Could Counseling be the Career for You?

Therapists and counselors are more in demand than ever before. In recent years it has become the norm for people to seek counseling, whether for mental health issues, relationship problems, or for one’s professional life.

What does it take to become a therapist? Is it the job for you? And what are the different roles that fall under the umbrella term of therapy? These are all questions we will consider in the following article, so if you are interested in a career in this field, please read on.

What are the Opportunities in the Counseling Field?

People generally take two routes once they have the qualifications, which we will turn to in a moment, for becoming a therapist. One is to set up in private practice, and the other is to take a job in a business or institution.

For example, you could become a student counselor in a college or school. You may take a role in a hospital or a large company. For the private therapist, you can either specialize in one area – perhaps providing therapy for veterans suffering from PTSD or becoming a relationship counselor – or you can reach out to a variety of clients.

In every case, you will provide help, support, and advice to persons who find life difficult in one way or another. With our busy working and family lives, that’s a lot of people. So, what qualifications do you need to become a therapist?

Study Programs for Therapists

The first step is enrolling in a bachelor’s degree course relevant to therapy. Most potential therapists major in psychology. This will become a major part of your study program, yet a bachelor’s degree is designed to give the student a grounding in general education. Hence, you will also study the likes of English, mathematics, and humanities.

While most therapist openings – be it a counselor, mediator, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other related health care roles – ask for a bachelor’s degree as a minimum, there will be others that require a master’s degree. Once you have completed your bachelor’s, it is certainly worth considering furthering your education, as this will open the door to more lucrative opportunities.

A bachelor’s degree is usually a four-year study program and can be taken in the traditional on-campus method or the increasingly popular online study method. The latter is convenient for persons who are currently employed or who may have a family and thus be unable to relocate to a university.

Another option is to study for an associate's degree, which is a two-year foundation that can later be converted into a bachelor’s degree. The associate's degree can be undertaken at a junior college and is there for a cost-saving option.

Conclusion

A career as a therapist is a rewarding and satisfying vocation. Helping people with their problems from all walks of life is an important role, and the demand for therapists has never been higher. Start by looking at the various online and on-campus degrees and choosing the most relevant to you.