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How to become a Therapist

Therapist

Career progression and salary expectations for a Therapist

1

Trainee Therapist

| Up to £25,000
2

Therapist

| Up to £35,000
3

Training Therapist

| Up to £45,000

The role of a Therapist

So you’re thinking about becoming a therapist? And how does that make you feel…?Therapists, more formally known as a Psychotherapists, help people overcome any emotional issues they may face. They could work with children or adults, and consultations could be made individually, to couples or even to groups or families. However, no matter how big the audience their main goal remains the same – to alleviate distress and to improve the mental wellbeing of all of their clients.Typical duties for a Therapist could include:
  • Holding individual sessions with clients to assess their needs
  • Encouraging clients to open up and share their feelings or past experiences
  • Understanding the issues faced by each client
  • Suggesting ways to help alleviate distress and work through problems, and developing individual treatment plans
  • Practicing a range of talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, psychoanalytic therapy and systemic therapy
Contrary to the depiction often portrayed on TV, being a Therapist is about far more than simply sitting and nodding for long periods of time.You’ll be dealing with clients facing a number of different issues, ranging from psychological problems such as depression or anxiety, to difficult past experiences such as relationship breakdown or domestic abuse. The ability to build trust in your clients and remain objective in difficult situations will be key to your success.A personable and compassionate personality will also be absolutely essential.Other key skills include:
  • Excellent communication skills (listening, in particular, will be essential)
  • The ability to build natural rapport with clients
  • Empathy
  • Sincerity
  • Self-awareness
  • Confidentiality and trustworthiness
"I've always been someone that wants to help people, and becoming a Therapist seemed like a perfect fit. I couldn't have been more right. I get to work with a range of different clients, which always keep me on my toes. However, no matter what issues are being faced, often the main thing they need is just someone to listen and someone to understand them. Once you've built a good rapport and gained their trust, there’s almost no limit to what you can achieve together. It’s amazing to be a part of."

Get qualified as a Therapist

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