Psychotherapist Job Description - Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Psychotherapist

Psychotherapy is often called "talk therapy" because it usually involves a patient sitting in a room and talking to a trained psychotherapist. People who seek help from psychotherapists are often wrestling with:
  • behavioral problems
  • grief
  • mental-health issues
  • personal-growth issues
  • post-traumatic difficulties
  • relationship challenges.

Job Description

Psychotherapy has been around since the late 19th century. It includes a wide range of specialist areas:
  • Behavioral or cognitive psychotherapy examines how thoughts and feelings relate to behavior. It also looks at ways to change harmful thought patterns and unlearn harmful behavior.

  • Group or couples psychotherapy treats issues in a wider context by working with couples, family groups and groups of people facing similar difficulties.

  • Humanist/constructivist psychotherapy examines the way we see the world, as this changes our experience of it.

  • Humanistic/integrative psychotherapy integrates a wide range of approaches to treat patients.

  • Hypno-psychotherapy uses hypnosis as a tool for dealing with issues.

  • Psychoanalysis, made famous by Sigmund Freud, involves patients working with a therapist to explore how issues in their early lives might be responsible for the issues they are currently facing. This is also known as psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Psychotherapist jobs are available within psychiatric units in hospitals. They are also found in clinics, doctors' surgeries, welfare and related government departments, and student-health services. Psychotherapists may also work in educational settings to train other budding psychologists and medical professionals, healthcare workers and social workers. Many psychotherapists run their own practices, though it can take quite a while to build a successful private practice.
 
Psychotherapists typically conduct therapy session of 30 to 60 minutes with their patients. During this time, they encourage their patients to talk about their behavior and their feelings to help them to explore what possible changes can be made. Psychotherapists may also run group sessions or training sessions, or they may participate in supervision of other psychotherapists.

Salary Guide

Psychotherapist salaries can range from a low of around $25,000 to almost $60,000 a year. Salary earned depends on the type of practice and on the practitioner's experience in the field.

Education and Training

The term "psychotherapist" covers a wide range of roles, education and training. Many psychotherapists enter the profession as an adjunct to another form of medical training. Psychologists, psychiatrists, health workers and social workers may all have qualifications in psychotherapy. Each will also have the relevant qualifications and licensing for their own specific branch of this profession.
 
A psychologist who becomes a psychotherapist will have completed at least five years of graduate study, including some clinical practice. Social workers may complete a licensed clinical social worker course with an emphasis on psychotherapy.

Prior Work Experience

It's never too soon to begin gaining work experience to become a psychotherapist. You can volunteer within the health and social care sectors working with people with learning disabilities or mental health issues, or young offenders.
 
There are often opportunities available through schools and colleges. Participation in research projects can also help to broaden your experience of the field.

Career Advancement

Career advancement for psychotherapists often involves growing a successful private practice or moving into areas of specialization such as child or group practice. Psychotherapists can also train or support other psychotherapists. Those working in large facilities may advance to department heads or other supervisory positions.

Related Associations and Groups

For more information on psychotherapy careers, you may want to contact:
  • American Psychotherapy Association
  • American Group Psychotherapy Association
  • International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy.

 

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