Reader Question: How Can I Become a Therapist?

Jenn writes: "I'm a senior in high school and plan to one day becoming a therapist. What do I need to do to enter this type of career?"

Thanks for the great question, Jenn! While people often think of a psychologist when they use the term therapist, this profession actually encompasses a wide range of mental health care professionals. Many people do choose to earn a doctorate in psychology, but there are actually several different educational and career paths to choose from.

The first step is to think about what type of therapist you'd like to become. Are you interested in working with kids? Would you like to help individual suffering from mental illness? Once you have a general idea of the area you would like to work in, it will be a lot easier to set educational goals.

Next, spend some time researching the various degree options. A Psy.D. or Ph.D. in Psychology are just two of the options. You might also opt to earn a master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling or advanced psychiatric nursing.

Once you've narrowed down your options, it is important to also learn more about the training and licensing requirements in the state where you plan to practice. You can learn more about these steps in this article on how to become a therapist.

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