Different Types of Therapy Careers

There are several different types of therapy careers that a potential therapist can consider. The educational requirements for each varies, and so it is important to narrow down a career path initially and then choose the appropriate training for the niche in therapy that is desired. Here are some of the more common therapy positions.

• Psychologist: Those who major in psychology work in a more clinical setting with patients, and many of these professionals hold a PhD in psychology. To complete a study of psychology often requires approximately five to seven years of college courses. Often, a license is required to practice psychology, too. These are professionals who may work with mental illness patients, patients with behavioral issues, and more.
• Psychiatrist: While those majoring in psychology learn in a clinical setting, psychiatrist schooling involves a medical education. These are professional who have attended medical school and who have completed residency in psychiatry. They also work with behavioral and mental health issues, but unlike psychologists, they can prescribe prescription drugs to treat patients.
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  Family Therapist

  Family Therapist: Education for a therapist degree in family therapy can take approximately four to eight years to complete. This is a professional who works in a specialized niche that involves providing counseling services, behavioral strategies, and more to families who are struggling with different issues. This may include child behavioral issues, divorce, grief over a significant loss, and more.

• Substance Abuse Therapist: A professional specializing in this type of therapy may offer individual or group counseling sessions for those struggling with additions to alcohol, drugs, and more. Typically, a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychiatry, or a related field is required.
• Social Worker: Those considering how to be a therapist and who want to enter into the field of social work may work in a variety of settings that provide social assistance, counseling, and other supportive services to families, disabled or elderly individual, and others. This is a job that generally requires a four year degree, and many professionals do pursue higher levels of education.

Salary Potential

Before pursuing a counseling degree online or entering into a formal education environment for a degree in social work, psychology, or a related field, it is important to note the salary potential for the career niche being explored. There are numerous niches to pursue in the field of therapy, and often income potential is reflective of training and education. However, in general, social workers are among the lowest paid professionals, earning approximately $39,000 per year while psychiatrists are compensated at the highest level, earning approximately $177,000. These are estimates, however, and factors such as work environment, training, and experience will play a role in actual compensation received. While income is a significant factor to consider when making a career choice, it may prove helpful to conduct your own therapist career interview with various professionals as well to explore the work environment, levels of job satisfaction, and other factors.

How to Be a Therapist – Education Requirements

The decision about which area of therapy to pursue will dictate the education requirements. Most areas of therapy do require a four year degree with a specific major, and some require additional education like a Master’s, PhD, or residency. Many options are available for those interested in pursuing a psychologist online degree as well as other online education options, and traditional education formats are also available.

For those interested in learning how to be a therapist, the first step is to fully explore the therapy career paths available and finding the path that best suits an interest level, desired work environment, and income level. Then pursue a specialized educational path suited for a career in that area of therapy.

The Difference Between Psychology and Psychiatry

These two therapy-based careers are often confused with each other, and so a closer look should be taken at both. A psychology major is one that focuses on the clinical aspect of mental health. It may deal with mental illness, behavioral disorders, and more. Different forms of non-medicated therapy options are pursued as treatment options. A psychiatry major, on the other hand, is one that is pursued through medical school. Before becoming a psychiatrist, a professional will earn a medical degree and attend residency in a psychiatry department of a hospital. One of the key differences with psychiatry is that these professionals are able to prescribe prescription medications as a treatment option. Many people initially consider how to become a psychiatrist and then opt to major in psychology when they learn medical school is required for a career in psychiatry.

Educational Requirements For a Psychologist

For those interested in pursuing psychology as a major, there are many programs available to choose from in both public and private colleges and universities. To become a psychologist, a professional needs to have a Bachelor’s degree in this major as well as a Master’s degree, too. Professionals wishing to work in the field by teaching psychology or in a research setting often obtain their PhD. It should be noted that while many schools today offer this psychology as a major, not all schools will offer niche areas of specialized education. For instance, those interested in working with special types of mental illness or special groups of children may benefit from finding a school that offers special classes on these topics.

Top Psychology Schools

The Famous Rorscach Inkblot Test for Psychologists

Many schools across the country offer a psychology degree program that students can pursue. However, some stand apart from the rest as top schools for psychology majors. Among the top schools for those pursing psychology degrees are:

• Stanford University
• University of California – Berkeley
• Harvard University
• University of California – Los Angeles
• University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

With a Major in Psychology

There are different levels of education that a professional can pursue with a degree in psychology. Some may choose to earn a Bachelor’s degree and then seek a job in a professional work environment. Some of the career options available to those with a Bachelor’s degree in this field include:

• Rehabilitation Specialist
• Career Counseling
• Case Manager or Social Worker
• Psychiatric Technician

Additional career opportunities are available to those who continue on with education and pursue a Master’s degree in this field. With a Master’s degree, professionals may pursue work in areas such as:

• Licensed Social Worker
• Counselor or Therapist
• Clinical Psychologist

Some professionals will continue on with formal education to earn a PhD in this field. There are more advanced career opportunities available to a psychology major with a PhD. Some of these options include:

• Researcher
• Psychology Teacher or Professor

Career Advancement

In some areas of psychology, there is room for advancement as a professional gains experience in the field. For instance, a social worker may move into a supervisory or managerial role after gaining several years of professional work experience. In other areas of psychology, a professional may progress in different ways in his or her career. For instance, a clinical psychologist may begin a career working at a hospital or mental health center, but may later move into his or her own private practice.

Career Outlook

Before pursuing a major in psychology, it is interesting to note the career outlook for professionals in this field. Job growth is anticipated to grow in most areas of psychology over the next ten years. This field growth includes new opportunities in various work environments including public and private social service agencies, hospitals and specialized healthcare centers, schools and educational environments, and more.

Many people today make the decision to pursue psychology as a career of choice. Some may earn a Bachelor’s degree and work in the field with their degree while earning a Master’s degree through evening or online education. This is a great way to continue the education process while also gaining real-life work experience. Some may consider pursuing additional education only after years of experience in the field when they are ready to branch out into different areas of the field. With a major in psychology, there are many different career opportunities and paths available to consider.

Steps to Becoming a Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor, and the educational requirements are extensive. A licensed psychiatrist will meet with patients in a variety of different settings and environments to evaluate, diagnose, and treat various mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders. A psychiatrist may prescribe prescription drugs for treatment of various conditions, and may also use other forms of therapy to treat those conditions, too. Here are the basic steps required to become a psychiatrist:

• Bachelor’s Degree. The first step is to to major in a related field in a four year college or university. A major in psychology or an area of natural sciences is often recommended, and so it is advisable to consider applying to one of the top psychology schools or natural sciences schools.
• Medical School. With a Bachelor’s psychology degree or a degree in another related field, the next step is to apply to and to ultimately graduate from medical school. Consider applying to medical schools with excellent psychiatry departments.
• Residency. After completing medical school, psychiatrist schooling continues with approximately 36 months in a paid residency program. Residency may include rotations in psychiatric departments as well as in other specialties like pediatrics, internal medicine, and more.
• Specialization. After residency is complete, some professionals may consider pursuing specialization in niche areas of psychiatry such as pediatric psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, and others.
• Licensing. Psychiatrists are required to be licensed by passing the US Medical Licensing Exam. They must also be approved by the Drug Enforcement Agency before writing prescription orders for patients.

Top Schools to Consider

There are numerous schools throughout the country where a pre-medical degree may be obtained. Those interested in pursuing a career in this field may be interested to know what some of the top psychiatrist schooling options are for their medical degree. Here are a few of the leading educational programs in the country for this field:

• University of Pittsburgh
• Yale University
• University of California – San Diego
• University of Pennsylvania
• East Carolina University

Admission into these schools is often highly competitive, as is the case for most medical school programs in schools across the country. Those interested in pursuing a career in this area will want to focus on earning top grades in their pre-medical classes, and may consider other educational options such as research and laboratory options offered by some schools in addition to coursework.

Salary Expectations After Psychiatrist Schooling

There are numerous factors that can affect a psychiatrist salary. These include the work environment that is chosen, if an area of specialization is chosen, years of work experience, and more. In general, anticipated income potential may range from about $153,000 to about $228,000 per year. The median income with several years of experience in the field is about $193,000 per year. This is a career option with an excellent outlook, as demand for professionals is expected to increase in coming years as the population grows.

Compared to Psychology

Some people interested in pursuing a career in psychiatry may be intimidated by the amount of schoolwork required for this career. Psychology offers the opportunity to enjoy a similar therapy-based career with the requirement of a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. However, it should be noted that while education requirements are less, income potential of a psychologist is significantly less, too. In addition, a psychologist does not have the ability to treat patients with prescription medications.

Psychiatrist schooling is a first step towards a rewarding and lucrative career that allows a professional to provide assistance and therapy to those suffering from mental, behavioral, and emotional health issues. Those interested in pursuing a career in this field should first enroll in a four year degree program in psychology, natural sciences, or a related field to begin the education process.

Undergraduate Work

Before entering into medical school, the student must first earn a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree is typically earned through a university or a college, and at the end of the day, there are several different degrees that might suit this endeavor. In the first place, a psychology degree is one of the first options. A psychology degree acquaints the student with the many different branches of the field while also offering a view point into what life as a practicing psychologist might be like. However, the student may also go into related fields like pre-med, biology, or human health. The focus of the degree is less important than good performance and a dedication to their work.

If you are thinking about psychiatrist schooling, becoming an undergraduate is one place to start. Similar medical careers start with the same basis, so if you decide to switch somewhere during your academic career, you won’t be starting from square one. A psychiatrist career is a demanding one, and when you are thinking about how to become a psychiatrist, an undergraduate degree is something that you need to consider seriously.

Taking the MCAT for Admissions into Medical School

The MCAT stands for the Medical College Admission Test, and if you want to learn how to become a psychiatrist, this is one of the things to consider. This test is taken when the student is a junior or a senior in their undergraduate career, and the test is one of the major factors that colleges use to decide whether or not to accept the applicant. The test takes between 4½ to 5 hours, and it is composed of four parts. Physical Science, Biological Science, Verbal Reasoning and Written Response are the four sections, and it is important to score equally well on all four. Many students choose to attend classes that are directly related to preparing them for the MCAT.

How to Become a Psychiatrist: Medical School

The next step when you are considering how to become a psychiatrist is medical school. Like undergraduate studies, graduate school requires four years, and it are essential to earning a psychiatrist degree. If you are thinking about becoming a therapist who can prescribe drugs, this is an essential part of your training. Nearly all of the helping professions require medical school, and this is where you are going to really get started with your psychiatrist career education.

Medical school is made up of two parts. The first two years are spent learning from textbooks and lectures, and the other two years are a practical experience, which takes the students to various health centers to learn about their chosen careers. This second part is by far the most important, it involves working in a clinic under supervision. Some of the courses that the person who is becoming a therapist might encounter include physiology and pharmacology. This allows the student to conduct medical examinations and also to diagnose patients. He or she will also learn a great deal about health career profiles, further confirming whether this career is good for them or not.

Residencies and Licensing

After their term in medical school, psychiatrists then need to spend at least four years in a residency program. During their time in this program, they will be doing paid clinical work in a hospital. According to the American Psychiatric Association, which licenses psychiatrists in the United States, the psychiatrist must also perform 36 months of psychiatric schooling or training as well as working within rotations that include work ranging from emergency care or family medicine. You will also find that there are some programs of study which allow residents to have trained in another clinical specialty prior to transferring to psychiatry.

When considering becoming a psychiatrist, the final step is to become licensed by their state through passing the United Stated Medical Licensing Examination. This exam varies from state to state, and though each state does have its own exam, there are several states that have reciprocity agreements, allowing one state’s certification to stand in for another state. If the psychiatrist wishes to prescribe medication, they also need to acquire a federal narcotics license which is then registered with the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Whether you are in a place where you are considering a psychotherapy degree or you simply want to become a psychiatrist, there is a great deal of information out there available to you. Choosing between the many psychiatry paths can be difficult, but the more research you do, the better off you will be in the long run.

How to Become a Psychiatrist: The Bottom Line

Think about where you want to be and where psychiatry can take you. This is a helping career where you can make a great deal of difference, so think about how to become a psychiatrist and what that means to you.