How to Become a Therapist Without a Ph.D

If you are looking for a career that will give you the opportunity to help others while also providing you with a comfortable income, becoming a therapist might be the answer you've been looking for. Many college students are looking for a career that will be both fulfilling and lucrative, however these careers can be a bit difficult to come by. Fortunately, becoming a therapist is not as difficult as it may seem.

Going into a counseling profession often scares students away with its admittedly strict enrollment standards and the amount of time and education that it requires, however there is an easier route than going through the entire doctorate program. Following this step-by-step, carefully calculated process can have you opening up for business in no time. Keep in mind, however, that the slightest stray can leave you with a degree that is of no use to you.

A large percentage of the mental health care professionals in the U.S. are not psychiatrists or psychologists, but rather licensed social workers. Hospitals, mental health facilities, schools, outreach programs, non-profit organizations, and many other institutions have full time social workers on staff that provide counseling services. These professionals are the backbone of the mental health field. Although they are well educated and have graduate school degrees, they are not doctors. They did not have to go through a rigorous medical school program, nor did they have to spend four additional years after college in an internship program.

The key difference between a traditional social worker and a counselor is education. To be able to counsel others, you must obtain your MSW (Master's of Social Work). In addition to this, you must become licensed within your state. While this may seem simple enough, not many schools provide social work degrees all the way through the MSW level. Therefore, choosing your college and degree program wisely is a necessity.

Gaining admittance into a MSW program will be the most difficult part of this process. Most universities are looking for students who have already shown a passion for the career and who demonstrate a strong ability to survive the school's program. This means that any previous experience in social work is looked for during the admissions process. Start your career early, well before you apply to graduate school. If at all possible, start by obtaining your associate's degree in social work. If no local schools offer social work programs, look into online programs. There are quite a few traditional colleges that offer the entire associate's degree in social work completely online. This will open new doors for you in entry level social work positions, albeit none of them will pay well. Regardless, the experience you obtain will be extremely valuable, and it may also help you determine what area of counseling you will eventually wish to go into.
Next, obtain your bachelor's degree in social work. If no local school offers a social work program, you will most likely not be able to find an online program. This is due to the fact that you will have to take part in internship programs while you pursue your degree, and most colleges only allow students to take part in local internship programs that have been pre-approved by the division chair. If you cannot find a social work program, select a very similar degree concentration. Now, this is precisely where many students go wrong. There are quite a few programs that are similar in name to social work, however they may not be acceptable undergraduate degrees when applying for graduate school. In other words, many institutions will require that all applicants to their MSW program have a degree in one of only two or three pre-approved fields, such as social work, sociology, or human services. Select your graduate school before selecting your bachelor's degree program, and call your selected graduate school to see what undergraduate degrees are acceptable for application into the MSW program.

Finally, when you have obtained your bachelor's degree in the appropriate field, it will be time to apply to graduate school. Choosing a college to attend while pursuing your MSW is more than simply finding a school that offers the program. You must make sure that your school's program is accredited by the appropriate associations or you will have your license application denied when you graduate. Just because a college offers an MSW program does not mean that they are accredited, no matter how prestigious the school may be. Check with your state licensing board to see what schools are approved.

After you have obtained your MSW, there will be no need to apply to medical school (unless, of course, you simply want to). You will be ready to apply for your license, which usually takes a few weeks, and begin your career. You can even go into private practice if you like and open up your own counseling clinic. While you cannot prescribe medicine with this degree, you can talk to and help other individuals who are struggling in a particular area. You may counsel patients with drug or alcohol addictions, families and married couples, geriatric patients, troubled youth, patients needing career help, as well as many other types of individuals simply looking for a helping hand. With your MSW, you will find fulfillment as well as a comfortable bank account, and you'll have the chance to help others in a tremendous way on a daily basis.