A clinical psychologist who primarily practices therapy or a person with a master’s degree in psychology who works as a therapist, usually as a marriage and family therapist (MFT) or a licensed professional counselor, is referred to as a “psychology therapist” (LPC). When the term psychology therapist refers to any of the above, it’s simple to sum up what it takes to become one.
There is a very straightforward path for someone who wants to become a psychology therapist or clinical psychologist. The person will almost always have a psychology undergraduate degree and will then need to earn one of the two doctorate degrees in psychology, the PhD or the Psy.D.
A clinical or therapy-based focus may or may not be part of the PhD. Students interested in pursuing this degree should seek out a program that places a strong emphasis on learning how to practice therapy. The Psy.D. is regarded as a degree that prepares students to practice therapy following graduation and licensure.
Those who do not want to wade through a plethora of degree programs on their way to becoming a psychology therapist can simply search for Psy.D programs. People should still double-check that these programs are primarily focused on therapist preparation. To become licensed psychologists, students may need to complete a supervised internship for a year or more after completing their PhD or Psy.D.
If a person only has a master’s degree and wants to become a psychology therapist, there are many master’s programs geared toward counselor or marriage and family therapist training. A bachelor’s degree is required, and some schools will only accept applicants with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. This may be flexible, and students with a strong interest in psychology and demonstrable knowledge will be competitive in many programs even if they do not have a bachelor’s degree in psychology. When a bachelor’s degree is not in psychology, statistics, abnormal psychology, and personality theory are common prerequisites.
Those wishing to pursue a career as a psychology therapist will need to spend several years gaining supervised experience in the counseling field after completing a master’s degree. Candidates for a license should have 3000 hours or more of supervision under their belts, according to the general consensus. This can be a difficult time for some people because they are unable to find the hours they require, and pay is typically low.
There is another way to become a psychotherapist that does not require a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology. Instead, people can earn a master’s degree in social work (MSW), gain the same amount of supervised experience as MFTs and LPCs, and then become licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs). These individuals may also practice as therapists.