HEALTH
What is a Therapy Certification & How to Obtain it?
A rewarding career has been offered by the field of therapy where a perfect opportunity has been provided to professionals so that they can make a profound impact on a person’s mental as well as emotional well-being. But before going ahead with this journey it’s important to obtain a therapy certification.
To get a therapy certification certain requirements and steps are important to follow so that you can become a certified therapist. It doesn’t matter if your passion lies in psychotherapy, counseling, marriage therapy, or any other therapy, knowing How to Get Therapy Certification is a crucial step.
What is Therapy Certification?
A professional credential refers to the qualifications and competence of a therapist in providing counseling services and mental health to individuals. To obtain this, it is important to complete a particular educational path, gain clinical experience, and pass the demanding examinations.
The main purpose of this certification is to demonstrate that the therapist has successfully taken the necessary standards and ethical guidelines that are set by a certifying body. In simple words, a therapy certification enables a therapist to legally practice in their particular field and assures the clients that they are receiving perfect counseling services.
Steps to Get Therapy Certification
If you want to be a certified therapist then it’s important to get a therapy certification so that you have successfully reached a standard position where you can provide clients with perfect counseling support. Here are the steps to get a therapy certification:
● Determining Specialisation
It’s important to choose such a specialization that is according to your interest and career goals. Some of the common specializations are counseling psychology, clinical psychology, family and marriage therapy, and social work. Each specialization comes with its certification and licensure requirements.
● Earning a Bachelor Degree
Most of the therapy certification requires a bachelor’s degree as the initial step. Some of them accept a bachelor’s degree that can be done in any field but others require degrees in social work, psychology or related disciplines. Therefore it is suggested to complete research about the specific requirements of your selected specialisation before taking further steps.
● Pursue a Master’s Degree
A master’s degree is considered the minimum educational requirement that is demanded by many therapy certifications. To achieve this degree it’s important to enroll yourself in a graduate program that is accredited by a recognized institute. These programs include internships, course work, and clinical experience.
● Get Clinical Experience
Now we are going to discuss the most critical component of a therapy certification and that is obtaining supervised clinical experience. Most of the therapy certification requires a particular number of supervised hours from 2000 to 4000 hours. In this experience, you have to work with the clients under the guidance of a licensed supervisor.
● Passing Examination
To become a licensed therapist you will have to pass certain examinations that depend upon your location and specialization. It is suggested to prepare completely for these examinations as most of your career directly depends upon these exams.
● Applying For Licensure
Once you have completed your education, have taken experience and passed the exam then it’s time to apply for a licence in your country. This process involves submitting an application providing proof of your education and paying the demanding fee.
● Joining Process Association
It will be a wise career move if you join a professional association that is related to your specialization. You will be offered networking opportunities, access to amazing resources, and a sense of community among other therapists. You can prefer to join APA, AAMFT or the NASW.
Summary
To become a certified therapist it’s important to work with yourself regarding education dedication and ongoing commitment to professional growth. The above-mentioned guideline will provide you with a road map to be an aspiring therapist. But it’s important to understand that your journey doesn’t and with certification continuous learning will make your career more valuable.
