Gender therapists assist individuals and families in addressing gender-related issues, such as gender transitions. You must devote a significant amount of time to school in order to become a gender therapist. In order to pursue this career, you will typically need to earn a bachelor’s degree and learn some fundamentals about mental health and sexuality for four years before pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree. In many cases, the level of responsibility you will have is directly proportional to your level of education. To become a gender therapist, you may need additional training, and many jurisdictions will require you to pass licensing or certification exams.
Enrolling in college will most likely be the first step toward becoming a gender therapist. Typically, this profession necessitates an advanced degree, and obtaining a bachelor’s degree is a necessary first step toward obtaining the required credential. Science, health, and mental health majors may be particularly well-suited to this field. However, regardless of your major, you may benefit from taking undergraduate courses in subjects like human sexuality, gender issues, and reproduction, as well as relationship and counseling-related courses. It is possible to get into a graduate program without taking such courses, but they will provide you with knowledge that you can build on later and may make you a more appealing graduate school candidate.
Most graduate schools do not offer a course of study or a degree focused on gender issues. Instead, you’ll need to get a master’s degree in a mental health field and then take elective courses to prepare for a career as a gender therapist. A master’s degree is often the bare minimum for this type of job, but a doctorate will almost certainly improve your job prospects and allow you to take on more responsibilities. In most jurisdictions, for example, becoming a licensed psychologist may necessitate a doctoral degree.
If you want to work as a psychiatrist and provide gender therapy, you’ll still need an advanced degree, but you’ll likely get it from a different type of institution. In most places, becoming a psychiatrist entails four years of study at a medical school. This program will usually include not only traditional classes, but also an internship in which you will be able to interact with patients while learning. You will earn the medical degree required to work as a psychiatrist if you complete this type of program successfully.
To work as a gender therapist, you will almost always need specialized training. For example, becoming a licensed or certified therapist often requires clinical training under the supervision of a licensed professional and passing a licensing or certification exam. To practice as a psychiatrist, you must usually complete a residency program and then pass the physician licensing exam in your jurisdiction. Additional training, such as seminars, continuing education classes, and self-study, can help you prepare for a career as a gender therapist.