology to teach about personal behavioral patterns and opportunities to improve health and quality of life.
Janelle Bussert
Music Therapist, Adjunct ProfessorAugsburg University
Fairview Homecare and Hospice
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Therapists in the next 5 years?
Janelle Bussert: The impact of technology on musical instruments is enormous -- from keyboards to rhythm instruments to making music accessible to people with disabilities. The sky is the limit on helping people participate in making their sounds. And, of course, how we chart and how we keep track of people's health records.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Therapists?
Janelle Bussert: I think Music Therapy graduates will be more aware of death and the fragility of life. If they have experienced the virus in their family, they will know the seriousness of taking safety precautions, etc. I think this awareness will be beneficial in all types of Music Therapy jobs.
What experience really stands out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Janelle Bussert: The knowledge that counts for Hospice Music Therapy, honestly, is having worked with older people. It is a unique skill! I would say that any volunteer or professional experience caring for aging adults will help someone be a good Hospice Music Therapist.
What experience really stands out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Carlos Wilson Ph.D.: Typically, our students come in with a wealth of experience. Some have been in their careers for years and are looking to advance to a management level position. Their work experience shows them being well qualified. I think what does stand out on the resume is their earning of a degree. Being that the degree is in interdisciplinary studies, making sure to choose a concentration or emphasis in the career discipline students are seeking, and sharing their coursework on their resume is a great way to highlight students' preparation.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Therapists in the next 5 years?
Carlos Wilson Ph.D.: One way technology may impact this field is the demand that has been created by the pandemic. There are industries that have been forced to work partially or fully remotely over the last eight months. I think that there will be a need for professionals that can operate in these alternative environments. Technology has been a primary means of conducting business for many of us. We may see students focusing on technology-based disciplines, as they choose their interdisciplinary coursework, over the next few years and possibly beyond.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Therapists?
Carlos Wilson Ph.D.: Continuing my previous answer, graduates will need to be better prepared to work in various mediums. The expectation that we will all wake up and go to the office to conduct business may be an expectation that will be molded by this pandemic. Graduates will still need to be highly productive, whether working from the office or home.
Sonia Manuel-Dupont Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUtah State University
Department of Speech-Language Pathology
What experience really stands out on Senior Therapist resumes?
Sonia Manuel-Dupont Ph.D.: When I review resumes, I look for life skills and transferable skills. These include skills that emerge from leadership positions, interdisciplinary teamwork, work with individuals and communities who are ethnically and linguistically different from the applicant, and extended practice with technical and professional communication.
What Senior Therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sonia Manuel-Dupont Ph.D.: If a student takes a gap year, I advise them to look for opportunities to build the skills listed above. Often this comes from community engagement and volunteer work. If the work situation does not align with the intended graduate work, the student should look for volunteer work to practice these skills.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Senior Therapists in the next 3-5 years?
Sonia Manuel-Dupont Ph.D.: Telehealth and teletherapy. Building meaningful relationships and providing top quality intervention through telehealth and teletherapy is already becoming an essential skill for new graduates.