Become A Therapist
Where do you want to work?
Working As A Therapist
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
Deal with People
Unpleasant/Angry People
Mostly Sitting
Stressful
$42,170
Average Salary
What Does A Therapist Do
How To Become A Therapist
Although most social workers need a bachelor’s degree in social work, clinical social workers must have a master’s degree and 2 years of post-master’s experience in a supervised clinical setting. Clinical social workers must also be licensed in the state in which they practice.
EducationA bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is the most common requirement for entry-level positions. However, some employers may hire workers who have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as psychology or sociology.
A BSW prepares students for direct-service positions such as caseworker or mental health assistant. These programs teach students about diverse populations, human behavior, social welfare policy, and ethics in social work. All programs require students to complete supervised fieldwork or an internship.
Some positions require a master’s degree in social work (MSW), which generally takes 2 years to complete. Master’s degree programs in social work prepare students for work in their chosen specialty by developing clinical assessment and management skills. All programs require students to complete a supervised practicum or an internship.
A bachelor’s degree in social work is not required in order to enter a master’s degree program in social work. Although a degree in almost any major is acceptable, courses in psychology, sociology, economics, and political science are recommended. Some programs allow graduates with a bachelor’s degree in social work to earn their master’s degree in 1 year.
In 2015, there were more than 500 bachelor’s degree programs and more than 200 master’s degree programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Some universities offer doctoral programs in social work, where students can earn a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) or a Ph.D. Most doctoral programs in social work require students to have a master’s in social work and experience in the field. Many doctor’s students go on to work as postsecondary teachers.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsMost states have licensure or certification requirements for nonclinical social workers. Requirements vary by state.
All states require clinical social workers to be licensed. However, some states provide exemptions for clinical social workers who work in government agencies. Becoming a licensed clinical social worker requires a master’s degree in social work and a minimum of 2 years of supervised clinical experience after graduation. After completing their supervised experience, clinical social workers must pass a clinical exam to be licensed.
Because licensing requirements vary by state, those interested should contact their state board. For more information about regulatory licensure boards by state, contact the Association of Social Work Boards.
Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Clients talk to social workers about challenges in their lives. To effectively help, social workers must be able to listen to and understand their clients’ needs.
Empathy. Social workers often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations. To develop strong relationships, they must have compassion and empathy for their clients.
Interpersonal skills. Being able to work with different groups of people is essential for social workers. They need strong people skills to foster healthy and productive relationships with their clients and colleagues.
Organizational skills. Social workers must help and manage multiple clients, often assisting with their paperwork or documenting their treatment.
Problem-solving skills. Social workers need to develop practical and innovative solutions to their clients’ problems.
Time-management skills. Social workers often have many clients and administrative responsibilities. They must effectively manage their time to provide adequate service to all of their clients.
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Therapist jobs
Therapist Career Paths
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Psychotherapist 4.1 years
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Senior Therapist 3.8 years
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Recreation Therapist 3.6 years
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Addiction Therapist 3.4 years
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Creative Art Therapist 3.2 years
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Therapist 3.0 years
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Mental Health Therapist 3.0 years
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Counselor/Art Therapist 3.0 years
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Clinical Therapist 2.9 years
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Lead Therapist 2.9 years
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Family Therapist 2.8 years
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Marriage And Family Therapist 2.8 years
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Out-Patient Therapist 2.7 years
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Child And Family Therapist 2.6 years
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Outpatient Physical Therapist 2.5 years
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Group Therapist 2.4 years
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Therapist And Program Manager 2.4 years
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Health Therapist 2.3 years
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Primary Therapist 2.3 years
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Child And Adolescent Therapist 2.3 years
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Day Treatment Clinician/Art Therapist 2.0 years
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In Home Therapist 2.0 years
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Internship 17.4%
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Case Manager 11.4%
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Counselor 9.9%
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Social Worker 8.5%
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Counselor Internship 5.7%
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Clinician 4.2%
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Volunteer 3.7%
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Program Director 3.4%
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Teacher 3.1%
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Program Coordinator 2.9%
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Research Assistant 2.9%
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Supervisor 2.8%
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Family Therapist 2.8%
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Graduate Assistant 2.5%
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Substitute Teacher 2.5%
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Program Manager 2.3%
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Social Worker 10.3%
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Counselor 8.0%
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Clinical Director 7.9%
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Clinician 7.6%
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Case Manager 6.8%
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Clinical Supervisor 6.2%
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Internship 5.1%
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Program Director 5.0%
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Adjunct Professor 3.9%
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Program Manager 3.7%
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Supervisor 3.7%
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Family Therapist 3.4%
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Clinical Therapist 3.1%
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Director 2.9%
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Team Leader 2.8%
Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Therapist
Top Careers After Therapist
Therapist Demographics
Gender
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Female
74.9% -
Male
23.0% -
Unknown
2.2%
Ethnicity
-
White
80.5% -
Hispanic or Latino
10.0% -
Asian
7.0% -
Unknown
1.7% -
Black or African American
0.7%
Languages Spoken
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Spanish
65.7% -
French
6.3% -
Swedish
5.5% -
German
3.3% -
Russian
2.2% -
Japanese
2.1% -
Portuguese
1.8% -
Arabic
1.7% -
Chinese
1.6% -
Thai
1.4% -
Hindi
1.3% -
Korean
1.2% -
Italian
1.2% -
Hebrew
1.2% -
Mandarin
0.9% -
Armenian
0.7% -
Polish
0.7% -
Cantonese
0.5% -
Vietnamese
0.4% -
Gujarati
0.4%
Therapist
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Therapist Education
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Capella University
10.4% -
Walden University
8.5% -
University of Phoenix
7.5% -
Liberty University
7.3% -
Nova Southeastern University
5.5% -
Chicago School of Professional Psychology
5.3% -
Webster University
4.9% -
New York University
4.6% -
Fordham University
4.2% -
Troy University
4.2% -
University of Louisville
4.2% -
University of Southern California
4.1% -
West Virginia University
3.9% -
Wayne State University
3.8% -
Temple University
3.8% -
Arizona State University
3.8% -
University of Maryland - Baltimore
3.6% -
Western Michigan University
3.5% -
Florida State University
3.4% -
University of Pittsburgh -
3.4% -
Social Work 26.6%
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School Counseling 11.9%
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Counseling Psychology 11.2%
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Psychology 9.7%
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Clinical Psychology 6.7%
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Family Therapy 5.1%
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Education 2.3%
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Business 2.1%
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Human Services 1.8%
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Physical Therapy 1.6%
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Nursing 1.5%
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Occupational Therapy 1.4%
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Criminal Justice 1.2%
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Special Education 1.2%
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Sociology 1.2%
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Human Development 0.9%
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Medical Technician 0.9%
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Masters
66.1% -
Bachelors
12.1% -
Other
9.2% -
Doctorate
6.7% -
Certificate
2.6% -
Associate
2.6% -
License
0.4% -
Diploma
0.3%
Schools
Majors
Degrees
Therapist
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Real Therapist Salaries
Job Title
|
Company
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Salary
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head Performance Therapist | Golden State Warriors LLC | Oakland, CA | Sep 03, 2015 | $160,000 |
| Therapist | Caron Foundation of Florida, Inc. | Boca Raton, FL | Dec 09, 2016 | $132,318 |
| Therapist | Caron of Florida Inc. | Boca Raton, FL | Dec 09, 2016 | $123,165 |
| Therapist | Caron Foundation of Florida, Inc. | Boca Raton, FL | Sep 12, 2013 | $115,000 |
| Musculoskeletal Therapist | Steven D. Bowditch | Flower Mound, TX | May 01, 2015 | $106,000 - $150,000 |
| Therapist | New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Centers | NY | Sep 21, 2016 | $100,176 |
| Physcial Therapist | Restore Professionals, LLC | Birmingham, AL | Aug 01, 2015 | $100,000 |
| Musculoskeletal Therapists | Steven Bowditch | Flower Mound, TX | May 01, 2015 | $100,000 - $150,000 |
| Occupationl Therapist | Interface Rehab Inc. | Novato, CA | Nov 17, 2014 | $93,915 |
| Physicial Therapist | St. Vincent Dunn Hospital | Bedford, IN | Nov 30, 2015 | $93,915 |
| Occupationl Therapist | Interface Rehab Inc. | Los Angeles, CA | Nov 17, 2014 | $91,828 |
| Therapist | Brookhaven Medical Centers, Inc. | Snyder, TX | Mar 01, 2015 | $91,828 |
| Physcial Therapist | Orthopaedic & Neurological Rehab., Inc. | San Francisco, CA | Oct 06, 2014 | $91,745 - $93,915 |
| Physcial Therapist | Rancho Physical Therapy | Murrieta, CA | Jun 09, 2015 | $72,002 |
| Physicial Therapist | Heritage Care, Inc. | Hyattsville, MD | Dec 30, 2013 | $71,510 |
| Therapist | Reed City Hospital Corporation | Reed City, MI | Sep 23, 2013 | $70,720 |
| Therapist | Reed City Hospital Corporation | Big Rapids, MI | Sep 23, 2013 | $70,720 |
| Physicao Therapist | Active Physical Therapy Services LLC | Takoma Park, MD | Aug 30, 2015 | $70,387 - $72,000 |
| Physial Therapist | Cora Health Services, Inc. | Palm Bay, FL | Sep 10, 2014 | $70,228 |
| Pysical Therapist | Home Health Care Plus Inc. | Dallas, TX | Oct 01, 2013 | $69,000 |
| Physcial Therapist | RN Staff, Inc. | Danville, IL | May 16, 2013 | $50,046 |
| Therapist | Contemporary Family Services Inc. | Germantown, MD | Aug 24, 2016 | $50,000 |
| Bilingual & Bicultural Therapist | Western Psychological and Counseling Services, P.C | Portland, OR | Jan 01, 2014 | $48,606 |
| Therapist II With Multicultural Specialties | Frontier Behavioral Health | Spokane, WA | Sep 14, 2014 | $48,006 |
| Therapist | Foothill Family Service | Pasadena, CA | Aug 22, 2016 | $48,000 |
| Therapist | Foothill Family Service | El Monte, CA | Apr 09, 2016 | $48,000 |
| Therapist | Foothill Family Service | El Monte, CA | Jun 13, 2016 | $48,000 |
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Top Skills for A Therapist
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Top Therapist Skills
- Group Therapy Sessions
- Individual Treatment Plans
- Mental Health Services
- Provide individual therapy to middle/high school males Conduct group therapy sessions dealing with issues such as domestic violence and aggression
- Conducted mental health assessments, developed individual treatment plans and developed supervision plans and safety plans.
- Supported six elementary schools with delivery of mental health services to children and families in a school setting.
- Provided crisis intervention to individuals and families.
- Conducted weekly family therapy sessions with all individuals on caseload.
Top Therapist Employers
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